PureStudy is a study timer for students and anyone doing focused self study. It measures how long you actually stayed at your desk, not how long the timer was left running.
While a session runs, the front camera checks on your device whether someone is sitting in front of the screen, and the timer counts only the time you are really there. Around that the app gives you statistics and streaks, focus and break cycles, a timelapse of your session, and an optional school ranking. There are no ads, and no account or login is required.
How it works
When you step away the timer pauses by itself, and when you sit back down it continues from where it stopped. It allows about ten seconds before treating you as away, and waits three seconds to confirm you are back before counting again, so a short stretch does not ruin your record.
Camera use and privacy
The camera answers one question only: is someone sitting there. Every frame used for that check is analyzed on your device and discarded immediately. No camera image from presence detection is saved to your phone or sent anywhere. There is no facial recognition, and the app never identifies who you are. The camera runs only while the study screen is open and stops when the app goes to the background. You can also decline the camera permission and use the app as a plain timer, with presence detection off.
Study cycles
You can split a session into focus blocks and breaks, like a Pomodoro timer. The difference is that the focus bar fills with measured study time only, so stepping away pauses your progress instead of letting it pass. Time away during a scheduled break is not counted against you, and the next focus block starts on its own once you sit back down.
Study timelapse
You can record a session as a short timelapse and keep it as proof of the time you put in. Recording pauses with the timer when you leave your seat, so the video shows the time you were actually there. It is created on your device at 720p and saved to your gallery only when you tap Save. This is free for everyone, and Pro removes the watermark.
Statistics and records
The app keeps your total, daily and monthly study time, a thirteen week heatmap, weekly trend charts, per subject statistics, your focus rate, and a summary of how often you left your seat. It also tracks daily streaks and thirty one achievements. These records stay on your device, and you can delete them at any time from Settings.
School ranking
You can add your study time to your school total and see how your school ranks. Taking part is optional. When you use it, the school you pick, your daily study time, a nickname the app generates for you, and a random identifier created for your installation are sent to our server over HTTPS. Your name, email address and contacts are never sent. You can leave the ranking and delete your record at any time.
What else it does
Tag each session with a subject to see later where your hours went; the free version keeps five tags and Pro removes the limit. Set a daily goal, keep a D-Day countdown for an exam, and schedule a reminder for your next session. While you work you can play ambient sounds such as rain, forest and stream, turn the phone sideways for landscape mode, and use the dark theme at night.
PureStudy Pro
Every feature described above is included in the free version. Pro is optional, available as an auto renewing subscription or a one time lifetime purchase, and subscriptions can be cancelled at any time in your Google Play account settings. Pro does not add a new kind of measurement; it goes deeper into the records you already have. It removes the timelapse watermark and unlocks focus analysis by hour, a breakdown of when and how often you leave your seat, and golden hour alerts for the times you concentrate best. Pro also gives unlimited subject tags, a light theme with eight accent colors, premium ambient sounds, and a second weekly streak freeze where the free version gives one.
A study timer that uses the front camera to pause when you leave your desk.