# Focus vs TickDown

The clearest difference is rating: TickDown at 5.0 against Focus's 4.4. TickDown also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs subscription) and update cadence (daily vs every 10 days). Focus's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 1). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and TickDown sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TickDown holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focus has 1.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Focus ships an update every 10 days, TickDown daily. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus | TickDown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-deep-work-timer/id975017240/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tickdown-countdown-and-tasks/id6807993067/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 56.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 301 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Meaningful Things GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/896347016) | [Nusaif Valappil](https://appshunter.io/developer/6807993069) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### TickDown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tickdown-countdown-and-tasks/id6807993067)

Organize your life by combining countdowns to important events with a clear task list. View your deadlines, birthdays, and to-dos all in one place, with customizable visuals and reminders. The core app works offline, and optional premium features unlock advanced widgets and backups.

**Highlights:** Live countdowns to the second, Customizable event backgrounds, Subtasks with progress tracking, Integrated calendar view, Event and task reminders, Home and Lock Screen widgets (Premium), Encrypted on-device backups

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TickDown Premium | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focus free?

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

### Is TickDown free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Focus or TickDown?

TickDown is rated higher. Focus averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while TickDown averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Focus or TickDown have ads?

TickDown shows ads; Focus does not.

### Which is updated more often, Focus or TickDown?

Focus ships an update every 10 days, and TickDown daily. Most recently, Focus was updated on September 27, 2026 and TickDown on September 21, 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.*