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Study apps with a pet: 6 cute focus timers compared (2026)

By Martin Eriksson · 29 October 2026

I'm Martin, the solo developer behind Puperino. Where I mention my own app, I'll say so.

If a plain countdown timer makes you want to close the app, a study app with a pet might be what gets you to start. Instead of watching numbers, you're keeping a little creature company. It sounds silly, and it works surprisingly well, especially for the hardest part of studying: the first five minutes.

I looked at the most popular options on iPhone and compared what each pet actually does, what's free and what you pay for. One disclosure first: Puperino is my app. I've tried to describe every app fairly, and I've included where others do things better.

All prices and ratings below are from the US App Store on 29 October 2026.

Quick comparison

1. Puperino: a puppy who naps beside you

Puperino is a Pomodoro timer built around Biscuit, a sleepy puppy. When you press Start, he curls up in his bed beside the timer. When the session ends, he wakes up and brings you a gift: a tennis ball, a garden flower, a muddy stick if you gave up early, or occasionally a golden frisbee.

You can keep gifts or trade them for bones, then spend the bones decorating his room (there are 11 seasonal themes) and dressing him in hats, glasses and outfits. The timer also shows on your lock screen with Biscuit next to it, and there's an exam countdown where he wears a special tie on the big day.

Good for: people who want something calm rather than game-like, and anyone who struggles to start. The first session is only 15 minutes, on purpose.

Less good: it's new, so it doesn't have years of polish or thousands of reviews yet. Stats, ambient sounds and extra dogs are part of Puperino Pro.

2. Focus Friend: the bean that went viral

Focus Friend, made by YouTuber Hank Green's team, is the best-known app in this category. Your bean works on a knitting project while you focus, and you earn decorations for its room, garden and outfits. It has a lock-screen Live Activity, a Deep Focus mode that locks distracting apps, and an Editors' Choice badge on the App Store.

Good for: people who love decorating and collecting. There are hundreds of items.

Less good: the decorating can become the main event. If you find yourself redecorating instead of studying, a simpler app may suit you better.

3. Study Bunny: the original study pet

Study Bunny has been around for years and has the most ratings of any pet study app. You earn coins while studying and spend them on clothes, items and music for your bunny. It also includes a to-do list, flashcards and a study tracker, and the bunny offers encouragement if you pause.

Good for: students who want flashcards and a tracker in the same place as the pet.

Less good: it doesn't block other apps, and extras are sold as coin packs that range from $0.99 to $69.99.

4. Pomocat: a cat for your Pomodoros

Pomocat keeps things simple: cat animations, white noise and a stamp calendar that marks the days you focused. It works on Apple Watch too, and you can focus alongside friends. Premium adds D-Day countdowns, more sounds and longer custom sessions.

Good for: cat people who want something minimal and cute.

Less good: there's less to collect or unlock than in the other apps, which some people will see as a plus.

5. Fatty Cat!: feed your cat on breaks

In Fatty Cat!, you feed your virtual cat during your breaks, and its health depends on keeping up your study habit. Finish four bowls and you've completed a study routine. It has hand-drawn art and more than 20 animations.

Good for: people motivated by looking after something.

Less good: some reviewers say their cat "died" unexpectedly after syncing between devices, which can feel harsh if you're already stressed.

6. Forest: not a pet, but the one everyone compares to

Forest isn't a pet app, but it's the most popular focus app with a living thing in it, so it belongs here. A tree grows while you stay off your phone and dies if you leave the app. It now has app blocking, focus sessions with friends and real tree planting through a charity partner.

Good for: people who want a strong "don't touch your phone" consequence.

Less good: if a dead tree makes you feel guilty rather than motivated, a gentler app may suit you better.

How to choose

• You struggle to start at all: pick the calmest option with short sessions. Puperino's 15-minute first session or Pomocat's simple timer.
• You mostly lose time to your phone: pick one that blocks apps: Forest, Focus Friend or Puperino.
• You love collecting and decorating: Focus Friend has the most items. Study Bunny and Puperino are close behind.
• You want flashcards too: Study Bunny.

Whichever you pick, the pet only gets you to sit down. Give each session one clear task, for example "summarise chapter 4", and the pet does the rest.

Puperino

Want to study with a puppy? Puperino is free to download on iPhone.

Download on the App Store

Puperino

A cozy Pomodoro timer for iPhone. Biscuit naps beside you while you focus and brings you a gift when you finish.

Download on the App Store