# Pond vs Focus Timer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focus Timer at none against Pond's 3. Focus Timer also leads on review sentiment (98% vs 70%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Pond's advantage is ratings volume (844 vs 17). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pond sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Focus Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Focus Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pond has 844 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Pond's written reviews are positive against 98% of Focus Timer's.

Pond ships an update every 3 weeks, Focus Timer every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pond | Focus Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (844 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pond-screen-time-and-pomodoro/id830466924/reviews) | **[4.9 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-time-keeper/id6472644099/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **844** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | **98.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 350 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PIXO Incorporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/541568418) | [SimpleInnovation LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1479770962) |

## What reviewers say

### Pond

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pond-screen-time-and-pomodoro/id830466924)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time and digital wellbeing. It offers mindful app blocking, tracks your digital balance, and provides a visual representation of your focused time. It's designed to foster healthier phone habits without guilt or gamification.

**Highlights:** Mindful app blocking, Screen time tracking, Daily balance score, Scheduled focus sessions, Lotus garden visualizer, Breathing prompts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pond Plus 1 Month | $7.99 | per month |
| Pond Plus 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Pond Plus Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and effective
- 👍 Customizable
- 🚀 No in-app purchases
- 👍 Minimalist design
- 👍 Helpful for focus and productivity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Timer stops when app is in background
- 🐛 Bugs with color selection and settings
- 🔋 Battery drain
- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔒 Developer stored unrelated app data in user's iCloud

**Reported bugs**

- Timer inaccuracies
- Interface issues on Mac
- Inability to share audio with other apps
- Unreliable auto-reset functionality
- Subscription issues

**Requested features**

- Auto-reset option
- Ability to assign tasks to Pomodoros
- Project/focus area tracking
- Cross-device sync
- Apple Watch support


### Focus Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-time-keeper/id6472644099)

Enhance concentration and productivity with a customizable timer that divides work into focused intervals and short breaks. Track progress, set daily goals, and receive timely notifications to optimize your workflow. Enjoy a sleek interface with cross-platform synchronization.

**Highlights:** Customizable work & rest intervals, Statistics and daily goal tracking, Audio and visual notifications, Cross-platform synchronization, Dark theme for reduced eye strain

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pond free?

Pond is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Focus Timer free?

Focus Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pond or Focus Timer?

Focus Timer is rated higher. Pond averages 4.6 out of 5 from 844 ratings, while Focus Timer averages 4.9 from 17 ratings.

### Do Pond or Focus Timer have ads?

Neither Pond nor Focus Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pond or Focus Timer?

Pond ships an update every 3 weeks, and Focus Timer every 5 weeks. Most recently, Pond was updated on September 24, 2026 and Focus Timer on September 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*