Alternatives · Focus
TomatoBar alternatives
TomatoBar compared with 8 alternatives: Flow, Be Focused, Session, Focus - Deep Work Timer, Pomofocus and 3 more.
TomatoBar is free to use. 7 of the 8 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
8 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| TomatoBarThis tool | Free | Free | macOS |
| Flow | Free plan · from $17.99/yr | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Be Focused | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Session | Free plan · from $3.33/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Focus - Deep Work Timer | Free plan · from $6.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Pomofocus | Free plan · from $3/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Focus Timer | Free | Free | Linux |
| Pomodor | Free | Free | Web |
| Vitamin-R | Free trial · from $29.95 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
How each one differs from TomatoBar
- Free plan · from $17.99/yr
Flow
Minimal Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
- Flow starts at $17.99 / year ($1.49 / month), or $2.99 monthly (US App Store). TomatoBar is free.
- Only Flow lists an iOS app.
- Flow can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
- Flow also covers site & app blocker.
Suits: People who work only on Apple devices and want one timer across them
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Be Focused
Pomodoro timer with tasks for iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Be Focused starts at $2.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store). TomatoBar is free.
- Only Be Focused lists an iOS app.
- Be Focused can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
- Be Focused also covers tasks and site & app blocker.
Suits: Apple users who want a Pomodoro timer tied to a task list
- Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Session
Pomodoro focus timer with analytics for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Session starts at $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99). TomatoBar is free.
- Only Session lists an iOS app.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
- Session also covers site & app blocker and time tracking.
- TomatoBar also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Mac and iPhone users who work in Pomodoro intervals
- Free plan · from $6.99/mo
Focus - Deep Work Timer
Pomodoro timer with tasks and time tracking for Apple devices
- Focus - Deep Work Timer starts at $6.99 / month, or $39.99 / year (US App Store). TomatoBar is free.
- Only Focus - Deep Work Timer lists an iOS app.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
- Focus - Deep Work Timer also covers tasks and time tracking.
Suits: Apple users who want a timer and a task list in one app
- Free plan · from $3/mo
Pomofocus
Browser-based Pomodoro timer with a task list and reports
- Pomofocus starts at $3 / month, or $18 / year. TomatoBar is free.
- Only Pomofocus lists a web app.
- Only Pomofocus lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Pomofocus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: People who want a Pomodoro timer that opens in a browser tab
- Free
Focus Timer
Free Pomodoro timer for Linux, formerly GNOME Pomodoro
- Focus Timer is free. TomatoBar is free.
- Only Focus Timer lists a Linux app.
- Only TomatoBar lists a macOS app.
- Focus Timer also covers time tracking.
- TomatoBar also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Linux users who want a Pomodoro timer built for their desktop
- Free
Pomodor
Minimal Pomodoro timer that runs in the browser
- Pomodor is free. TomatoBar is free.
- Only Pomodor lists a web app.
- Only TomatoBar lists a macOS app.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
- TomatoBar also covers menu bar app.
Suits: People who want a plain Pomodoro timer in a browser tab
- Free trial · from $29.95 one-time
Vitamin-R
Time-boxing and Pomodoro timer for the Mac
- Vitamin-R starts at $29.95 one-time purchase (Single User license). TomatoBar is free.
- TomatoBar has a free plan. Vitamin-R does not, though it has a free trial.
- Vitamin-R can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
- Vitamin-R also covers time tracking and focus music.
Suits: People who keep postponing vague or intimidating tasks
Limits worth knowing in TomatoBar
- macOS only. Version 3.0 and later need macOS Big Sur or newer; older macOS versions and the Touch Bar are supported only by releases before 3.0.
- The README describes no task list, reports or sync between devices; session history is kept only as a JSON log file.
- Homebrew marks its tomatobar cask as disabled since September 1, 2026 for failing the Gatekeeper check, though the README still gives the Homebrew command.
- The latest stable version, 3.6.1, is dated February 19, 2026. Before the 3.6 releases that month, the previous one, 3.5.0, came out in September 2023.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to TomatoBar?
The alternatives to TomatoBar in this directory are Flow, Be Focused, Session, Focus - Deep Work Timer, Pomofocus, Focus Timer, Pomodor and Vitamin-R. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with TomatoBar.
Is there a free alternative to TomatoBar?
Yes. Focus Timer and Pomodor are free to use. Flow, Be Focused, Session, Focus - Deep Work Timer and Pomofocus have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which TomatoBar alternatives work on Windows?
The TomatoBar listing does not include a Windows app. Pomofocus lists one.
Which TomatoBar alternatives work on Linux?
The TomatoBar listing does not include a Linux app. Pomofocus and Focus Timer list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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