Emphasis vs Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Emphasis
This app helps users achieve deep work by providing customizable focus intervals and ambient soundscapes. It tracks your focus progress and offers personalized statistics to help you reclaim your time from distractions.
- Customizable focus intervals
- Ambient background sounds
- Focus-O-Meter for distraction tracking
- Personalized progress statistics
- Cloud sync across devices
- Highly customizable sessions
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You sit down to work. 40 seconds later, your hand is already reaching for your phone. Familiar? You’re not lazy. Modern life is engineered for distraction, and trying to force yourself to focus through sheer willpower simply doesn't work. Emphasis doesn’t force you to fight your own brain. One tap, a gentle ambient sound, a steady rhythm—and you’re already in a session. Ended a focus block after 12 minutes instead of 25? That’s 12 minutes of deep work you didn't have before. In Emphasis, every minute counts. 4.7 · 20,000+ reviews · Lightweight at just 75 MB Whether you’re navigating an ADHD brain, tackling a heavy study load, or trying to find clarity in a chaotic work week, Emphasis is a sanctuary from the digital noise. We took the science of the Pomodoro technique and turned it into a gentle, intentional rhythm that respects your natural energy levels. DESIGNED FOR YOUR FLOW STATE: * Immersive Sonic Spaces: Silence background distractions with curated ambient soundscapes. From subtle rhythmic pulses to meditative nature tones, create an environment where getting started feels effortless. * The Focus-O-Meter: Awareness is the first step to change. Select the apps that pull you away from your work and watch your Focus-O-Meter rise as you choose presence over the scroll. It’s not about restriction—it’s about reclaiming the time that belongs to you. * Tailored Focus Blueprints: No two brains work the same. Our onboarding learns your workflow needs from the start, letting you fully customize your session lengths and restorative breaks to prevent burnout before it begins. * Progress, Not Perfection: Focus is a practice, not a destination. Use beautiful, minimalist progress charts and calendar stats to recognize your personal patterns of success and celebrate your consistency. * Apple Ecosystem Sync: Your focus journey shouldn't be tied to one desk. Emphasis syncs seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch to keep your rhythm steady wherever you go. At just 75 MB, Emphasis won’t bloat your device, but it will help clear your mind. Join thousands of us who are choosing a kinder, more intentional way to live and work. Download Emphasis today and let’s find your rhythm together. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper
This app uses the Pomodoro Technique to boost productivity by breaking work into focused sessions with scheduled breaks. It helps users concentrate on tasks, study, or improve skills with simple, adjustable timers and built-in calendar reminders.
- Pomodoro Technique timer
- Adjustable focus sessions
- Scheduled short and long breaks
- Built-in calendar
- Session reminders
- Customizable session timings (Premium)
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Focused uses the Pomodoro Technique which is proven to improve your productivity by helping you focus on your work. After each session a short and adjustable break is given and after 4 sessions follows a long break. Whether you are trying to study, work, trying to read more or improve your skills in any other areas, the app offers you simple features to help you stay focused and productive. Focus Sessions are pre-set to 25 minutes, simply press the play button to begin the timer. Roll up your sleeves and get to work, focus on your chosen task until the timer rings. CALENDAR & REMINDERS: -The app has a built-in calendar and with this you can set reminders for your sessions to any day you want. Premium users get the ability to customize their sessions and the timing of their sessions as well as the short and long breaks.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Emphasis at 4.7 against Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper's 3.4. Emphasis also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 50%) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 8). Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Emphasis sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Emphasis holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Emphasis has 1.1K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Emphasis's written reviews are positive against 50% of Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper's.
Emphasis ships an update fortnightly, Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Emphasis | Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better | 3.4 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 73 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aleksandr Fiodorov | Hubs Social LLC |
Customer experience
Emphasis
Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper
Bugs and requests
Emphasis
Reported bugs
4 issues- Timer not working correctly after breaks
- Task lists not saving properly
- App crashing on launch for some users
- Sync issues causing data loss
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to track individual tasks and time spent
- Landscape mode support
- Apple Watch app integration
- More color theme options
- Improved statistics and progress tracking
Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Emphasis
- Emphasis Premium Subscription$3.491 Month
- Emphasis Premium Subscription$4.991 Month
- Premium Feature (Yearly Promo)$12.991 Year
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- Emphasis Premium Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Lifetime premium$29.99
- Lifetime premium$59.99
Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper
- Premium Unlock$2.99
- Focused (Premium)$2.99
Questions
Is Emphasis free?
Is Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper free?
Which has better reviews, Emphasis or Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper?
Do Emphasis or Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper have ads?
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