Pomofocus vs Session
We give Pomofocus a 3.6 GPA and Session a 3.2, out of 4.0. Pomofocus grades higher on value for money, the free plan and platforms. Session grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Pomofocus
Browser-based Pomodoro timer with a task list and reports
Session
Pomodoro focus timer with analytics for Mac, iPhone and iPad
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAPomofocusExcellent | 3.2GPASessionVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | APremium is $3 a month or $18 a year, and $54 buys it for good. Paid yearly, that's about a third of a typical focus app. It takes the ads away and adds projects, yearly reports, Todoist import and webhooks. | BPro is $39.99 a year, which works out at $3.33 a month, or $4.99 if you pay monthly. That's on the cheaper side of typical for a focus app, not a steal. Students can ask for 30% off for one year. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe timer, a task list with estimates and a finish time, daily, weekly and monthly reports and custom settings are all free. You get up to 3 templates, and you get ads. Most people could stay here. | BUnlimited sessions and breaks, and your calendar events show in the app. But analytics only go back 2 days, and you can't set your own session or break lengths without Pro. You do get 7 days of Pro free when you make an account, with no subscription started. |
| Features | ASet your own pomodoro and break lengths, estimate each task in pomodoros, save repeated tasks as templates, and see focused time by day, week and month. Premium loads tasks from Todoist, with ticks synced both ways, and calls webhooks for Zapier and IFTTT. | ATimed sessions filed by category, a full session log, app and website blocking, and a Slack status that changes when the timer starts. It can add finished sessions to Apple Calendar and takes orders from Shortcuts and AppleScript. One gap: the blocker is Mac only. |
| Ease of use | BWe have no App Store rating on record for it, so a B is as far as we'll go. It opens in a tab with the timer right there. One wrinkle: the Windows download isn't signed with a developer certificate, so Windows shows a safety warning. | A4.8 from about 360 App Store ratings. Start a session, pick a category, and it asks what you learned when the timer ends. |
| Platforms and integrations | BDesktop and mobile browsers, plus downloads for Mac, Windows and Linux. Todoist, Zapier and IFTTT hook in on Premium. No native phone app is listed, and the Mobile Alarm sound isn't supported on iOS. | CMac, iPhone and iPad, with Slack, Apple Calendar, Shortcuts and AppleScript hooked in. All Apple, though. No Windows, Android or web version is listed. |
| Best for | a Pomodoro timer with a task list, in a browser tab | a Pomodoro timer that logs where your focus went |
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: Pomofocus and Session. How we grade
Where they differ
- Pomofocus starts at $3 / month, or $18 / year. Session starts at $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99).
- Only Pomofocus lists a web app.
- Only Pomofocus lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Session lists an iOS app.
- Pomofocus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Pomofocus also covers templates and tasks.
- Session also covers site & app blocker.
At a glance
| Pomofocus | Session | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $3 / month, or $18 / year | $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99) |
| Free plan | The timer, a task list with estimates and finish time, up to 3 templates, daily, weekly and monthly reports, and custom settings. It shows ads. | Unlimited sessions and breaks, analytics for the past 2 days, and your calendar events shown inside Session. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial of Premium | 7 days of Pro free on creating an account, with no subscription started |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | FocusLab LLC | Translucent LLC |
| Price read from | pomofocus.io | stayinsession.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Pomofocus
- People who want a Pomodoro timer that opens in a browser tab
- Planning a day's tasks in pomodoros with an estimated finish time
- Todoist users who want to run their tasks through a timer
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
Pomofocus
- The free version shows ads and stops at 3 templates; projects, yearly reports and report downloads need Premium.
- Todoist import and webhook connections are Premium features.
- No native phone app is listed: on a phone it runs in the browser, and the Mobile Alarm sound is not supported on iOS.
- The site warns that the Windows download is not signed with a developer certificate, so Windows shows a safety warning.
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
Pomofocus
- Adjustable Pomodoro timer
- Set the length of the pomodoro, short break and long break, choose how many rounds come before a long break, and have breaks or pomodoros start automatically.
- Tasks with estimates
- Add the day's tasks, estimate the pomodoros each will take and pick one to work on. The app shows an estimated finish time for the list.
- Templates
- Save a set of repeated tasks as a template and add it in one click. The free version keeps up to 3 templates.
- Reports
- Charts show focused time by day, week and month. Premium adds yearly reports, a CSV download of focus history and time tracked per project.
- Todoist import and webhooks
- Premium can load tasks from a Todoist account, with checked and unchecked states synced both ways, and call webhooks for services such as Zapier and IFTTT.
- Mobile Alarm
- A registered phone can receive the alarm with its screen off, including when the timer is running on a computer. It needs an account and a home screen shortcut.
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
Pomofocus
Free$0
Timer, tasks with pomodoro estimates, up to 3 templates, daily, weekly and monthly reports, and custom settings, with ads.
Premium (monthly)$3
per month
Projects, yearly reports, report download, unlimited templates, Todoist import, webhooks and no ads.
Premium (yearly)$18
per year
The same Premium features billed once a year; the subscription renews until cancelled.
Premium (lifetime)$54
one-time purchase
Premium features for a single payment, listed in the app as including future updates.
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
Pomofocus
- Annual discount
Yearly Premium costs half of paying monthly
The app lists Premium at $18 a year against $3 a month, which comes to $36 over twelve months.
- Lifetime license
Lifetime Premium for a one-time payment
The app's plan list includes a Lifetime option at $54, paid once, alongside the monthly and yearly subscriptions.
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.
