# Be Focused vs Focus

The clearest difference is monetization model: Be Focused at free with in-app purchases against Focus's subscription. Be Focused also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 57%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). Focus's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Be Focused sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Focus sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Be Focused holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.3K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Be Focused's written reviews are positive against 57% of Focus's.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Be Focused | Focus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-focused-deep-focus-timer/id973130201/reviews)** | [4.4 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-deep-work-timer/id975017240/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | **88.9% of reviews** | 57.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 38 MB | 302 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Denys Ievenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/427936468) | [Meaningful Things GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/896347016) |

## 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


### Focus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-deep-work-timer/id975017240)

This app helps users improve concentration and productivity by breaking work into structured intervals with scheduled breaks. It offers task management, detailed statistics, and syncs across all Apple devices, including Apple Watch and widgets.

**Highlights:** Customizable Pomodoro timer, Unlimited to-do lists, In-depth productivity statistics, iCloud sync across Apple devices, Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets, Apple Watch app

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focus - Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Focus - 3 Months | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Focus Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Focus Yearly | $27.99 | per year |
| Focus Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Focus Early Bird | $29.99 | per year |
| Focus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Focus Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Patron Subscription | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Time tracking
- 👍 Minimalist design
- 🚀 Seamless cross-device sync
- 👍 Helpful for productivity
- 👍 Great for Pomodoro technique

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Sync issues between devices
- 🐛 Unreliable notifications
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Forced to pay for basic functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Infinite intro screen
- Prompts to set up app on every open
- Timer resets unexpectedly
- Sync issues between iPhone, iPad, and Watch
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to duplicate tasks
- Calendar integration
- Background sounds
- Customizable timer lengths
- Automatic focus mode switching


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Be Focused free?

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

### Is Focus free?

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

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

Be Focused is rated higher. Be Focused averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Focus averages 4.4 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Be Focused or Focus have ads?

Be Focused shows ads; Focus does not.

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

Be Focused ships an update every 5 months, and Focus every 10 days. Most recently, Be Focused was updated on October 5, 2026 and Focus on October 3, 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.*