Comparison

Be Focused vs Bear Focus Timer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Be Focused

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
Read full description

Staying on task seems is a real challenge for our screen-bound generation. The Be Focused lets you get things done by breaking up individual tasks among discrete intervals, separated by short breaks. It’s a surprisingly effective way to retain motivation and focus. Create tasks, configure breaks and track your progress throughout the day, week or custom period. Use Be Focused on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — everything stays perfectly in sync. Task Management • Create and manage tasks • Add notes and due dates to tasks • Organize tasks with tags and filters • Paste task lists from other apps Timer Control • Start, pause, or skip intervals • Auto-start the next interval (optionally) • Plan intervals needed for task completion and track accuracy • Manage completed intervals Timer Customization • Set durations for work sessions, short and long breaks • Define number of intervals before a long break • Set a daily goal for completed intervals • Assign different timer settings to individual tasks Reports • View detailed reports to monitor your progress • Export your data in CSV format Sounds and Notifications • Chronometer ticking sound with adjustable frequency • Variety of alarm sounds • Interactive notifications • Adjustable volume for alarms and chronometer Integration • Sync across all your devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) • Integration with Focus Matrix to manage tasks using urgent/important principle * • Integration with Shortcuts app to automate workflow Quick Access • Widgets for Lock Screen and Home Screen • Live activities for Lock Screen and Dynamic Island • Control to start or stop the timer from the Lock Screen, Controls Center, or Action Button Automation • Integration with Shortcuts app (control tasks and timers via Shortcuts app) • Automate Shortcuts execution on events in Be Focused app Device Support • Apple Watch support • Also available for Mac • Dark and Light mode support Pro Version Features • Single purchase unlocks Pro on iPhone, iPad, and Mac • Sync across all your devices • Tags and filters to organize tasks and maintain focus • Integration with Focus Matrix to manage tasks using urgent/important principle * • Shortcuts execution on events in Be Focused app • Export data in CSV format • No banners, no ads Be Focused is free to download and use forever. However, if you want to access the Pro features on all your iPhones, iPads, and Macs, you can upgrade to the Pro version. The Pro subscription comes in three different options: Monthly, Yearly with a 7-day trial, and Lifetime (one-time payment). Payment will be charged to your App Store account and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://xwavesoft.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: https://xwavesoft.com/terms-of-use.html * Integration with Focus Matrix requires the Pro version of Focus Matrix, sold separately.

About

Bear Focus Timer

This app helps you stay focused by using a unique face-down timer. It incorporates forest-style white noise to enhance concentration and rewards you with praise cards upon completion of focus sessions. Customize your work and break times for optimal productivity.

Highlights
  • Face-down focus mode
  • Pomodoro focus and break cycles
  • White noise sounds
  • Customizable durations
  • Praise cards
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

Turn your phone over. Leave the screen behind. Focus with Tom. Bear Focus Timer is a simple Pomodoro timer for work, study, reading, writing, and everyday tasks. Choose a session, place your iPhone face down, and let Tom the bear keep you company while the timer runs. When focus time ends, take a break and receive an illustrated praise card. FLIP TO FOCUS • Choose your focus time and place your iPhone face down to begin • Keep the screen out of sight while you work or study • Build a small physical ritual around starting a focused session CUSTOM POMODORO CYCLES • Alternate focus sessions with breaks • Adjust focus and break durations • Choose a rhythm that fits the task in front of you FOREST-STYLE WHITE NOISE Add an optional nature-inspired background sound to your session. The calm audio and hand-drawn black-and-white design create a simple setting for time spent on one task. TOM AND PRAISE CARDS Tom is friendly, but he notices when it is time to concentrate. Complete a session to receive an illustrated praise card, then save a favorite card to Photos. Praise cards are available in English, Korean, and Japanese. APPLE WATCH SUPPORT Use the Apple Watch version when you want focus and break timing on your wrist. Available alerts and session behavior can vary according to your device and operating system settings. USE IT FOR • Study sessions and exam preparation • Reading, writing, and creative work • Work sprints and personal projects • Chores or any task that benefits from a defined focus period and break Bear Focus Timer keeps the experience straightforward: set your time, turn the phone over, focus, and take a break with Tom. Support: BearFocusTimer@gmail.com

Screenshots

Be Focused4 screens
Bear Focus Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Be Focused at Free against Bear Focus Timer's $2.99. Be Focused also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (89% vs 70%). Bear Focus Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Be Focused is free to download; Bear Focus Timer costs $2.99 up front. Be Focused sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Bear Focus Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Be Focused holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Be Focused has 4.3K ratings behind it against 155, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Be Focused's written reviews are positive against 70% of Bear Focus Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, Bear Focus Timer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Be Focused versus Bear Focus Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBe FocusedBear Focus Timer
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.7 (4.3K ratings) — better4.3 (155 ratings)
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better70.3% of reviews
Number of ratings4.3K — better155
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoEUIHYUNG JUNG

Customer experience

Be Focused

All ratings4,318 ratings
Positive94.5%
Neutral2.7%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews506 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral5.5%
Negative5.5%

Bear Focus Timer

All ratings155 ratings
Positive83.2%
Neutral5.8%
Negative11.0%
Written reviews407 reviews
Positive70.3%
Neutral13.8%
Negative16.0%

User reviews

Be Focused

From 4.3K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Bear Focus Timer

From 155 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🐻 Cute and charming bear design
  • 🔕 Ability to disable phone notifications during focus sessions
  • 🎨 Soothing background sounds/white noise
  • ⏱️ Simple and effective Pomodoro timer
  • 🎉 Motivational reward cards after completing sessions

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Difficulty seeing timer/time remaining when phone is face down
  • 🔋 Timer stops when phone is locked or app is in background
  • 🔇 Weak/inaudible alerts for break time ending
  • 🤔 Lack of customization options (e.g. timer durations)
  • 📊 No history or tracking of completed sessions

Bugs and requests

Be Focused

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Timer resets unexpectedly
  • Timers not syncing correctly across devices
  • Notifications not always working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Bear Focus Timer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Timer not starting reliably when phone is flipped
  • Settings menu not functioning properly after updates
  • Compatibility issues on certain devices/iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Option to start/stop timer without flipping phone
  • Ability to customize white noise/background sounds
  • Sync and history tracking across devices
  • Notifications/alerts for break time ending
  • Detailed usage statistics and progress tracking

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Be Focused

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Pro$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$39.99
None

Bear Focus Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Be Focused free?
Be Focused is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bear Focus Timer free?
Bear Focus Timer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Be Focused or Bear Focus Timer?
Be Focused is rated higher. Be Focused averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Bear Focus Timer averages 4.3 from 155 ratings.
Do Be Focused or Bear Focus Timer have ads?
Be Focused shows ads; Bear Focus Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Be Focused or Bear Focus Timer?
Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, and Bear Focus Timer fortnightly. Most recently, Be Focused was updated on September 24, 2026 and Bear Focus Timer on September 23, 2026.

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