The best focus apps in 2026

1. 1. PulsePom

   Best for studying with friends, with free blocking of Shorts and Reels

   A free study app that puts a Pomodoro and Normal timer, study groups with chat, a planner, a weekly and monthly habit tracker, stats and leaderboards in one place, with no ads. Its Android app adds a free blocker for apps, websites, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. The Timer, Stats and Planner work without an account and offline.

   Good

   • Study groups, group chat, challenges and leaderboards, all free
   • Every Android blocking feature is free, Shorts and Reels blocking included
   • Web, Android and Windows apps with one account, and no sign-up needed to start

   Keep in mind

   • No App Store app: on iPhone, iPad and Mac it runs in the browser
   • Blocking is Android-only
   • No focus sounds, video study rooms or smartwatch app
   • The AI study coach is part of Premium

   Price: Free; Premium (monthly, yearly, or Lifetime on Android) adds PulsePom AI and Calendar Pro · Platforms: Web, Android, Windows; iPhone, iPad and Mac in the browser

   About PulsePom

2. 2. Forest

   Best for a gamified timer that plants real trees

   Forest grows a virtual tree while you stay off your phone, and the tree withers if you leave to scroll. It has a countdown timer and stopwatch, Deep Focus app blocking, Plant Together rooms with friends, a global leaderboard and ambient sounds, and the coins you earn can plant real trees.

   Good

   • A simple, motivating idea that works
   • Plants real trees with Trees for the Future
   • Native Android and iPhone apps, plus Chrome and Firefox extensions

   Keep in mind

   • The free version shows ads (Google Play label)
   • The custom allowlist, multi-app Time Guard and Focus Analytics need Forest Plus
   • No to-do list or habit tracker in its listing

   Price: Free; Forest Plus subscription · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome and Firefox extensions

   PulsePom vs Forest · Forest's website

3. 3. Flora

   Best for growing trees with friends, with no ads

   Flora is a tree-planting focus app with no ads: a seed grows while you focus and dies if you leave. You can grow trees with friends in groups, chat, compare focus time, turn to-dos into a plant-collecting journey, and plant real trees with Flora Care.

   Good

   • No ads, per its listing
   • Grow trees together with friends, and chat
   • Real trees with a Flora Care subscription

   Keep in mind

   • No app blocking in its listing: leaving kills the tree instead
   • No web or Windows app in its listing
   • Real tree planting needs a subscription

   Price: Free; in-app purchases ($0.99–$134.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome extension

   PulsePom vs Flora · Flora's website

4. 4. Focus To-Do

   Best for a Pomodoro timer joined to a task manager, on every platform

   Focus To-Do joins a Pomodoro timer to a full task manager with projects, reminders and recurring tasks, and syncs between phone and computer. It has reports with a Gantt chart, an app whitelist, white noise and a plant that grows as you focus.

   Good

   • A real task manager next to the timer
   • Apps for almost every platform, including watches
   • Gantt-chart and trend reports

   Keep in mind

   • No study groups or group chat in its listing
   • Blocking is an app whitelist only
   • Some features are in-app purchases

   Price: Free with in-app purchases ($1.99–$11.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Apple Watch, Wear OS; Chrome extension

   PulsePom vs Focus To-Do · Focus To-Do's website

5. 5. TickTick

   Best for a powerful to-do list and calendar with a Pomodoro timer

   TickTick is a powerful task manager and calendar with a built-in Pomodoro timer, white noise and a habit tracker, synced across the web, phones, computers and Wear OS.

   Good

   • One of the most complete to-do and calendar apps
   • Pomodoro timer and white noise built in
   • Apps for every major platform

   Keep in mind

   • The free plan has 5 habits; more need Premium (US$49.99 a year)
   • No study groups or app blocking in its listing
   • Made for tasks first, studying second

   Price: Free; Premium US$49.99 a year · Platforms: Web, Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Wear OS

   PulsePom vs TickTick · TickTick's website

6. 6. Pomofocus

   Best for the simplest Pomodoro timer in a browser

   Pomofocus is a clean Pomodoro timer in the browser with a task list, estimated Pomodoros and a finish-time estimate. It opens and starts without an account, and has desktop downloads for Mac, Windows and Linux.

   Good

   • Open the page and press Start: no sign-up
   • Task templates, a finish-time estimate and Todoist import
   • Downloads for Mac, Windows and Linux

   Keep in mind

   • Ads in the free version (“No Ads” is a Premium feature)
   • Yearly reports and CSV download need Premium
   • No study groups or app blocking in its features

   Price: Free; Premium adds projects, yearly reports, CSV download, integrations and no ads · Platforms: Web; downloads for Mac, Windows and Linux

   PulsePom vs Pomofocus · Pomofocus's website

7. 7. Focusmate

   Best for live accountability with a partner on video

   Focusmate pairs you with a partner for a live video session of 25, 50 or 75 minutes, so someone is there while you work: virtual body doubling in the browser.

   Good

   • Real accountability from a live partner
   • Works in any browser, nothing to install
   • Sessions sync with your calendar

   Keep in mind

   • You stay on camera
   • The free plan has 3 sessions a week; Plus is $8 a month billed yearly or $12 monthly
   • No stats, planner or app blocking among its listed features

   Price: Free: 3 sessions a week; Plus: unlimited, $8 a month billed yearly or $12 monthly · Platforms: Browser on a computer or phone; no download

   PulsePom vs Focusmate · Focusmate's website

8. 8. Opal

   Best for screen-time control on iPhone, Mac and Android

   Opal is a screen-time and focus app: focus sessions block apps, schedules repeat them, app limits cap your daily use, and weekly reports and streaks show progress. Its listing says it works locally on your device.

   Good

   • Polished focus sessions, schedules and app limits
   • Runs on iPhone, Mac and Android
   • Its listing says your data stays on your device

   Keep in mind

   • Opal Pro is a paid subscription
   • No study groups or planner in its listing
   • Made for screen time, not for studying

   Price: Free to try; Opal Pro ($2.99–$79.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: iPhone, Mac, Android

   Opal's website

9. 9. ScreenZen

   Best for completely free screen-time control

   ScreenZen makes you pause before opening a distracting app or website, interrupts long scrolling, and sets daily goals per app. Its website says it is completely free, with optional donations.

   Good

   • Completely free, per its FAQ
   • Gentle friction that builds intention
   • Android, iPhone, Mac and Windows

   Keep in mind

   • Made for screen time only: no timer, groups or planner in its listing
   • Adds friction rather than strict blocking by default

   Price: Completely free; donations welcome (its FAQ) · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows

   ScreenZen's website

10. 10. Focus Friend

    Best for a cute, gentle timer for short sessions

    Focus Friend, made by Hank Green, is a cozy timer where a little Bean focuses with you and earns decorations for its room. Its Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps during a session.

    Good

    • Very gentle and fun for short sessions
    • Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps
    • Pomodoro-style break timers

    Keep in mind

    • No study groups, planner or stats in its listing
    • No web or desktop app in its listing
    • Decorations and skins are in-app purchases

    Price: Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$39.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad

    Focus Friend's website

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