Focus Timer vs RoundPie

Focus Timer

• Linux users who want a Pomodoro timer built for their desktop
• People who skip breaks and want a full-screen reminder
• Scripting actions around the timer with shell commands or D-Bus

RoundPie

• People who already keep tasks in Todoist, Trello or another supported tool
• Tracking time per task without running a separate time tracker
• Working across desktop, phone and browser
• Students, who get the Lite plan free through the GitHub Student Developer Pack

Focus Timer

• Linux only: it ships as a Flatpak on Flathub, with community packages for Fedora and Arch. No Windows, macOS or phone app is listed.
• On GNOME, the top bar indicator needs the separate Focus Timer extension, which supports GNOME Shell 48 and later and is only picked up after logging out.
• Renamed from GNOME Pomodoro: people moving to the Flatpak version copy their old database file across by hand to keep their statistics.
• The D-Bus interface has no reference manual yet; the FAQ points to the interface XML files in the repository instead.

RoundPie

• The free Starter plan is limited to 2 integrations from a short list, 5 projects and 1 month of log access.
• Integrations with Jira, Asana, Basecamp, ClickUp, Teamwork and similar tools need the Ultimate plan.
• Prices are listed in euros and exclude VAT; the pricing page's currency selector converts them for display.
• The download page marks the Safari extension as back soon, and the Toodledo and Pivotal Tracker integrations are labelled unstable beta.

Focus Timer

Custom sessions with full control

Set your own focus, short-break and long-break lengths. A running session can be paused, rewound, extended or skipped, and work resumes automatically after a break by default.

Screen overlay on breaks

A full-screen overlay appears when a break starts as a prompt to step away. Notifications and sounds mark the start and end of sessions, and an announcement warns before a break.

Statistics

Daily, weekly and monthly statistics show how much focused work was logged. History sits in a local SQLite database that is backed up automatically every day.

Tray icon and global shortcuts

A system tray icon shows timer status with quick actions, global shortcuts control the timer from any app, and a compact mode shows a small countdown window.

GNOME Shell extension

An optional extension for GNOME Shell 48 and later adds a top bar indicator, a live countdown in notifications, automatic Do Not Disturb and a lock screen widget.

Automation, D-Bus and CLI

Custom actions run shell commands on timer events, media playback can pause for breaks, and a D-Bus interface and command-line options link the timer to your own scripts.

RoundPie

Timer on top of your task tool

Connect a task service, choose which projects, boards or lists to sync, and start a timed session on any task. Completing a task syncs back to the source tool.

Time log

Time spent on each task is recorded automatically. The log can be filtered by source, project and date and exported, with 1 month, 6 months or unlimited history depending on the plan.

Local tasks and projects

Tasks can also be created inside RoundPie on a Local list and later moved to a connected tool. Managing local projects is part of the paid plans.

Browser extension

The extension adds a RoundPie button to supported task tools, creates tasks from any web page and can block a list of websites while the timer is running.

Custom timers and reports

Paid plans add custom timer lengths, interruption notes, tag customization and weekly and monthly reports by email.

Desktop scripting and hotkeys

The Ultimate plan adds AppleScript and PowerShell scripting for the Mac and Windows apps, and the desktop apps let you set system-wide hotkeys for the timer.

Focus Timer

• Focus Timer$0

  The complete Linux app and its optional GNOME Shell extension: timer, break overlay, statistics, tray icon, shortcuts and automation.

RoundPie

• Starter€0

  2 integrations from the limited list, 5 projects in total, 1 month of log access and default tags only.

• Lite plan€2

  per month, billed annually (€24), excluding VAT

  3 integrations from the limited list, 6 months of log access, subtasks, Todoist filters and mailed reports. €3 a month billed every 6 months, or €4 monthly.

• Ultimate plan€3.50

  per month, billed annually (€42), excluding VAT

  Unlimited integrations, including Jira, Asana and Basecamp, unlimited log access and desktop scripting. €5 a month billed every 3 months, or €6 monthly.

• 5 licences package€16.50

  per month for 5 accounts, billed annually (€198)

  Five Ultimate plan accounts in one purchase. €25 a month when paid monthly.

• 10 licences package€31

  per month for 10 accounts, billed annually (€372)

  Ten Ultimate plan accounts in one purchase. €45 a month when paid monthly.

Focus Timer

No public discounts listed.

RoundPie

• Annual discount

  Annual billing costs 42% to 50% less than monthly

  Lite is €24 a year against €4 a month, which is €48 over twelve months. Ultimate is €42 a year against €6 a month, which is €72.

• Education

  Free Lite plan for students

  Students in the GitHub Student Developer Pack get the Lite plan free while they remain students. Students and educators can also ask for 50% off the Ultimate plan.

• Nonprofit

  50% discount for some non-profits

  The student page says a 50% discount is available to some non-profit organizations on request through the contact form.