The Focus Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Focus in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Focus
The Insider’s Guide
Mac app that blocks distracting websites and apps on a schedule
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from Focus’s own pages.
Made by Extremely Studios · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Focus’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Focus’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 18 of the 65 other focus apps we grade
Focus is a Mac app that blocks distracting websites and applications during work sessions. Sessions can be started by hand, run on a timer or in Pomodoro rounds, or follow a schedule, and a Locked Mode stops a session from being ended early. It is sold as a one-time license rather than a subscription, and the vendor says settings and data stay on the Mac.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Focus, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Drag an app or a site onto the menu bar icon to block it.
- 1
Best for blocking sites and apps on a Mac, on a schedule
It's Mac only, so your phone isn't covered.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $49 one-time purchase (Focus 2); the older Focus 1 is $29.
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee after purchase
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Website blocking
Blocks chosen websites in the popular Mac browsers, or blocks the whole internet apart from an allow list. Rules can also target specific pages and words.
- 6
App blocking
Hides a blocked Mac app and, if it keeps reappearing, closes or force quits it. Apps and sites can be added by dragging them onto the menu bar icon.
- 7
Timers and Pomodoro mode
Built-in timers, including a Pomodoro mode with a chosen number of work rounds, pair blocking with planned breaks.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 18 of 65
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Focus you could make: Pomodoro timer and time tracking. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Focus at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $49 one-time purchase (Focus 2); the older Focus 1 is $29
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee after purchase
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Extremely Studios
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for blocking sites and apps on a Mac, on a schedule
Focus is a Mac menu bar app that blocks the sites and apps you pick, by hand, on a timer or on a schedule, and Locked Mode keeps a session running through a restart. It's Mac only, so your phone isn't covered. There's no free plan after the 7-day trial, $49 buys only a year of major updates, and Firefox needs an add-on.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $49 once for Focus 2, no subscription. Focus apps that bill monthly sit around $3.99, so $49 pays for itself inside two years of one. The catch is that the licence covers a year of major updates; every future update means the $129 Lifetime. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan. You get a 7-day trial before you buy and a 30-day money-back guarantee after, and a guarantee isn't a trial. One week is all you get free. |
| Features | B | Blocks sites in the popular Mac browsers, or everything bar an allow list, hides blocked apps and force quits the stubborn ones, runs on schedules and Pomodoro rounds, and locks a session so a restart won't end it. Password-locked profiles, stats and Bash scripts too. The listing shows no gap in the blocking job. |
| Ease of use | B | Drag an app or a site onto the menu bar icon to block it. Firefox needs the Focus add-on; Safari, Chrome and the rest don't. No rating on record to check it against. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac, and only Mac. No Windows, iPhone or Android version is listed, so one operating system is the whole of it. AppleScript and your own Bash scripts are the only hooks listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Focus is for
- Fits if you work on a Mac and want the same sites shut at the same hours every day
- Makes sense if you'd rather pay $49 once than subscribe, and want a session you can't cancel
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows, or if your phone is the real problem, as it's Mac only
- Not for you if you want a free version to stay on, because after the 7-day trial it's $49
- Pricey if you want every future update: $49 covers a year of major updates, and lifetime updates are the $129 license
- Watch out: Firefox needs the Focus add-on installed; Safari, Chrome and the other big Mac browsers don't
- Tight if you're buying for a team, as bulk licenses are by custom quote with no price published
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want websites and apps blocked on a fixed schedule
- People who want a session they cannot switch off once it starts
- Parents or teachers who lock settings behind a password
- Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription
Worth knowing
- Mac only: the vendor lists no Windows, iPhone or Android version.
- There is no free plan; after the 7-day trial a license costs $49, or $129 with lifetime updates.
- The $49 Focus 2 license covers one year of major updates and three years of minor updates.
- Firefox needs the Focus add-on installed; Safari, Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera and Vivaldi work without one.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$49 one-time
To start
Focus is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $49 one-time purchase (Focus 2); the older Focus 1 is $29.
Focus 1
$29
one-time purchase
The original version with core blocking features, still sold on the checkout page as an older release.
Focus 2
$49
one-time purchase
Website and app blocking, schedules, timers and Pomodoro, locked sessions, profiles, password locks, statistics and scripting, with a year of free updates.
Lifetime
$129
one-time purchase
Everything in Focus 2, plus early access to new versions and lifetime updates.
Bulk licenses
Custom
Special pricing for teams and organizations, by custom quote from the vendor.
Trying it first
7-day free trial, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee after purchase
Read from heyfocus.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Lifetime license with every future update
The Lifetime license is a one-time $129 payment that adds lifetime updates and early access to new versions; the $49 Focus 2 license includes one year of free updates.
Stated on heyfocus.comOther savings
Bulk pricing for teams and organizations
The checkout page's FAQ says Focus offers special pricing for teams and organizations and asks them to get in touch for a custom quote.
Stated on heyfocus.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Mac app that blocks distracting websites and apps on a schedule. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: local-first, one-time purchase, site & app blocker, Pomodoro timer, time tracking, menu bar app.
Password-locked profiles, stats and Bash scripts too.
- Website blocking
- Blocks chosen websites in the popular Mac browsers, or blocks the whole internet apart from an allow list. Rules can also target specific pages and words.
- App blocking
- Hides a blocked Mac app and, if it keeps reappearing, closes or force quits it. Apps and sites can be added by dragging them onto the menu bar icon.
- Timers and Pomodoro mode
- Built-in timers, including a Pomodoro mode with a chosen number of work rounds, pair blocking with planned breaks.
- Schedules
- Daily, weekly or weekend schedules start blocking at set times without any action from you, and schedules can run overnight.
- Locked Mode and password locks
- A locked session or schedule cannot be stopped until it ends, even after quitting the app or restarting the Mac. Profiles can be locked behind a password.
- Statistics and scripting
- Tracks focused time by day, week, month and year for each profile. Workflows run Bash scripts when a session or break starts or ends, alongside URL handlers and AppleScript.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- AppleScript
Focus is made by Extremely Studios.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
18/65
Other focus apps it is graded above
Focus's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 18 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on features (B, above 48 of 65) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Focus’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 30 of 65
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 65
- BFeaturesAbove 48 of 65
- BEase of useAbove 17 of 65
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 65
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Focus you could make: Pomodoro timer and time tracking. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 36 of the 65 other focus apps grade higher. It costs $49, paid once.
What you could make
- Pomodoro timer and time tracking: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Blocking that reaches every browser and app and is hard to switch off.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Focus’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Cold Turkey Blocker, SelfControl, Freedom, Session and FocusMe
The 5 tools Focus is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Cold Turkey Blocker
Free plan · from $45 one-time
Website and app blocker for Windows and Mac with strict locks.
- Cold Turkey Blocker has a free plan. Focus does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a Windows app.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a browser extension.
- 2.8GPA
SelfControl
Free
Free Mac app that blocks distracting sites until a timer ends.
- SelfControl has a free plan. Focus does not, though it has a free trial.
- Focus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SelfControl is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
Freedom
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Website and app blocker that runs across computers and phones.
- Freedom has a free plan. Focus does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Freedom lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Freedom lists a browser extension.
- 2.2GPA
Session
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Pomodoro focus timer with analytics for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- Session has a free plan. Focus does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Session lists an iOS app.
- Focus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
FocusMe
Free plan · from $9.95/mo
Website and app blocker with hard-to-bypass enforced plans.
- FocusMe has a free plan. Focus does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only FocusMe lists Windows, Linux, Android and iOS apps.
- Only FocusMe lists a browser extension.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Focus free?
No, Focus is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee after purchase.
How much does Focus cost?
Focus lists 4 plans. Focus 1: $29 one-time purchase.
What platforms does Focus work on?
Focus is available on macOS.
Does Focus offer any discounts?
Focus publicly lists the following: Lifetime license with every future update; Bulk pricing for teams and organizations.
Does Focus have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Focus is listed for macOS.
Does Focus have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Focus is listed for macOS.
Is Focus open source?
Focus is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does Focus integrate with?
Focus's listing names AppleScript. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Focus?
Focus is made by Extremely Studios.
What are the alternatives to Focus?
The closest alternatives to Focus in our directory are Cold Turkey Blocker, SelfControl, Freedom, Session and FocusMe.
How does Focus compare with other focus apps?
Focus's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 18 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 11.
Could I make my own version of Focus?
The plain part of Focus you could make: Pomodoro timer and time tracking.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Focus’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Focus's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-09.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Extremely Studios. Prices change, so check heyfocus.com before you buy.
- heyfocus.com/
- heyfocus.com/checkout/
- heyfocus.com/download/
- heyfocus.com/changelog/
- heyfocus.com/docs/
- heyfocus.com/docs/getting-started/what-is-focus/
- heyfocus.com/docs/getting-started/blocking-applications/
- heyfocus.com/docs/help/browser-extensions/
- heyfocus.com/docs/help/focus-is-private/
- heyfocus.com/docs/features/scripting/
- heyfocus.com/docs/features/schedule/
- heyfocus.com/docs/features/locked-mode/
- heyfocus.com/docs/features/statistics/
- extremelystudios.com/
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Focus, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/focus-app
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Focus: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/focus-app
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/focus-app/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after Focus, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Focus Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 66 focus apps we grade, compared
- ScreenZen Insider's GuideFree app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites3.6 GPA
- Flora Insider's GuideFree focus timer that grows trees, alone or with friends3.2 GPA
- Flow Insider's GuideMinimal Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Focus’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Focus is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Extremely Studios. Prices and plans change: check heyfocus.com before you buy.