Swinburne vs FocusTale
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Swinburne
This app provides students with essential university information and services. Access your studies, timetable, and academic calendar. Stay updated with notifications and connect with university resources and peers.
- Access studies
- Check timetable
- Receive notifications
- View academic calendar
- Access resources
- Connect with services
- Connect with peers
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Swinburne app is your one-stop-shop connecting you with the systems, information, people and updates you'll need to succeed at the Swinburne University of Technology. Use the Swinburne app to: - Access your STUDIES - Check your TIMETABLE - Receive key notifications and keep updated on announcements and alerts relevant to you - Check the ACADEMIC CALENDAR - View resources and content relevant to you - Connect with all Swinburne services - Connect with your peers
FocusTale
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Turn study time into an adventure. FocusTale helps students start studying, stay focused and build consistent habits through focus quests, XP, levels and streaks. Choose a session, begin focusing and watch your progress grow without adding unnecessary pressure. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Choose Focus Magic, Quick Focus or Rest • Personalise session durations • Earn XP, level up and build a study streak • Complete daily quests and track your progress • Challenge your Dragon of the Day • Review focus minutes and completed sessions • Use Extreme Focus when distractions need to disappear • Study with calming, lyric free background audio • Explore immersive visual themes • Choose an encouraging Focus Spirit • Follow the guided first time tour to learn the app quickly RELIABLE FOCUSING Your timer continues accurately while the app is in the background. On supported iPhones, Live Activities make it easier to follow an active session from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Controls remain locked during an active session to protect your focus. Your progress and unlocked rewards remain saved when the app is updated. FREE TO USE The core focus features are free. Optional rewarded ads let you unlock additional music, themes and companions. Ads never interrupt an active focus session, and rewards remain unlocked after completion. Make starting easier, turn consistency into visible progress and make studying feel more rewarding with FocusTale.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Swinburne at none against FocusTale's shown. Swinburne also leads on iOS requirement (14.2 vs 16.0). FocusTale's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 4 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Swinburne ships an update every 4 months, FocusTale every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Swinburne | FocusTale |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 26.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.2 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Swinburne University of Technology | Shrey Saraf |
In-app purchases
Swinburne
No in-app purchases
FocusTale
No in-app purchases









