# Be Focused vs Ultimate Focus

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.

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 19, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Be Focused | Ultimate Focus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-focused-deep-focus-timer/id973130201/reviews)** | [4.6 (183 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ultimate-focus-visual-timer/id1663556775/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 183 |
| Positive reviews | **88.9% of reviews** | 85.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 38 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Denys Ievenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/427936468) | [StonicSolution](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609276235) |

## 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


### Ultimate Focus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ultimate-focus-visual-timer/id1663556775)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ultimate Focus - Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Ultimate Focus - Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| Ultimate Focus - Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| Ultimate Focus - Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive UI
- ✨ Beautiful and clean aesthetic
- ⌚️ Apple Watch integration
- 📊 Useful analytics and statistics
- 🖱️ Menu bar timer display

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Pause and resume timer functionality
- Guide website for usage
- Option to purchase premium
- Improve iPhone session switching clarity
- Pomodoro mode without breaks


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Be Focused free?

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

### Is Ultimate Focus free?

Ultimate Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Be Focused or Ultimate Focus?

Be Focused is rated higher. Be Focused averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Ultimate Focus averages 4.6 from 183 ratings.

### Do Be Focused or Ultimate Focus have ads?

Be Focused shows ads; Ultimate Focus does not.

### Which is updated more often, Be Focused or Ultimate Focus?

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, and Ultimate Focus every 3 weeks. Most recently, Be Focused was updated on September 19, 2026 and Ultimate Focus on September 22, 2026.

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