Comparison

Emphasis vs Boost Focus Timer

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

Boost Focus Timer

Enhance your productivity with a customizable focus timer and habit tracker. Utilize a proactive AI agent to assist with goals and tasks. This app offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help you stay organized and achieve your objectives.

Highlights
  • Customizable focus sessions
  • Habit tracking
  • Goal setting
  • Proactive AI agent assistance
  • Fully customizable productivity tools
Features
Read full description

Start focus sessions, track habits, goals, and get help from proactive AI -- fully customizable productivity app, just ask the AI agent.

Screenshots

Emphasis4 screens
Boost Focus Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Emphasis at none against Boost Focus Timer's shown. Emphasis also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 2). Boost Focus Timer's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 84%). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Emphasis sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and Boost Focus Timer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Boost Focus Timer 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 2, 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 Boost Focus Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Emphasis ships an update fortnightly, Boost Focus Timer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Emphasis versus Boost Focus Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmphasisBoost Focus Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleksandr FiodorovJacob Beauchamp

Customer experience

Emphasis

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

Boost Focus Timer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 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

Boost Focus Timer

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
4 purchases

Boost Focus Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Boost Focus Timer Subscription7 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Boost Focus Timer Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • Rocket Timer Animation$2.99
  • Battery Timer Animation$2.99

Questions

Is Emphasis free?
Emphasis is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Boost Focus Timer free?
Boost Focus Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Emphasis or Boost Focus Timer?
Boost Focus Timer is rated higher. Emphasis averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Boost Focus Timer averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Emphasis or Boost Focus Timer have ads?
Boost Focus Timer shows ads; Emphasis does not.
Which is updated more often, Emphasis or Boost Focus Timer?
Emphasis ships an update fortnightly, and Boost Focus Timer every 2 weeks. Most recently, Emphasis was updated on September 19, 2026 and Boost Focus Timer on September 14, 2026.

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