Be Focused vs Ultimate Focus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Task creation and management
- Customizable work/break intervals
- Progress tracking and reports
- Cross-device synchronization
- Widgets and Lock Screen controls
- Sound and notification options
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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.
Ultimate Focus
Enhance your productivity with a visual timer designed for focused work and study. Manage tasks, utilize Pomodoro cycles, block distractions, and track your progress. Sync with your calendar and personalize your experience with customizable themes and sounds.
- Visual timer with drag-to-set functionality
- Task-specific focus sessions
- Pomodoro mode for cycles
- Distracting app and website blocking
- Calendar sync for sessions and reflections
- Customizable themes and icons
- Home Screen widgets and Shortcuts integration
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Focus is built less on willpower and more on an environment that makes it easy to begin. Ultimate Focus is a simple focus timer designed with only the features you actually need for work and study. Manage separate sessions for each task, review your focus, use Pomodoro mode, block distracting apps, and sync your sessions with Calendar—all in one app. Features - Drag your finger to quickly set the timer. - Organize your focus time by separating sessions for different tasks. - Stay in rhythm with Pomodoro mode for natural cycles of focus and break. - Review how you focused with stats and reflection features. - Sync your focus sessions and reflections with the Calendar app. - Personalize the app with 70+ color themes and app icons. - Check your focus stats or start a timer right away from Home Screen widgets. - Start a timer using Shortcuts. - Block selected apps and websites while you focus. - Use Habits to receive reminders at the times you want. - Customize notification sounds and background music to match your style. (Premium) - Sync and edit your focus records across devices with iCloud. (Premium) If you experience any issues while using the app, have questions, or find a bug, please contact us anytime at hello@ultimatefocus.app. Terms of Use : https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Ultimate Focus at none against Be Focused's shown. Ultimate Focus also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and device support (6 vs 3). Be Focused's advantage is ratings volume (4.3K vs 183). 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
Both are free to download. Be Focused sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Ultimate Focus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. 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 4.6 for Ultimate Focus. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Be Focused has 4.3K ratings behind it against 183, 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 Ultimate Focus's.
Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, Ultimate Focus every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Be Focused | Ultimate Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (4.3K ratings) — better | 4.6 (183 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 88.9% of reviews — better | 85.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K — better | 183 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 92 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Denys Ievenko | StonicSolution |
Customer experience
Be Focused
Ultimate Focus
User reviews
Be Focused
From 4.3K App Store ratingsWhat 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
Ultimate Focus
From 183 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple and intuitive UI
- ✨ Beautiful and clean aesthetic
- ⌚️ Apple Watch integration
- 📊 Useful analytics and statistics
- 🖱️ Menu bar timer display
Room to improve
- 🐛 Pomodoro mode not working for some
- 🐛 Timer not movable after exiting desktop app
- 🐛 Session switching on iPhone is confusing
- 🐛 Subscription not as advertised
- 🐛 Shortcuts only allow one section selection
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
Ultimate Focus
Reported bugs
17 issues- Pomodoro mode not working
- Timer not movable after exiting desktop app
- Session switching on iPhone is confusing
- Shortcuts only allow one section selection
- Default timer is always 25 min
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Restarting phone requires re-onboarding
- Alarm sound is too short
- Icon cannot be moved on home screen
- Timer doesn't record if stopped early
- Timer end memo sometimes doesn't display
- Keynote doesn't show timer overlay
- App volume cannot be adjusted
- Dock icon cannot be hidden
- Sync issues across devices
- Apple Watch timer stops when screen dims
- Apple Watch app lacks break timer
- Timer not resetting correctly
Requested features
37 requests- Pause and resume timer functionality
- Guide website for usage
- Option to purchase premium
- Improve iPhone session switching clarity
- Pomodoro mode without breaks
Show 32 moreShow fewer
- Ability to add time manually after forgetting to start
- Count-up (stopwatch) mode
- Ability to choose own theming colors
- Weekly report with productivity insights
- AI to break down trends
- Continuous timer alarm sound until dismissed
- Real-time widget for specific sessions
- Ability to set default timer per session
- Option to change daily reset time (e.g., 2 AM instead of midnight)
- Show current time on Apple Watch timer screen
- Option to hide numbers on menu bar timer
- Option to have timer circle represent full visual space regardless of duration
- Ability to run multiple timers simultaneously
- Bar graph option for timer visualization
- Stopwatch mode for flexible time tracking
- Option to change time cycle for daily reset
- One-time purchase option for premium
- More sound themes or custom color themes
- Option to disable retrospect pop-up
- Digital display option for timer
- Adjustable alarm volume within the app
- Option to hide app icon from dock
- Tutorial for Pomodoro mode settings
- Option to make timer display on Keynote
- Sync session and retrospect lists across devices
- Improve Apple Watch app functionality (e.g., break timer)
- Option to set timer for over 60 minutes
- Option to reset timer to start from beginning
- Option to have timer on every desktop
- Option to show only icon on menu bar
- Invert clock colors for focus and break times
- Ability to change timer duration for each session individually
In-app purchases
Be Focused
- Monthly Pro$2.991 Month
- Yearly Pro7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Lifetime Pro$39.99
Ultimate Focus
- Ultimate Focus - Monthly$2.991 Month
- Ultimate Focus - Annual7 Days trial$17.991 Year
- Ultimate Focus - Annual$17.991 Year
- Ultimate Focus - Lifetime$39.99







