Comparison

Emphasis vs Laps

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Customizable focus intervals
  • Ambient background sounds
  • Focus-O-Meter for distraction tracking
  • Personalized progress statistics
  • Cloud sync across devices
  • Highly customizable sessions
Features
Read full description

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/

About

Laps

This app helps you focus by blocking distracting applications during work sessions. As you complete focus sessions, you virtually travel through real cities on a map, unlocking new routes and building a streak. Track your progress with detailed statistics for each session.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Gamified focus sessions
  • Virtual city exploration
  • Progress tracking
  • Focus streak building
  • Unlock new routes
Features
Read full description

How to use Laps: 1. Start runs to block distracting apps while you work — every run moves you through a real city on the map. 2. Explore global cities and unlock new routes as you build you streak. 3. Track your progress with a full stats breakdown of every run If you want to focus and achieve your goals, Laps will help you get there. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.uselaps.com/privacypolicy

Screenshots

Emphasis4 screens
Laps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Emphasis at none against Laps's shown. Emphasis also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 26) and device support (4 vs 2). Laps's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Emphasis sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and Laps sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Laps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Emphasis has 1.1K ratings behind it against 26, 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 100% of Laps's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Emphasis ships an update fortnightly, Laps every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Emphasis versus Laps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmphasisLaps
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings)5.0 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K — better26
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB83 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleksandr FiodorovKwabena Ohemeng

Customer experience

Emphasis

All ratings1,058 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral2.2%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews1,108 reviews
Positive83.9%
Neutral6.0%
Negative10.0%

Laps

All ratings26 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Laps

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Emphasis

Subscriptions4
  • Emphasis Premium Subscription$3.491 Month
  • Emphasis Premium Subscription$4.991 Month
  • Premium Feature (Yearly Promo)$12.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Emphasis Premium Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime premium$29.99
  • Lifetime premium$59.99
9 purchases

Laps

Subscriptions4
  • Early Adopter 1 Week7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Early Adopter 1 Month7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Early Adopter 1 Year Plan7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Early Adopter 1 Year7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time5
  • Restore Streak$0.99
  • 1,000 Laps Points$8.99
  • 2,800 Laps Points$22.99
Show 2 more
  • 5,000 Laps Points$36.99
  • 13,500 Laps Points$89.99

Questions

Is Emphasis free?
Emphasis is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Laps free?
Laps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Emphasis or Laps?
Laps is rated higher. Emphasis averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Laps averages 5.0 from 26 ratings.
Do Emphasis or Laps have ads?
Laps shows ads; Emphasis does not.
Which is updated more often, Emphasis or Laps?
Emphasis ships an update fortnightly, and Laps every 3 days. Most recently, Emphasis was updated on October 11, 2026 and Laps on September 17, 2026.

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