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Focus Friend or NIX Scoreboard?
Focus Friend is a cozy focus timer: your Bean focuses when you do, and it's free to download, with a paid Pro subscription. NIX Scoreboard is free and times your focus too: Focus blocks every app for a set time, with the time left on your Lock Screen, and you compete with friends on a daily board.
Side by side
| Focus Friend | NIX Scoreboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks the apps you choose | Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps during your focus sessions | No Focus blocks every app at once. |
| Blocks on a schedule | Not stated on their site | No You start Focus when you want it. |
| Blocks apps on demand, for a set time | Yes Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps during a timed focus session | Yes Focus blocks every app for 5 to 120 minutes. Phone, Messages, FaceTime, Maps and your Always Allowed list stay open. |
| Compete with friends | Not stated on their site | Yes A daily board with your friends. Lowest score wins. |
| Group competitions | Not stated on their site | Yes Each group has its own board, run weekly, monthly, or as a race of up to 30 days. |
| One session, one end time for everyone | Not stated on their site | Yes Phones down: one code, one end time for everyone, up to 20 people. |
| Adult websites | Not stated on their site | Yes Blocks adult websites. |
| Price (checked 4 October 2026) | Free to download, with in-app purchases. Focus Friend Pro is $3.99 a month or $19.99 a year, or $39.99 for life | Free forever. No ads, nothing to buy. |
| Devices | iPhone and iPad (iOS 15.0 or later), and Android | iPhone only (iOS 16.4 or later). |
| Timer on your Lock Screen | Yes A Live Activity shows your timer progress when your phone is locked | Yes The time left in your Focus shows on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. |
| Break timers | Yes Break timers, Pomodoro style | No |
| What a finished session earns | Your Bean gives you prizes to decorate its room | Every focused minute takes 1 NX off today's score. Finish a Focus and a bonus comes off too. |
| Friends see your Focus | Not stated on their site | Yes Friends can see that you're focusing and how long is left. Rank any board by minutes focused. |
Why pick Scoreboard
Scoreboard is free, Focus blocks every app for the time you set, and your friends see you focusing and race you on the board. If you'd rather look after a Bean, take Pomodoro breaks or focus on an iPad, Focus Friend fits better.
FAQ
Does Focus Friend block apps?
Yes. Its App Store listing says Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps during your focus sessions.
Can I focus with friends on Scoreboard?
Yes. Phones down: focus together with one code and one end time for everyone, up to 20 people. If everyone finishes, everyone gets a group bonus. Friends can see that you're focusing and how long is left.
What do my friends see on Scoreboard?
Friends see your score and how it splits by category; never which apps, never what you did in them, never anything on your screen.
New to Scoreboard? The setup guide walks you from download to your first board.
Focus Friend is published by B-Tech Consulting Group LLC. NIX Scoreboard is not affiliated with or endorsed by B-Tech Consulting Group LLC or anyone who makes Focus Friend. Facts about Focus Friend were read on Focus Friend's own pages on 4 October 2026.
Find out where you'd rank.
Free on the App Store · iPhone, iOS 16.4+ · No ads, nothing to buy