Comparison

Be Focused vs alphaSkills alphaReminder

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

alphaSkills alphaReminder

Features
Read full description

AlphaReminder reminds you at regular intervals with an acoustic signal. Perfect for meditation, breaks, breathing exercises, or any time-based routine. - Interval: freely selectable from 1–60 minutes - Schedule: set start and end time - 5 different signal tones - Vibration and visual signal - Runs in the background and when the device is locked - 4 languages: German, English, French, Italian

Screenshots

Be Focused4 screens
alphaSkills alphaReminder3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: alphaSkills alphaReminder at none against Be Focused's 3. alphaSkills alphaReminder also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months). On price 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. alphaSkills alphaReminder asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, alphaSkills alphaReminder every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Be Focused versus alphaSkills alphaReminder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBe FocusedalphaSkills alphaReminder
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.3K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys Ievenkoe4u Solutions GmbH

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

alphaSkills alphaReminder

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$23.99
None

alphaSkills alphaReminder

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Be Focused free?
Be Focused is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is alphaSkills alphaReminder free?
alphaSkills alphaReminder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Be Focused or alphaSkills alphaReminder have ads?
Be Focused shows ads; alphaSkills alphaReminder does not.
Which is updated more often, Be Focused or alphaSkills alphaReminder?
Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, and alphaSkills alphaReminder every 2 weeks. Most recently, Be Focused was updated on November 1, 2026 and alphaSkills alphaReminder on October 16, 2026.

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