Focus Bear vs Session
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Focus Bear
Distraction blocker and guided routines built for ADHD brains
Session
Pomodoro focus timer with analytics for Mac, iPhone and iPad
Where they differ
- Focus Bear starts at $9.99 / month, billed monthly. Session starts at $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99).
- Only Focus Bear lists Windows and Android apps.
- Focus Bear also covers tasks, focus music and habit tracking.
- Session also covers time tracking.
At a glance
| Focus Bear | Session | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $9.99 / month, billed monthly | $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99) |
| Free plan | Essentials: Pomodoro sessions of up to 25 minutes, blocking for up to 5 websites and apps, routines of up to 3 habits, breaks of up to 3 activities, a browser tab limiter and a to-do list. | Unlimited sessions and breaks, analytics for the past 2 days, and your calendar events shown inside Session. |
| Free trial | 7-day full-feature trial, no credit card required | 7 days of Pro free on creating an account, with no subscription started |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Focus Bear Pty Ltd | Translucent LLC |
| Price read from | focusbear.io | stayinsession.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Focus Bear
- People with ADHD or autism who want guided routines, not only a blocker
- Blocking the same distractions on a computer and a phone at once
- Desk workers who want break reminders that stay quiet during calls
Session
- Mac and iPhone users who work in Pomodoro intervals
- People who want a record of focused time by category or client
- Students, who can ask for 30% off for one year
Worth knowing
Focus Bear
- The free Essentials plan caps focus sessions at 25 minutes, blocking at 5 websites and apps, routines at 3 habits and breaks at 3 activities.
- AI-powered blocking, focus modes, focus music, meeting detection and accountability partner features need Pro.
- Billing is monthly; yearly billing has to be arranged by emailing support, and no yearly price is published.
- The US App Store lists a Monthly Plan purchase at $2.99, well below the $9.99 on the pricing page, and the vendor's pages do not explain the difference.
Session
- Apple platforms only: macOS, iOS and iPadOS. No Windows, Android or web version is listed.
- The free plan shows analytics for the past 2 days only, and custom session and break lengths need Pro.
- Blocking needs Pro, and the pricing page lists website and app blocking as Mac only.
- Real-time device sync, Slack muting and Apple Calendar event creation are Pro features.
Key features
Focus Bear
- Cross-device distraction blocking
- Block lists and allow lists apply across Mac, Windows, iOS and Android together. By default the app asks whether you really need a site; Grizzly Bear mode blocks anything not explicitly allowed.
- Morning and evening routines
- Set up a routine once and the app guides you through its habits one at a time each day, blocking distractions while the routine runs.
- Break reminders that detect meetings
- Prompts short breaks with stretch and movement demos, recommended every 20 minutes. Reminders are held back while the app detects you are on a call.
- AI distraction detection
- Tell the app what you are working on and it nudges you back when you drift to something unrelated. The vendor says it does not log keystrokes or capture the screen.
- Zen mode for your phone
- Starting a deep work block on the computer puts the phone into Zen mode, where only the apps you need stay reachable until the session ends.
- Pomodoro timer and to-do list
- Timed focus sessions sit alongside a to-do list and a browser tab limiter. Free sessions stop at 25 minutes; Pro can chain consecutive sessions for bigger tasks.
Session
- Pomodoro sessions
- Work in 25-minute sessions separated by breaks. Setting your own session and break lengths needs Pro.
- Focus analytics by category
- Tracks how long you focus on each category, such as writing, coding or a client. Free shows the past 2 days and Pro opens the full session log.
- App and website blocking on Mac
- Pro blocks the apps and websites you choose while a session runs. Website blocking works in Safari, Chrome, Brave and Microsoft Edge.
- Calendar events
- Every plan shows your calendar events inside Session. Pro can also create an Apple Calendar event automatically when a session finishes.
- Slack status
- Pro updates your Slack status when the timer starts and restores it when the timer ends.
- Device sync and automation
- Pro syncs in real time, so a session started on a Mac can be ended on iOS, and adds automation through AppleScript on macOS and Apple Shortcuts on iOS.
Plans
Focus Bear
Essentials$0
Pomodoro sessions up to 25 minutes, up to 5 blocked websites and apps, 3 habits per routine, 3 activities per break, tab limiter and to-do list.
Pro$9.99
per month, billed monthly
Unlimited website and app blocking, AI-powered blocking, consecutive Pomodoro sessions, focus modes, focus music, meeting detection and strictness levels.
Session
Free$0
Unlimited sessions and breaks, analytics for the past 2 days, and calendar events shown in the app.
Pro Yearly$3.33
per month, billed yearly ($39.99)
Custom session and break lengths, full session log, Mac app and website blocking, Slack muting, device sync and automation.
Pro Monthly$4.99
per month, billed monthly
The same Pro features paid month to month. The vendor notes that prices differ slightly by region.
Ways to pay less
Focus Bear
- Education
50% discount for students
The pricing page offers students 50% off Pro: enter an official school email address and Focus Bear sends a discount code to use at checkout.
- Other savings
Discounts for financial hardship
Focus Bear says people experiencing financial hardship, including hardship due to disability, can request a discount by emailing its support team. It notes that not every request is granted.
Session
- Annual discount
Yearly billing costs about a third less
Pro is $39.99 billed yearly ($3.33 a month) against $4.99 billed monthly, which works out about 33% cheaper over a year.
- Education
Student discount: 30% off for one year
Students are eligible for a 30% discount for one year, non-renewing, by contacting support with a .edu email address or other proof of student status.
