Comparison

Be Focused vs Tomato 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

Tomato Timer

This app provides a customizable Pomodoro timer designed to enhance focus and productivity. It features an ADHD-friendly mode with minimal distractions and offers Live Activity widgets for seamless tracking on your device's lock screen.

Highlights
  • Customizable work and break cycles
  • ADHD-friendly low-stimulation mode
  • Step-by-step session progression
  • One-tap controls for start, pause, restart, skip
  • Progress bar for visible time tracking
  • Live Activity widgets for Lock Screen and Dynamic Island
Features
Read full description

Meet Tomato Timer — a modern Pomodoro timer built to help you start, stay focused, and finish. Whether you need a study timer, a work timer, or a simple productivity timer for deep work, Tomato Timer keeps your sessions clear, calm, and easy to control. The Pomodoro Technique, simplified Pick a focus session, take a short break, repeat, then recharge with a longer break. Tomato Timer turns this proven rhythm into a clean focus timer you can trust during work, study sessions, and everyday tasks. ADHD-friendly, low-stimulation mode If animations, moving backgrounds, or visual effects pull you out of focus, enable ADHD-friendly mode: • Disable all animations • Disable background tinting • Keep the interface steady and predictable Less sensory noise → fewer interruptions → more sustained concentration. Core features • Pomodoro timer with fully customizable work & break cycles (classic 25/5, 50/10, 90/20, or your own) • Step-by-step sessions: work → break → repeat, with clear phase changes • One-tap start, pause/resume, restart, and skip (because real life is messy) • Convenient progress bar that makes time feel “visible” at a glance • Live Activity widgets for Lock Screen and Dynamic Island so your timer stays in view • Smooth, elegant modern design that stays out of your way Built for focus, not friction Tomato Timer is intentionally fast to use. Open the app, choose a cycle, start. No complicated setup, no clutter—just a productivity timer that helps you do the next small step. Use Tomato Timer as a… • Study timer for exams, language learning, homework, and reading • Focus timer for ADHD brains that prefer a clean, stable UI • Work timer for coding, writing, design, and meetings • Break timer to prevent burnout, stretch, hydrate, or reset your mind • Interval timer for any routine that benefits from clear phases Live Activities that keep you on track With Live Activity widgets, you can see your current session (work or break), remaining time, and progress without opening the app. Keeping the timer on your Lock Screen or Dynamic Island reduces “just checking my phone” distractions—so you return to the task faster. Customize your rhythm Different days need different cycles. Build what fits you: • Set focus minutes, short break minutes, and long break minutes • Choose how many cycles you want before a long break • Change your plan anytime (great for flexible schedules and ADHD variability)

Screenshots

Be Focused4 screens
Tomato Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Be Focused at 89% against Tomato Timer's 0%. Be Focused also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.7) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 3). Tomato Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Be Focused holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Be Focused has 4.3K ratings behind it against 3, 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 0% of Tomato Timer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, Tomato Timer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Be Focused versus Tomato Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBe FocusedTomato Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.3K ratings) — better2.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4.3K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoAmeliia Shekikhacheva

Customer experience

Be Focused

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

Tomato Timer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

Tomato Timer

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

Tomato Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Be Focused free?
Be Focused is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tomato Timer free?
Tomato Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Be Focused or Tomato Timer?
Be Focused is rated higher. Be Focused averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Tomato Timer averages 2.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Be Focused or Tomato Timer have ads?
Be Focused shows ads; Tomato Timer does not.
Which is updated more often, Be Focused or Tomato Timer?
Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, and Tomato Timer every 3 months. Most recently, Be Focused was updated on October 10, 2026 and Tomato Timer on October 14, 2026.

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