Comparison

Emphasis vs Deep

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

Deep

This app uses the Pomodoro Technique to break down work into focused intervals, helping users reduce burnout and achieve peak productivity. It offers a structured timeline and detailed statistics to track progress on projects, studies, or daily tasks.

Highlights
  • Pomodoro Technique timer
  • App blocker
  • Time tracking
  • Structured timeline view
  • In-depth statistics
  • Focus enhancement
Features
Read full description

Deep is a Pomodoro Timer and time tracking app designed to help you achieve peak productivity. Using the science-backed Pomodoro Technique, Deep breaks down your work into manageable intervals, promoting deep focus and reducing burnout. Dive into your tasks with a structured timeline view and track your progress with in-depth statistics. Whether you’re working on projects, studying, or simply managing your daily routine, Deep keeps you on track every step of the way. Discover a new way to manage your time effectively and stay focused with Deep. # SUBSCRIPTIONS AND AUTOMATIC RENEWAL - Your subscription includes access to the features listed above. - The payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account at confirmation of purchase. - The subscription renews automatically unless the auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of your selected subscription. - Your subscriptions can be managed, and auto-renewal can be turned off by going to your App Store Account Settings. # LEGAL Terms of Service: https://www.kamiapps.com/page/terms-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.kamiapps.com/page/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Emphasis4 screens
Deep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Emphasis at fortnightly against Deep's every 5 months. Emphasis also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 2) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Deep's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 84%). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Emphasis sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and Deep sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Emphasis holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. 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 complicate that: 84% of Emphasis's written reviews are positive against 100% of Deep's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Emphasis ships an update fortnightly, Deep every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Emphasis versus Deep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmphasisDeep
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews83.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K — better2
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleksandr FiodorovKAMI YAZILIM VE TEKNOLOJI LIMITED SIRKETI

Customer experience

Emphasis

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

Deep

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 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

Deep

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
3 purchases

Deep

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Premium$4.997 Days
  • Deep - Special Offer$14.991 Year
  • Yearly Premium3 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Emphasis free?
Emphasis is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Deep free?
Deep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Emphasis or Deep?
Emphasis is rated higher. Emphasis averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Deep averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Emphasis or Deep have ads?
Neither Emphasis nor Deep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Emphasis or Deep?
Emphasis ships an update fortnightly, and Deep every 5 months. Most recently, Emphasis was updated on October 11, 2026 and Deep on October 3, 2026.

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