# Be Focused Pro vs Scratchpad

The clearest difference is price: Scratchpad at $10.00 against Be Focused Pro's $19.99. Scratchpad also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (96% vs 81%). Be Focused Pro's advantage is ratings volume (3K vs 25) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Be Focused Pro costs $19.99 and Scratchpad $10.00 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scratchpad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Be Focused Pro has 3K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Be Focused Pro's written reviews are positive against 96% of Scratchpad's.

Be Focused Pro ships an update every 5 months, Scratchpad every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Be Focused Pro | Scratchpad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **$10.00** |
| Rating | [4.6 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-focused-pro-focus-timer/id953426154/reviews) | **[4.8 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchpad/id6504040051/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 80.6% of reviews | **96.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Paid |
| Size | 38 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Denys Ievenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/427936468) | [Sindre Sorhus](https://appshunter.io/developer/328077650) |

## What reviewers say

### Be Focused Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-focused-pro-focus-timer/id953426154)

This app helps you stay focused and productive by breaking down tasks into timed intervals with short breaks. It offers task management, customizable timers, progress tracking, and cross-device synchronization. Achieve your goals with structured work sessions.

**Highlights:** Task creation and management, Customizable work and break intervals, Progress tracking and reports, Cross-device synchronization, Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets, Apple Watch support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps stay focused
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Keeps me on track
- 👍 Great for productivity
- 🚀 Customizable timers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues between devices
- 🐛 Notifications not working as expected
- 🐛 Timers not always accurate
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🐛 Resets progress randomly

**Reported bugs**

- Sync issues causing data loss
- Timers not working correctly
- Notifications not triggering on silent mode
- Inconsistent behavior when switching devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to set custom timers per task
- Option to skip or pause breaks
- Integration with Apple Watch complications
- Better reporting and analytics


### Scratchpad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchpad/id6504040051)

Capture fleeting thoughts and ideas instantly with a clean, distraction-free interface. This lightweight app offers quick drafting, word counts, and iCloud sync for seamless access across devices. It's designed for simplicity and speed, making note-taking effortless.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free interface, Lightning-fast and lightweight, iCloud sync, Word and character count, Linkifies URLs, Shortcuts and share sheet support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Be Focused Pro free?

Be Focused Pro costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Scratchpad free?

Scratchpad costs $10.00, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Be Focused Pro or Scratchpad?

Scratchpad is rated higher. Be Focused Pro averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Scratchpad averages 4.8 from 25 ratings.

### Do Be Focused Pro or Scratchpad have ads?

Neither Be Focused Pro nor Scratchpad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Be Focused Pro or Scratchpad?

Be Focused Pro ships an update every 5 months, and Scratchpad every 2 weeks. Most recently, Be Focused Pro was updated on September 24, 2026 and Scratchpad on September 21, 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.*