Comparison

Be Focused vs Pomodoro 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

Pomodoro Timer

This app offers a minimalist Pomodoro timer designed to boost productivity and well-being. It integrates focus sessions with stretching exercises and ambient sounds to enhance concentration and prevent burnout. Track your progress with detailed statistics and categorize your focus sessions for better insights.

Highlights
  • Customizable Pomodoro timer
  • Integrated stretching exercises
  • Ambient soundscapes for focus
  • Detailed focus statistics
  • Customizable focus categories
  • Ad-free experience
Read full description

## Loved and trusted by over 240,000 users worldwide Foca is a minimalist and ad-free Pomodoro timer. It combines a Pomodoro technique and stretching to keep you productive and healthy at work. ***Pomodoro Focus Timer*** - Customisable focus time. - Notification & vibration at the end of a Pomodoro. - Pause and resume Pomodoro. - Auto-Run mode. ***Ambient Sounds*** - White noise helps you to concentrate. - Various ambient sounds including Dawn Forest, Seashore, Berliner Cafe! ***Stretching Exercises*** - Simple stretching exercises after a focus session. - Vivid voice and illustration guidance. - Stretches of the neck, shoulder, back, hands, legs, and whole body. - Relieve office syndrome. ***Statistic Reports*** - Statistics of your focus time over time. - Distribution of your time on each Pomodoro category. ***Focus Categories*** - Create your own focus categories with names and colours you like. - Deeply integrated with Statistics Reports for better tracking of your focus performance. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ (standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA)).

Screenshots

Be Focused4 screens
Pomodoro Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Pomodoro Timer at none against Be Focused's shown. Pomodoro Timer also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Be Focused's advantage is ratings volume (4.3K vs 96). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases 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 and Pomodoro Timer sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Be Focused against 4.7 for Pomodoro Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Be Focused has 4.3K ratings behind it against 96, 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 85% of Pomodoro Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, Pomodoro Timer every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Be Focused versus Pomodoro Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBe FocusedPomodoro Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.3K ratings)4.7 (96 ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better85.4% of reviews
Number of ratings4.3K — better96
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod, Mac
Requires iOS16.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoYating Lu

Customer experience

Be Focused

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

Pomodoro Timer

All ratings96 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.0%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive85.4%
Neutral2.1%
Negative12.5%

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

Pomodoro Timer

From 96 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and functional
  • 👍 Great for studying
  • 👍 No ads
  • 👍 Customizable timers
  • 👍 Guided stretches

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Session resets when app is closed or phone dies
  • 🐛 No notifications or sounds when session ends
  • 🐛 Basic analytics are terrible (only week view)
  • 🐛 Atrocious value for premium analytics
  • 🐛 Cannot set focus time less than 10 minutes

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

Pomodoro Timer

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Session progress not saved when app is closed or phone dies
  • No notifications or sounds when focus session ends
  • Cannot configure background notification settings
  • Focus time slider does not allow setting less than 10 minutes
  • App causes high CPU usage/performance issues
Show 3 more
  • Timer does not count in background (older versions)
  • Upgraded to Pro but did not receive Pro version
  • No response from customer service

Requested features

12 requests
  • Widget option
  • Ability to choose own playlist for background sounds
  • Apple Watch compatibility
  • Different sounds for session end/break start
  • More calming sounds (ASMR, brown noise, piano music)
Show 7 more
  • Add a to-do list
  • Way to change categories
  • Option to buy specific features instead of the whole app (already exists for some features)
  • Daily stats for analytics
  • Ability to continue sessions after phone dies/app is closed
  • Fix notification issues
  • Allow focus times less than 10 minutes

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
8 purchases

Pomodoro Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Foca Plus macOS (per month)$1.991 Month
  • Foca Plus macOS (per year)$9.991 Year
One-time6
  • Unlock customisable categories$2.99
  • Unlock full statistics reports$2.99
  • Unlock customizable auto-run$2.99
Show 3 more
  • Unlock extra ambient sound$4.99
  • Lifetime Purchase$9.99
  • Lifetime Purchase on macOS$14.99

Questions

Is Be Focused free?
Be Focused is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pomodoro Timer free?
Pomodoro Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Be Focused or Pomodoro Timer?
Pomodoro Timer is rated higher. Be Focused averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Pomodoro Timer averages 4.7 from 96 ratings.
Do Be Focused or Pomodoro Timer have ads?
Be Focused shows ads; Pomodoro Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Be Focused or Pomodoro Timer?
Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, and Pomodoro Timer every 4 weeks. Most recently, Be Focused was updated on September 24, 2026 and Pomodoro Timer on September 16, 2026.

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