Focused Work vs Session

Focused Work

• Apple users who want structured focus sessions, not only a countdown
• People who find a fixed Pomodoro rhythm too rigid
• Toggl Track users who want focus sessions logged as time entries
• Students and professionals who want reminders to stay on task

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

Focused Work

• Apple platforms only: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. No Windows, Android or web version is listed.
• App and website blocking, Shortcuts automation and the Toggl Track link all need Focused Work Pro.
• Lifetime pricing differs between vendor pages: $89.99 and $119.99 on the US App Store, and $59.99 in the press kit.
• The Toggl link logs completed stages afterwards; the FAQ says it does not start a live running timer in Toggl.

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.

Focused Work

Focus Sessions

Sessions divide time into Focus, Break and Prepare stages. Templates cover a plain timer, Pomodoro and Flowmodoro, and the Session Editor builds repeatable sessions with your own stages and durations.

App and website blocking

Content filters block or allow chosen websites and iOS and Mac apps while a session runs, and can leave Break and planning stages unfiltered. This is a Pro feature.

Reminders, reflection and Scratch Pad

The app sends reminders to stay on task and to take breaks, asks you to rate and reflect on a finished session, and keeps a Scratch Pad for stray thoughts.

Daily goals and statistics

Meeting the daily focus goals builds a streak. Charts review the past week, month and year, and completed sessions can be exported as a CSV file.

Shortcuts and Toggl Track

With Pro, shortcuts run when a session or stage starts or ends, for example to turn on a Focus mode, and finished stages are logged to Toggl Track with projects and tags.

Widgets, Live Activities and iCloud

The timer shows in interactive widgets, Live Activities, StandBy and Picture-in-Picture. Statistics and created sessions sync through iCloud, with no account to register.

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.

Focused Work

• Free$0

  Free to download with a limited set of features. Blocking, Shortcuts automation and the Toggl Track link are marked as Pro in the vendor's FAQ.

• Focused Work Pro - Monthly$4.99

  per month, US App Store in-app purchase

  Every feature, including app and website blocking, Shortcuts automation and the Toggl Track link. Renews automatically.

• Focused Work Pro - Yearly$29.99

  per year, US App Store in-app purchase

  The same Pro features billed yearly. The listing also shows 1-year items at $19.99 and $39.99 and 1-month items at $2.99 and $6.99.

• Focused Work Pro Lifetime$89.99

  one-time purchase, US App Store

  Pro for a single payment. The listing shows a second Lifetime item at $119.99, and the vendor's press kit quotes $59.99.

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.

Focused Work

• Annual discount

  Yearly Pro costs about 50% less than monthly

  The US App Store lists Focused Work Pro - Yearly at $29.99 against Monthly at $4.99, which comes to $59.88 over twelve months.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Pro for a one-time payment

  The US App Store lists Focused Work Pro Lifetime at $89.99, paid once instead of a subscription. The vendor's press kit quotes $59.99 for lifetime access.

• Other savings

  Also available through Setapp

  The vendor's site links to Focused Work on Setapp, where the Mac and iOS apps are part of the Setapp app subscription.

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.