Emphasis vs Vooli
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/
Vooli
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Anti-Burnout List Making. Three lists. Designed to close. Vooli is a calm productivity app for adults who want to focus on what really matters. Plan as far ahead as you want. Today shows up to three tasks per list, so the day you are looking at is always focused enough to finish. Vooli doesn't gamify your life. We give you a ceiling and trust you to choose what fits under it. WHY VOOLI Other apps sell you on unlimited tasks and infinite views. Vooli sets the visual cap. The list is designed to close. Unlike other apps that want to feed you distractions, Vooli gives you more focus at every turn. Use Dock Mode to turn your phone into a dedicated and glanceable focus device. THREE LISTS Myself, Work, Family, or whatever you name them. Pick 1, 2, or 3 tasks per list. Hit the cap, work through your lists, and you're done for the day. Everything else waits in your Queue for later today. DOCK MODE Launch dock mode from the dock button, and Vooli turns your phone into a glanceable companion to your life. The screen stays awake, dims to ambient, and the world goes quiet. A dedicated focus device, without buying a brand new piece of hardware. Swipe between screens you choose and silence the distractions. CAPTURE FROM ANYWHERE Paste a list, share from another app, or add from the home-screen widget. ARC Routines fire on time and can be used in Dock mode. Habits are easy to check in and move on with your day. PATTERNS Insights that earn your respect. See your dock time, how your tasks break down by list, and your habit streaks. No leaderboards, no fire emojis. Free to use. No ads, ever. We don't gamify your life. We give you a ceiling and trust you to choose what fits under it.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: Emphasis at 4 against Vooli's 1. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Emphasis sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and Vooli sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Emphasis | Vooli |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 73 MB | 46 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aleksandr Fiodorov | VOOLI LLC |
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
Vooli
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
Vooli
- Vooli Pro$19.99









