# Focus Keeper vs Start

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Start at none against Focus Keeper's 13. Start also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Focus Keeper's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus Keeper sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Start asks for nothing beyond the download.

Start holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focus Keeper has 32K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of Focus Keeper's written reviews are positive against 67% of Start's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Focus Keeper ships an update every 4 days, Start every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus Keeper | Start |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (32K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-keeper-pomodoro-timer/id867374917/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-end-easy-time-tracking/id6475585462/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **76.5% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 872 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PIXO Incorporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/541568418) | [BeomSeok Chae](https://appshunter.io/developer/1700582145) |

## What reviewers say

### Focus Keeper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-keeper-pomodoro-timer/id867374917)

This app helps boost productivity and combat procrastination using the Pomodoro technique. It breaks tasks into focused work intervals followed by breaks, ideal for students, professionals, and individuals managing ADHD. Track your progress and stay on task with customizable settings and an intuitive interface.

**Highlights:** Pomodoro timer with customizable sessions, Study and exam timer functionality, ADHD-friendly structured technique, Productivity time tracker with charts, Simple and intuitive interface, Customizable break lengths

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Month | $3.99 | per month |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Month | $3.99 | per month |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Month | $12.99 | per month |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Year | $34.99 | per year |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Year | $34.99 | per year |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Year | $34.99 | per year |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Year Special | $49.99 | per year |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Year Standard | $49.99 | per year |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Year Standard | $49.99 | per year |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Year | $69.99 | per year |
| Focus Keeper Pro 1 Year | $69.99 | per year |
| Focus Keeper Pro | $99.99 | one-time |
| Focus Keeper Pro | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective for staying focused
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 👍 Customizable settings
- 🕰️ Helpful for managing time and productivity
- 🔔 Useful break reminders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔇 Lack of ability to mute/adjust sound
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection
- 💰 Subscription model for full features
- 🔍 Limited task management functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Timer randomly stops counting down
- White noise that can't be turned off
- Inconsistent behavior when switching apps

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch support
- Ability to label/categorize tasks
- Sync with calendar/to-do apps
- More sound/music options
- Customizable break durations


### Start

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-end-easy-time-tracking/id6475585462)

Easily track elapsed and remaining time for daily tasks. Register time entries with start and end reservations, receive notifications, and categorize activities. Visualize ongoing tracks and search past records to improve life quality.

**Highlights:** Time tracking registration, Ongoing track visualization, End reservation and push notifications, Category classification, Search past records

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focus Keeper free?

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

### Is Start free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Focus Keeper or Start?

Start is rated higher. Focus Keeper averages 4.8 out of 5 from 32K ratings, while Start averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Focus Keeper or Start have ads?

Start shows ads; Focus Keeper does not.

### Which is updated more often, Focus Keeper or Start?

Focus Keeper ships an update every 4 days, and Start every 6 months. Most recently, Focus Keeper was updated on November 3, 2026 and Start on October 24, 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.*