Deepwrk vs Focusmate

Deepwrk

• Adults with ADHD who work better with other people present
• Remote workers who struggle to start or stay on tasks alone
• People who want structured, hour-long focus blocks with a host

Focusmate

• People who start tasks more easily with someone else present
• Remote workers and students who put work off when alone
• Body doubling on a schedule, including for members with ADHD

Deepwrk

• There is no free plan: after the 7-day trial it costs $19 a month, or $12 a month when paid annually.
• The homepage mentions a 14-day trial in one place and a 7-day trial elsewhere; the pricing page's FAQ says 7 days.
• Sessions run live on video in a web app at app.deepwrk.io; the site's main pages mention no iPhone, Android or desktop app.
• The annual price is shown only as $12 a month; the pricing page does not state the yearly total charged.

Focusmate

• The free plan is limited to 3 sessions per week; unlimited sessions need Plus.
• A camera is required and has to stay on for the whole session.
• There is no native app. On a phone or tablet it runs in the browser and can be added to the home screen.
• Business pricing is not published; the pricing page links to an inquiry form.

Deepwrk

Host-led body doubling sessions

Small-group focus sessions run by a host. A typical hour has a 3-minute intro, 2 minutes to share tasks, 50 minutes of silent work and a 3 to 5 minute recap.

24/7 focus space

An always-available silent room for working alongside other members without speaking, with a Pomodoro timer, a to-do list and focus music.

Weekly planning events

Live weekly planning sessions where members pick out their most valuable tasks and make a plan to get them done.

Rewards and progress tracking

The app tracks progress and adds milestone rewards, achievements and badges, which the vendor describes as gamification to keep members consistent.

ADHD community

Members can join a community of adults with ADHD to share wins and encourage each other. No formal diagnosis is needed to join.

Low-pressure format

Cameras can stay off, talking is limited to 20 to 30 seconds at the start and end of a session and can be skipped, and sessions are not recorded.

Focusmate

25, 50 and 75-minute sessions

Book a session for a time you choose and Focusmate matches you with a partner. It says over 99% of bookings are matched; if one is not, the next slot is 15 minutes later.

Favorite partners

Star a partner you worked well with, or a friend, to make it easy to book sessions with that person again instead of a random match.

Task modes

Mark a session as Desk, Moving or Anything, so a partner knows whether you will be at a computer or doing something like cooking or cleaning.

Quiet Mode and session chat

Quiet Mode tells your partner you cannot use a microphone, for libraries and shared offices. Goals and progress go in the in-session text chat instead.

Video in the browser

Sessions run on Focusmate's own video, with virtual backgrounds, screen sharing and picture-in-picture, so no separate video call app is needed.

Calendar invites

Each booking sends a calendar invite, which Focusmate says works with Apple, Google and Outlook calendars. There is also a Google Calendar integration.

Deepwrk

• Annual$12

  per month, paid annually

  Unlimited access to Deepwrk for one year: host-led group focus sessions, the silent focus space and the community.

• Monthly$19

  per month

  Unlimited access to Deepwrk for one month, with the same sessions, focus space and community.

Focusmate

• Free$0

  3 sessions per week, with no credit card required.

• Plus$8

  per month, billed annually; $12 billed monthly

  Unlimited sessions. The pricing page notes that taxes may be added at checkout.

• BusinessCustom

  For enterprises, small businesses and learning communities. No price is listed; the page links to more information and an inquiry form.

Deepwrk

• Annual discount

  Paying annually costs about 37% less

  Deepwrk's pricing page lists $12 a month when paid annually against $19 a month on the monthly plan.

• Other savings

  Give a month, get a month referrals

  A friend who signs up through a member's referral link gets a month free. The referrer gets a free month once that friend pays, and a free year after 10 successful referrals.

• Other savings

  UK Access to Work grant can cover the cost

  Deepwrk says UK residents with ADHD can apply for the government's Access to Work grant to pay for a subscription. It is a government program, not a Deepwrk discount.

Focusmate

• Annual discount

  Annual billing costs a third less than monthly

  Plus is $8 a month when billed annually and $12 a month when billed monthly, which works out to about 33% less over a year.

• Other savings

  Help for people who cannot afford Plus

  The pricing FAQ invites anyone who cannot afford the full price of Plus to contact the company. It does not state an amount or eligibility rules.