Price against what you get
Best-value focus apps
Going by our grades, ScreenZen gives the most for the money among focus apps: no tool on this chart scores higher without costing more.
Paid plans start at a middle price of $2.82 a month across the 46 that charge, from $0.83 (minimalist phone) to $35 (Caveday). 10 more cost nothing at all. 20 of the 56 score above the category's average while starting at or below its middle price. 9 cost more than the middle price and score below the average.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- Nothing scores higher without costing more
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
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Paste this where you want it. The picture links back here and is redrawn whenever a price or a grade changes. Use it freely, with the link left in.
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/charts/focus"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/charts/focus/chart.svg" alt="56 focus apps by starting price and by ToolGPA score" width="1200" height="675" style="max-width:100%;height:auto"></a>The best at every price
Each step is the highest score focus apps reach at that price or below. Nothing on the chart beats these without costing more.
Free
No paid plan · scores 3.3 of 4
- ScreenZenFreeBAB
Paying more for less
The focus apps that the most others beat on both counts: a higher score and a lower starting price.
- CavedayStarts at $35 a month and scores 2.0 of 4.46 of 55 score higher for lessCCC
- Flow ClubStarts at $33.33 a month and scores 2.3 of 4.34 of 55 score higher for lessCBC
- FLOWNStarts at $19 a month and scores 2.3 of 4.33 of 55 score higher for lessCBC
- DeepwrkStarts at $12 a month and scores 2.3 of 4.33 of 55 score higher for lessCBC
- Focus - Deep Work TimerStarts at $3.33 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0 of 4.26 of 55 score higher for lessCCC
A high starting price often means a product is sold to companies and has no small plan, and a score is three letters, not the whole product. Read a tool’s own page before ruling it out.
The four quarters
Where the tools fall when the chart is cut at the middle price and the average score.
More for less20
Each scores above the category's average and starts at or below its middle price.
ScreenZen, Forest, Focus To-Do, Flow, one sec, YPT, Jomo, AppBlock and 12 more
Costs more, scores more14
Each scores above the average and starts above the middle price.
Tide, Opal, Focus Keeper, Endel, Clearspace, myNoise, LifeAt, Focus Bear and 6 more
Costs less, scores less13
Each scores below the average and starts at or below the middle price.
StayFocusd, StudyStream, BlockSite, Otto, Regain, Blanket, LeechBlock NG, Pomodor and 5 more
All 56 on the chart
Highest score first, then lowest price. The last column counts the tools that score higher and start lower.
| # | Tool | Score | Features, ease, platforms | A month | As its listing states it | Score higher for less |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ScreenZen | 3.3 | BAB | Free | Free | None |
| 2 | Forest | 3.3 | BAB | $2.71 | $5.99 / month, or from $32.49 / year (US App Store) | None |
| 3 | Tide | 3.3 | BAB | $5 | $11.99 / month, or $59.99 / year (US App Store) | None |
| 4 | Opal | 3.3 | BAB | $8.29 | $8.29 / month, billed annually ($99.99) | None |
| 5 | Focus To-Do | 3.0 | CAB | $1.33 | $1.99 (period not shown), $3.99 / 3 months or $11.99 lifetime (US App Store) | 1 |
| 6 | Flow | 3.0 | BAC | $1.50 | $17.99 / year ($1.49 / month), or $2.99 monthly (US App Store) | 1 |
| 7 | one sec | 3.0 | CAB | $1.67 | $3.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US web store price) | 1 |
| 8 | YPT | 3.0 | BAC | $1.67 | $2.99 / month or $19.99 / 12 months (US App Store; several amounts listed) | 1 |
| 9 | Jomo | 3.0 | BAC | $2.49 | $2.49 / month billed annually ($29.99), or $5.99 monthly | 1 |
| 10 | AppBlock | 3.0 | BBB | $2.50 | $2.50 / month, billed yearly ($29.99) | 1 |
| 11 | Focus Keeper | 3.0 | CAB | $2.92 | $3.99 / month or $34.99 / year (US App Store; several amounts listed) | 2 |
| 12 | Endel | 3.0 | CBA | $3.33 | $6.99 / month, or $39.99 / year (web checkout, US-dollar list) | 2 |
| 13 | Clearspace | 3.0 | CAB | $3.75 | $6.99 / month, or $44.99 / year (US App Store) | 2 |
| 14 | myNoise | 3.0 | CAB | $5 | $10 one-time donation, or $5 / month (lifetime website access) | 2 |
| 15 | LifeAt | 3.0 | BBB | $8 | $8 / month, billed yearly (early-bird price), or $12 monthly | 3 |
| 16 | Focus Bear | 3.0 | ACB | $9.99 | $9.99 / month, billed monthly | 4 |
| 17 | Foqos | 2.7 | CAC | Free | Free | None |
| 18 | StayFree | 2.7 | BCB | Free | Free | None |
| 19 | A Soft Murmur | 2.7 | CBB | $1.25 | $14.99 / year (Pro, bought on the web); iOS sound packs are $1.99 to $3.99 each | 1 |
| 20 | Pomofocus | 2.7 | CBB | $1.50 | $3 / month, or $18 / year | 2 |
Show the other 36
| # | Tool | Score | Features, ease, platforms | A month | As its listing states it | Score higher for less |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Be Focused | 2.7 | CAC | $1.67 | $2.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store) | 3 |
| 22 | Dark Noise | 2.7 | CAC | $1.67 | $2.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store) | 3 |
| 23 | Focus Friend | 2.7 | CAC | $1.67 | $3.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store) | 3 |
| 24 | BePresent | 2.7 | CAC | $2.08 | $3.99 / month or $24.99 / year (US App Store; several amounts listed) | 5 |
| 25 | Stay Focused | 2.7 | BCB | $2.08 | $3.99 / month, or $24.99 / year (US App Store) | 5 |
| 26 | RoundPie | 2.7 | CCA | $2.24 | €2 / month, billed annually (€24), for the Lite plan | 5 |
| 27 | Focused Work | 2.7 | BBC | $2.50 | $4.99 / month, or $29.99 / year (US App Store) | 6 |
| 28 | Portal | 2.7 | CAC | $2.50 | $2.99 / month, or $29.99 / year (US App Store) | 6 |
| 29 | focus.music | 2.7 | CBB | $3.33 | $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99), or $4.99 monthly | 9 |
| 30 | Focusmate | 2.7 | CBB | $8 | $8 / month, billed annually | 13 |
| 31 | Brain.fm | 2.7 | CBB | $8.33 | $99.99 / year, billed annually | 15 |
| 32 | FocusMe | 2.7 | BCB | $9.95 | $9.95 / month (per the pricing page title); $249 lifetime | 15 |
| 33 | Noisli | 2.7 | CBB | $10 | $10 / month billed yearly (Pro); the iOS app is $1.99 once | 16 |
| 34 | Sukha | 2.7 | BBC | $20 | $20 / month | 16 |
| 35 | StayFocusd | 2.3 | CBC | Free | Free | None |
| 36 | StudyStream | 2.3 | CCB | $1.99 | $1.99 / month (US App Store; several amounts listed) | 12 |
| 37 | BlockSite | 2.3 | CCB | $2 | $3.99 / month or $23.99 / year (US App Store; several amounts listed) | 12 |
| 38 | Otto | 2.3 | CBC | $2.42 | $29 for a one-year license, or $66 once for a lifetime license | 15 |
| 39 | Regain | 2.3 | CBC | $2.50 | $9.99 / month or $29.99 / year (US App Store; several amounts listed) | 16 |
| 40 | Freedom | 2.3 | CCB | $3.33 | $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99) | 21 |
| 41 | Session | 2.3 | CBC | $3.33 | $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99) | 21 |
| 42 | Flocus | 2.3 | CBC | $5 | $5 / month, billed annually (early-bird price), or $9 monthly | 24 |
| 43 | Unpluq | 2.3 | CBC | $5 | $6.99 / month, or $59.99 / year (US App Store) | 24 |
| 44 | Deepwrk | 2.3 | CBC | $12 | $12 / month, paid annually | 33 |
| 45 | FLOWN | 2.3 | CBC | $19 | $19 / month, billed annually, or $25 monthly | 33 |
| 46 | Flow Club | 2.3 | CBC | $33.33 | $33.33 / month, billed annually ($400), or $40 monthly | 34 |
| 47 | Blanket | 2.0 | CBD | Free | Free | None |
| 48 | LeechBlock NG | 2.0 | CCC | Free | Free | None |
| 49 | Pomodor | 2.0 | DBC | Free | Free | None |
| 50 | SelfControl | 2.0 | CBD | Free | Free | None |
| 51 | minimalist phone | 2.0 | CCC | $0.83 | $2.99 / month or $9.99 / year (US App Store; several amounts listed) | 4 |
| 52 | Focus - Deep Work Timer | 2.0 | CCC | $3.33 | $6.99 / month, or $39.99 / year (US App Store) | 26 |
| 53 | Caveday | 2.0 | CCC | $35 | $35 / month, billed quarterly ($105), or $39.99 monthly | 46 |
| 54 | Focus Timer | 1.7 | CCD | Free | Free | None |
| 55 | TomatoBar | 1.7 | CCD | Free | Free | None |
| 56 | Pomello | 1.7 | DCC | $1.67 | $20 / year, or $2 / month (Premium) | 13 |
How focus apps grade
Every bar is all the focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got on that count.
- Value for moneyaverage 2.8
- Free plan and trialaverage 2.5
- Featuresaverage 2.2
- Ease of useaverage 3.1
- Platforms and integrationsaverage 2.3
An A is worth 4 and an F nothing. C is the ordinary grade. Every focus grade in one table
Not on the chart
Sold for a single payment, or with no public price that can be put as dollars a month. They are graded like the rest.
- Bloom$39 one-time purchase (card; the app has no subscription)
- Brick$59 one-time purchase (device; the app is free)
- Cold Turkey Blocker$45 one-time purchase (Blocker Pro)
- Engross$5.99 for Engross Premium (US App Store; billing basis not shown)
- Flora$0.99 to $1.99 per tour, one-time (US App Store)
- Focus$49 one-time purchase (Focus 2); the older Focus 1 is $29
- Goodtime$6.99 one-time in-app purchase (Google Play, US)
- HazeOver$4.99 one-time purchase
- Noizio$2.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $9.99 one-time on Mac
- Vitamin-R$29.95 one-time purchase (Single User license)
Common questions
Which focus apps give the most for the money?
ScreenZen. Each is the highest-scoring tool at its price or below: ScreenZen scores 3.3 out of 4 and is free. This goes by ToolGPA's own grades for features, ease of use and platforms, averaged out of 4, set against the price each tool's paid plans start at.
Which are the best free focus apps?
Of the 10 focus apps here with no paid plan at all, ScreenZen scores highest, at 3.3 out of 4. 39 more have a free plan beside their paid ones.
Which focus apps are best for under $5 a month?
ScreenZen, Forest and Tide, with a score of 3.3 out of 4: the highest among the 44 that start at $5 a month or less. ScreenZen is free; Forest starts at $2.71 a month when paid by the year; Tide starts at $5 a month when paid by the year.
Which focus apps are best for under $10 a month?
ScreenZen, Forest, Tide and Opal, with a score of 3.3 out of 4: the highest among the 51 that start at $10 a month or less. ScreenZen is free; Forest starts at $2.71 a month when paid by the year; Tide starts at $5 a month when paid by the year.
Which focus apps cost the most for what they offer?
On this chart, Caveday (starts at $35 a month, scores 2.0 out of 4, and 46 tools score higher for less), Flow Club (starts at $33.33 a month, scores 2.3 out of 4, and 34 tools score higher for less) and FLOWN (starts at $19 a month, scores 2.3 out of 4, and 33 tools score higher for less). A high starting price often means a product is sold to companies and has no small plan, so check what the price includes before ruling one out.
How much do focus apps cost?
The middle starting price is $2.82 a month: half of the 46 focus apps with a recurring price start below that and half above. 10 of the 66 in this directory have no paid plan, and 39 of those that charge also have a free plan.
How is the score on this chart worked out?
It is the average of three of the five grades ToolGPA gives every tool: features, ease of use, and platforms and integrations, with an A worth 4 and an F worth 0. The other two grades, value for money and the free plan, are about price, so they are left out and price gets an axis of its own. 56 of the 66 focus apps are on the chart; 10 are left off because they are sold for a single payment or publish no price that can be put as dollars a month.
How this chart is made
- The score is the average of three of a tool’s five grades: features, ease of use, and platforms and integrations. An A is 4 points and an F none. Value for money and the free plan are left out because they are about price, and price has an axis of its own.
- The price is what paid plans start at, in dollars a month, on the cheapest way of paying the listing names. A yearly price is divided by twelve, and a price in another currency is converted. A price for each person is shown for one person.
- A tool with no paid plan sits in the band marked Free. A tool with a free plan beside paid ones is placed at its paid price and drawn as a filled dot.
- The grades are ToolGPA’s own judgement from each vendor’s pages and from public reviews, not from testing, and no vendor can pay for one. How we grade
More charts
- All focus apps
- Meeting Notes
- AI Assistants
- AI Agents
- AI Research
- App Builders
- Dictation
- Note-Taking
- Writing
- Docs & Wikis
- Whiteboards
- Spreadsheets
- Presentations
- To-Do Lists
- Daily Planners
- Calendar
- Project Management
- CRM
- Team Chat
- Automation
- Forms
- Time Tracking
- Habit Trackers
- Journaling
- Read Later
- Screen Recording
- Utilities
- Browsers
- Passwords
- File Storage