Pomofocus vs TomatoBar
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
Where they differ
- Pomofocus starts at $3 / month, or $18 / year. TomatoBar is free.
- Only Pomofocus lists a web app.
- Only Pomofocus lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Pomofocus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- TomatoBar is open source, according to its own site.
- Pomofocus also covers templates, tasks and time tracking.
- TomatoBar also covers menu bar app.
At a glance
| Pomofocus | TomatoBar | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $3 / month, or $18 / year | Free |
| 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. | Free and open-source software under the MIT license, downloaded from the project's GitHub releases. The repository lists no paid version. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial of Premium | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | FocusLab LLC | Ilya Voronin |
| Price read from | pomofocus.io | github.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 9, 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
TomatoBar
- Mac users who want a plain Pomodoro timer at no cost
- People who prefer open-source software they can inspect or modify
- Scripting a timer from the command line or reading its log
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.
TomatoBar
- macOS only. Version 3.0 and later need macOS Big Sur or newer; older macOS versions and the Touch Bar are supported only by releases before 3.0.
- The README describes no task list, reports or sync between devices; session history is kept only as a JSON log file.
- Homebrew marks its tomatobar cask as disabled since September 1, 2026 for failing the Gatekeeper check, though the README still gives the Homebrew command.
- The latest stable version, 3.6.1, is dated February 19, 2026. Before the 3.6 releases that month, the previous one, 3.5.0, came out in September 2023.
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.
TomatoBar
- Adjustable intervals
- Set the length of the work interval, the short rest and the long rest, and how many work intervals make up a set before the long rest is taken.
- Menu bar timer
- Start and stop the timer from a menu bar popover. Showing the countdown in the menu bar, stopping after a break and launching at login are each a setting.
- Optional sounds
- Three sound effects, named Windup, Ding and Ticking, can each be switched on or off. Version 3.6.0 added volume controls for them.
- Break notifications
- A notification says when it is time for a short or long break and when the break is over. The break notification carries a Skip button.
- Global shortcut and URL control
- A global keyboard shortcut starts or stops the timer, and so does opening the tomatobar://startStop URL, for example from the command line.
- JSON event log
- Each change of timer state is written in JSON to a log file inside the app's container, which other tools can read to analyze how time was spent.
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.
TomatoBar
TomatoBar$0
The complete Mac app: adjustable intervals, three sound effects, break notifications, a global shortcut and a JSON event log.
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.
TomatoBar
No public discounts listed.
