Focus To-Do vs Pomello
We give Focus To-Do and Pomello the same GPA: 3.4 out of 4.0. Focus To-Do grades higher on features and ease of use. Pomello grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Focus To-Do
Pomodoro timer combined with a task list and time reports
Pomello
Desktop Pomodoro timer that runs on your Trello cards
How we grade them
| 3.4GPAFocus To-DoVery good | 3.4GPAPomelloVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BPremium is $3.99 for 3 months, or $11.99 once for a lifetime, on the US App Store. That's cheap next to most focus apps. But the listings don't say what Premium unlocks, so we can't weigh the price against anything, and that keeps it at a B. | APremium is $20 a year, or $2 a month on the page's toggle. That's about a third of what a typical focus app costs. It adds checklist items as tasks, custom timer sounds and data export. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree to download and use, with or without an account. But the store listings don't say which features are kept for Premium, so we can't tell you where the free version stops. | ABasic is described as always free, with unlimited boards and lists, productivity tracking and time tracking. That's the core of the thing, and most Trello users could stay on it. |
| Features | AAn adjustable Pomodoro timer, plus tasks with due dates, repeats, reminders, subtasks and priorities. Reports break your time down by day, week, month and project, with a Gantt chart and a calendar view. White noise can play while you work. | BYour Trello cards become the tasks a Pomodoro runs against, with productivity and time tracking on both plans and a timer window that stays small. It does that one job properly. But tasks live in Trello only: the site describes no task list of Pomello's own. |
| Ease of use | A4.8 from about 14,600 App Store ratings. You can start without making an account, and an alarm tells you when each round ends. | BWe have no App Store rating on record for it, so a B is as far as we'll go. Pick a card and the timer runs. Do note the current download is version 0.10.17, and release notes are kept on a public Trello board, not on the site. |
| Platforms and integrations | BiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, Mac, Windows and a Chrome extension, with lists and focus records synced between them. No web app or Linux version is listed, and no integrations. | BDesktop apps for Mac, Windows and Linux, tied into Trello. No phone or web version: the download page tells other devices they're not supported. |
| Best for | a Pomodoro timer and a to-do list in one app | running Pomodoros against your Trello cards |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Focus To-Do and Pomello. How we grade
Where they differ
- Focus To-Do starts at $1.99 (period not shown), $3.99 / 3 months or $11.99 lifetime (US App Store). Pomello starts at $20 / year, or $2 / month (Premium).
- Only Focus To-Do lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Focus To-Do lists a browser extension.
- Only Pomello lists a Linux app.
- Focus To-Do can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Focus To-Do also covers tasks.
At a glance
| Focus To-Do | Pomello | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $1.99 (period not shown), $3.99 / 3 months or $11.99 lifetime (US App Store) | $20 / year, or $2 / month (Premium) |
| Free plan | Free to download and use with in-app purchases for Premium. The store listings do not say which features are limited to Premium. | Basic plan, described as always free: unlimited boards and lists, productivity tracking and time tracking. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Shenzhen Tomato Software Technology Co., Ltd. | Tiny Nudge LLC |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | pomelloapp.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Focus To-Do
- People who want a Pomodoro timer and a to-do list in one app
- Students and workers tracking focus time per task or project
- Using the same task list on phone, tablet, watch and computer
Pomello
- Trello users who want to run Pomodoro sessions against their cards
- Desktop work on Mac, Windows or Linux
- People who want a small timer window that stays out of the way
Worth knowing
Focus To-Do
- The store listings do not say which features need Premium, so the limits of the free version could not be confirmed.
- The Focus To-Do Premium purchase carries no billing period on the US App Store and is listed at $1.99 for iOS and $3.99 for Mac.
- Prices appear only in the app stores; the vendor's site lists downloads but has no pricing page.
- The Windows version is a direct download from the vendor's site, and no web app or Linux version is listed.
Pomello
- Tasks are organized in Trello; the vendor's site describes no task list of Pomello's own.
- Desktop only: the download page offers Mac, Windows and Linux apps and tells other devices they are not supported.
- Checklist items as tasks, custom timer sounds and productivity data export need Premium.
- The current download is version 0.10.17, and release notes are kept on a public Trello board, not on the site.
Key features
Focus To-Do
- Pomodoro timer
- Pomodoro and break lengths are adjustable, with short and long breaks, pause and resume, a skip-break option, a continuous mode and a warning before a session ends.
- Tasks and projects
- Tasks take due dates, recurring schedules, reminders, subtasks, color-coded priorities, notes and an estimated number of pomodoros.
- Reports
- Statistics cover total focus time, completed to-dos and time per project, with trend charts, a Gantt chart of focus time and a calendar view.
- Sync across devices
- Lists and focus records sync between phone and computer; the listings name iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android and Windows.
- White noise and alarms
- A choice of white noise can play during a session, and an alarm or vibration marks the end of each pomodoro.
- Forest and App Whitelist
- The Android listing adds a Forest view, where focused time grows a plant, and an App Whitelist that limits which apps can be used while focusing.
Pomello
- Trello cards as tasks
- Tasks come from Trello: the cards on your boards and lists become the tasks a Pomodoro session runs against, with no limit on boards or lists on either plan.
- Pomodoro timer
- Work is split into timed intervals called pomodoros, traditionally 25 minutes long and separated by 5-minute breaks.
- Productivity and time tracking
- Productivity tracking and time tracking are included on both the Basic and the Premium plan.
- Compact timer window
- The interface is built to take up minimal screen space, which the vendor describes as a distraction-free design.
- Checklist items as tasks
- With Premium, the items on a checklist can be worked through as tasks of their own, not only whole cards.
- Custom sounds and data export
- Premium also adds custom timer sounds and the option to export your productivity data.
Plans
Focus To-Do
Free$0
The app as downloaded, with or without an account. The listings do not spell out where the free version stops.
Focus To-Do Premium$1.99
billing period not shown on the US App Store listing
An in-app purchase listed with no period at $1.99 for the iPhone and iPad app and at $3.99 for the Mac app.
3 Months$3.99
per 3 months, US App Store in-app purchase
Premium for three months, listed at the same price for the iOS and Mac apps.
Lifetime$11.99
one-time purchase, US App Store in-app purchase
Premium for a single payment, listed at the same price for the iOS and Mac apps.
Pomello
Basic$0
Unlimited boards and lists, productivity tracking and time tracking. The vendor says this plan is always free.
Premium$20
per year; the page's toggle shows $2 per month
Everything in Basic, plus checklist items as tasks, custom timer sounds and export of productivity data.
Ways to pay less
Focus To-Do
- Lifetime license
Lifetime Premium for a one-time payment
The US App Store lists a Lifetime in-app purchase at $11.99 for both the iOS and Mac apps, against $3.99 for 3 months.
Pomello
- Annual discount
Yearly Premium costs about 17% less than monthly
The pricing page shows Premium at $20 a year, and its toggle switches the price to $2 a month, which comes to $24 over twelve months.
