# Lion's Roar vs Bonsai Focus IT

The clearest difference is monetization model: Bonsai Focus IT at free with in-app purchases against Lion's Roar's subscription. Bonsai Focus IT also leads on ads (none vs shown). Lion's Roar's advantage is review sentiment (51% vs 20%) and update cadence (every 6 months vs every 17 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lion's Roar sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per 6 months and Bonsai Focus IT sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lion's Roar ships an update every 6 months, Bonsai Focus IT every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lion's Roar | Bonsai Focus IT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lions-roar/id950297065/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **51.3% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 17 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 63 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lion's Roar Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/950297064) | [Magzter Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/406791755) |

## What reviewers say

### Lion's Roar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lions-roar/id950297065)

Access Buddhist teachings and insights on modern life through a digital magazine. Explore practical wisdom, philosophy, and meditation techniques from renowned teachers and writers. Enjoy enhanced readability and social sharing features.

**Highlights:** Digital magazine edition, Easy-to-read design, Social sharing functionality, Integrated website content, Buddhist teachings, Practical life insights

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (19)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6 Months Subscription | $12.99 | per 6 months |
| Lion's Roar magazine | $24.99 | per year |
| November 2015 | $7.99 | one-time |
| January 2016 | $7.99 | one-time |
| March 2016 | $7.99 | one-time |
| May 2016 | $7.99 | one-time |
| July 2016 | $7.99 | one-time |
| September 2016 | $7.99 | one-time |
| November 2016 | $7.99 | one-time |
| January 2017 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 72 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 67 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 70 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 71 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 65 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 63 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 64 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 62 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lion's Roar Feed 60 | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent publication and app
- 🤗 Insightful, accessible, and user-friendly
- 🙏 Wisdom and authentic words
- 💻 Great content and format

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app and login issues
- 🔒 Subscription and access problems
- 🖥️ Lack of dark mode and accessibility features

**Reported bugs**

- App not functioning or loading content
- Subscription issues and inability to access past issues
- Login problems and app crashes

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Highlighting and dictionary features
- Improved accessibility for visually impaired users


### Bonsai Focus IT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonsai-focus-it/id1108871845)

Explore the world of bonsai with detailed reports, stunning photography, and expert techniques. Each issue offers insights into maintenance, master craftsmanship, and exclusive video content.

**Highlights:** Detailed bonsai reports, Stunning photography, Expert techniques and maintenance tips, Exclusive video content, Bi-monthly publication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bonsai Focus IT July Aug 2023 | $12.99 | one-time |
| September October 2022 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT - Nov Dec 2022 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Jan Feb 2023 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus  IT | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT May June 2023 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Sep Oct 2023 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Nov Dec 2023 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Jan Feb 2024 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Mar Apr 2024 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT May Jun 2024 | $13.99 | one-time |
| July August 2024 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Sept Oct 2025 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT May June 2025 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Mar Apr 2025 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Jan Feb 2025 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Nov Dec 2024 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Sep Oct 2024 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Jan - Feb 2026 | $17.99 | one-time |
| Bonsai Focus IT Nov Dec 2025 | $17.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lion's Roar free?

Lion's Roar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bonsai Focus IT free?

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

### Do Lion's Roar or Bonsai Focus IT have ads?

Lion's Roar shows ads; Bonsai Focus IT does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lion's Roar or Bonsai Focus IT?

Lion's Roar ships an update every 6 months, and Bonsai Focus IT every 17 months. Most recently, Lion's Roar was updated on October 29, 2026 and Bonsai Focus IT 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.*