Comparison

Be Focused vs Work/Break

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

Work/Break

This productivity tool helps users maintain focus by automatically cycling between dedicated work and break periods. It's designed to keep you in a productive flow state without manual timer adjustments.

Highlights
  • Automatic work/break switching
  • Flow state maintenance
  • Focus enhancement
  • Simple timer functionality
Read full description

Stay in the flow with a timer that automatically switches between work/break.

Screenshots

Be Focused4 screens
Work/Break3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Be Focused at 89% against Work/Break's 33%. Be Focused also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Work/Break's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price and update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Be Focused sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Work/Break asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, Work/Break every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Be Focused versus Work/Break: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBe FocusedWork/Break
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings4.3K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB0 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoLars Svennbeck

Customer experience

Be Focused

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

Work/Break

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

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

Work/Break

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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

Work/Break

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Be Focused free?
Be Focused is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Work/Break free?
Work/Break is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Be Focused or Work/Break have ads?
Be Focused shows ads; Work/Break does not.
Which is updated more often, Be Focused or Work/Break?
Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, and Work/Break every 7 months. Most recently, Be Focused was updated on September 24, 2026 and Work/Break on June 5, 2026.

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