# Be Focused vs Productivity Challenge Timer

The clearest difference is ads: Productivity Challenge Timer at none against Be Focused's shown. Be Focused's advantage is ratings volume (4.3K vs 210). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Be Focused sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Productivity Challenge Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Be Focused against 4.8 for Productivity Challenge Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Be Focused has 4.3K ratings behind it against 210, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Be Focused's written reviews are positive against 95% of Productivity Challenge Timer's.

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, Productivity Challenge Timer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Be Focused | Productivity Challenge Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-focused-deep-focus-timer/id973130201/reviews) | **[4.8 (210 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/productivity-challenge-timer/id1117766356/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 210 |
| Positive reviews | 88.9% of reviews | **95.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Denys Ievenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/427936468) | [Vladimir Jovanovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1117368400) |

## What reviewers say

### Be Focused

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-focused-deep-focus-timer/id973130201)

This app helps you stay focused by breaking down tasks into timed work intervals with short breaks. It offers task management, customizable timers, progress tracking, and cross-device synchronization. Enhance your productivity and concentration with this effective tool.

**Highlights:** Task creation and management, Customizable work/break intervals, Progress tracking and reports, Cross-device synchronization, Widgets and Lock Screen controls, Sound and notification options

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Straightforward and easy to use
- 🚀 Helps with focus and productivity
- 💡 Customizable work and break times
- 📊 Tracks time spent on tasks
- 🔔 Good notification system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Syncing issues between devices
- 🔔 Inconsistent notification sounds
- 💻 Lack of dark mode
- 🔍 Difficulty rearranging tasks

**Reported bugs**

- Timer resets unexpectedly
- Timers not syncing correctly across devices
- Notifications not always working as expected

**Requested features**

- Option to override Do Not Disturb mode
- Ability to log partial intervals
- Time tracking with notes per interval
- Customizable notification sounds
- Ability to set task-specific time limits


### Productivity Challenge Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/productivity-challenge-timer/id1117766356)

This app gamifies productivity by challenging users to work harder and track their habits. Earn ranks, unlock achievements, and monitor your work patterns over time to identify peak productivity periods. It focuses on intense work sessions and detailed time tracking for projects.

**Highlights:** Gamified productivity challenges, Rank and achievement system, Detailed work habit tracking, Project-specific time logging, Focus on uninterrupted work sessions, Productivity analytics by day/hour

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro mode | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient and reliable
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly
- 💡 Gamified approach motivates users
- 📊 Comprehensive statistics and tracking
- 🤖 Snarky and humorous personality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔊 Disruptive ads in free version
- 🔔 Overly aggressive notifications
- 🔒 Lack of cloud sync/backup
- 🕰️ Inability to pause or extend sessions

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional sound issues
- Slow loading of historical data
- Inconsistencies between iOS and Android versions

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch support
- Customizable timer durations
- Ability to add notes to sessions
- Weekend/holiday mode to avoid demotions
- More advanced goal-tracking and analytics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Be Focused free?

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

### Is Productivity Challenge Timer free?

Productivity Challenge Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Be Focused or Productivity Challenge Timer?

Productivity Challenge Timer is rated higher. Be Focused averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Productivity Challenge Timer averages 4.8 from 210 ratings.

### Do Be Focused or Productivity Challenge Timer have ads?

Be Focused shows ads; Productivity Challenge Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Be Focused or Productivity Challenge Timer?

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, and Productivity Challenge Timer every 3 months. Most recently, Be Focused was updated on September 24, 2026 and Productivity Challenge Timer on September 18, 2026.

---

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