Softwr

Communication · head to head

Disciple vs Focusmate

Disciple logo

Disciple

Communication

White-label community apps published under your own brand on iOS, Android and web

From
£599/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Focusmate logo

Focusmate

Productivity

Virtual co-working platform for accountability and productivity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Focusmate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Disciple the entry plan starts at £599 a month, so a community with a few hundred members pays more per head than almost any percentage-fee alternative, and the flat fee only wins above a revenue threshold you should calculate before signing.; Focusmate the free plan caps sessions at 3 per week
  • They diverge on capability: Disciple covers Native branded apps, Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Disciple and Focusmate actually diverge.

Attributes where Disciple and Focusmate differ
AttributeDiscipleFocusmate
Starting price£599/monthFree
Pricing modelPer month, flat fee with no transaction chargefreemium
Free tierNoYes
CategoryCommunicationProductivity
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Disciple

  • Native branded apps
  • Web community
  • Groups and feeds
  • Courses
  • Live streaming and video
  • Subscriptions and payments
  • Multi-tier membership
  • Push notifications and analytics

Only in Focusmate

  • 25-minute work sessions
  • Partner matching
  • Video co-working
  • Goal setting and tracking
  • Session history
  • Reflection notes
  • Weekly sessions
  • Mobile-friendly

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Disciple

  • A membership body moving several thousand paying members off Facebook Groups into an app that carries its own name in the App Storenot Focusmate
  • A fitness or coaching business selling subscriptions where a percentage-based platform fee would cost more each month than a flat licencenot Focusmate
  • A sports club or faith organisation that wants push notifications to reach members directly rather than competing with a social feed algorithmnot Focusmate
  • A brand running a customer community that must live on its own domain and its own app listing for reasons of ownership or sponsorshipnot Focusmate

Focusmate

  • Virtual co-working sessionsnot Disciple
  • Accountability partnershipsnot Disciple
  • Focus and productivitynot Disciple

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Disciple

  • The entry plan starts at £599 a month, so a community with a few hundred members pays more per head than almost any percentage-fee alternative, and the flat fee only wins above a revenue threshold you should calculate before signing.
  • Video is metered at 10,000 minutes on the entry plan and 20,000 on Pro, so a community that leans on live streaming will hit overage or a plan upgrade rather than the unlimited storage the marketing implies.
  • Owning your own App Store listing means owning App Store review, rejections and the annual developer account, and a policy change at Apple becomes your problem rather than the platform vendor's.
  • Apple and Google still take their cut of in-app purchases regardless of Disciple charging no transaction fee, so the zero percent claim applies to Disciple's share only and not to the total cost of collecting money in-app.
  • Pricing is in sterling, which introduces exchange rate exposure and, for some buyers, VAT handling that a US-billed competitor would not create.

Focusmate

  • The free plan caps sessions at 3 per week
  • Unlimited sessions require the Plus plan at $8 per month billed annually or $12 per month billed monthly
  • The Business plan is priced by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Disciple

£599/month
  • Branded App$599/month
    • Branded iOS, Android and web apps
    • 5 admin seats
    • 10 groups
  • Branded App Pro$999/month
    • Unlimited admin seats and groups under fair use
    • Unlimited monetised courses
    • 20,000 video minutes
  • Organisation$3400/month
    • From £3,400 per month
    • Custom feature development
    • API access and custom integrations

Focusmate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 sessions per week
    • No credit card required
  • Plus$8/month
    • Unlimited sessions
  • Business$null/mo
    • For enterprises, small businesses, learning communities

Which should you pick?

Choose Disciple if

  • You need native branded apps.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want web community.
Disciple review

Choose Focusmate if

  • You need 25-minute work sessions.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want partner matching.
Focusmate review

Questions people ask

Is Disciple or Focusmate better?
Neither clearly leads. Disciple starts at £599/month and Focusmate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Disciple or Focusmate?
Focusmate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at £599/month for Disciple and Free for Focusmate.
Does Disciple or Focusmate run on more platforms?
Disciple runs on Web, iOS, Android. Focusmate runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Focusmate for free?
Yes. Focusmate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Disciple starts at £599/month.
What is Disciple best used for?
Disciple is most often used for a membership body moving several thousand paying members off facebook groups into an app that carries its own name in the app store, a fitness or coaching business selling subscriptions where a percentage-based platform fee would cost more each month than a flat licence, a sports club or faith organisation that wants push notifications to reach members directly rather than competing with a social feed algorithm, a brand running a customer community that must live on its own domain and its own app listing for reasons of ownership or sponsorship. Of those, a membership body moving several thousand paying members off facebook groups into an app that carries its own name in the app store and a fitness or coaching business selling subscriptions where a percentage-based platform fee would cost more each month than a flat licence are not what Focusmate is typically brought in for.
What can Disciple do that Focusmate cannot?
Disciple covers Native branded apps, Web community, Groups and feeds, Courses. Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Partner matching, Video co-working, Goal setting and tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Disciple: How much does Disciple cost?

Branded App is £599 a month, Branded App Pro is £999 a month, and the Organisation tier starts at £3,400 a month. Annual billing gives two months free.

Focusmate: Does Focusmate offer a free plan?

Yes. Focusmate's free plan includes up to 3 sessions per week at no cost, with no credit card required. Session duration is approximately 25 minutes each. Upgrade to Plus to unlock unlimited sessions.

Source
Disciple: Does Disciple take a cut of member payments?

No. All plans are 0% transaction fees on Disciple's side. Apple and Google still take their standard in-app purchase commission, which is separate.

Focusmate: What is the difference between Plus monthly and annual billing?

Focusmate Plus costs $12 per month when billed monthly, or $8 per month when billed annually. Annual billing provides a 33 percent discount compared to monthly billing.

Source
Disciple: Is the app published under my brand?

Yes. iOS and Android apps go into the stores under your own name and branding, not as a section within a shared platform app.

Focusmate: What features are included in Focusmate Business?

Business is designed for enterprises, small businesses, and learning communities, but specific features and pricing are not listed publicly. Contact Focusmate directly for details on Business plan capabilities and costs.

Source
Disciple: Is there a member limit?

Plans advertise unlimited members subject to fair use. The real limits are admin seats, groups, courses and video minutes, which differ by plan.

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