The Focus Bear Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Focus Bear 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 Bear
The Insider’s Guide
Distraction blocker and guided routines built for ADHD brains
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from Focus Bear’s own pages.
Made by Focus Bear Pty Ltd · 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 Bear’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Focus Bear’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 Bear is a focus app built by and for people with ADHD and autism. It blocks distracting websites and apps on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android at the same time, walks you through morning and evening routines one habit at a time, and prompts regular breaks that hold off during meetings. The free Essentials plan caps session length, blocked items and habits; Pro lifts the caps and adds AI-powered blocking.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Focus Bear, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It keeps one block list across Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android and walks you through routines a habit at a time.
- 1
Best for blocking plus guided routines for ADHD brains
Focus Bear is a blocker with a routine coach attached, built by and for people with ADHD and autism.
- 2
Paid plans start at $9.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $9.99 / month, billed monthly.
- 3
There is a free plan
Essentials: Pomodoro sessions of up to 25 minutes, blocking for up to 5 websites and apps, routines of up to 3 habits, breaks of up to 3 activities, a browser tab limiter and a to-do list.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
- 5
Cross-device distraction blocking
Block lists and allow lists apply across Mac, Windows, iOS and Android together. By default the app asks whether you really need a site; Grizzly Bear mode blocks anything not explicitly allowed.
- 6
Morning and evening routines
Set up a routine once and the app guides you through its habits one at a time each day, blocking distractions while the routine runs.
- 7
Break reminders that detect meetings
Prompts short breaks with stretch and movement demos, recommended every 20 minutes. Reminders are held back while the app detects you are on a call.
- 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 Bear you could make: Pomodoro timer, habit tracking and tasks. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Focus Bear at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $9.99 / month, billed monthly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day full-feature trial, no credit card required
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Focus Bear Pty Ltd
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for blocking plus guided routines for ADHD brains
Focus Bear is a blocker with a routine coach attached, built by and for people with ADHD and autism. It keeps one block list across Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android and walks you through routines a habit at a time. But free stops at 25-minute sessions and 5 blocked items, Pro is $9.99 a month with no yearly price published, and the App Store shows $2.99 with no explanation.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Pro is $9.99 a month, billed monthly, when the middle of this category is $3.99. Everything useful sits up there: unlimited blocking, the AI nudges, focus music, meeting detection. No yearly price is published, and the US App Store lists a monthly purchase at $2.99 with no explanation of the gap. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Essentials is free for good, but you'll hit the walls fast: 25-minute sessions, 5 blocked websites and apps, 3 habits to a routine. The 7-day full-feature trial needs no card, at least. |
| Features | A | Most blockers work one device at a time. This one holds a single block list across Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, and starting a session on the computer drops your phone into Zen mode too. Add routines walked through a habit at a time, breaks that go quiet on calls, and AI that nudges you back when you drift. |
| Ease of use | C | No App Store rating on record for it, and there's real setting up before it helps: routines built habit by habit, block lists, strictness levels. It isn't open-and-go. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with the same block list on all four. No web app, though, and no integrations or API are 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 Bear is for
- Fits if you have ADHD or autism and want routines walked through one habit at a time
- Works for people who want the same sites shut on a laptop and a phone at once
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you only want a blocker, at $9.99 a month when the middle of this category is $3.99
- Tight if you're staying free, with 25-minute sessions, 5 blocked sites and apps and 3 habits a routine
- Watch out: AI blocking, focus modes, focus music and meeting detection are all Pro only
- Watch out: no yearly price is published, and the US App Store lists a monthly plan at $2.99, not $9.99
- Not for you if you want it in a browser or wired into your calendar, as there's no web app and no integrations
Good to know
Good for
- People with ADHD or autism who want guided routines, not only a blocker
- Blocking the same distractions on a computer and a phone at once
- Desk workers who want break reminders that stay quiet during calls
Worth knowing
- The free Essentials plan caps focus sessions at 25 minutes, blocking at 5 websites and apps, routines at 3 habits and breaks at 3 activities.
- AI-powered blocking, focus modes, focus music, meeting detection and accountability partner features need Pro.
- Billing is monthly; yearly billing has to be arranged by emailing support, and no yearly price is published.
- The US App Store lists a Monthly Plan purchase at $2.99, well below the $9.99 on the pricing page, and the vendor's pages do not explain the difference.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$9.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Focus Bear has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 / month, billed monthly.
Everything useful sits up there: unlimited blocking, the AI nudges, focus music, meeting detection.
Essentials
$0
Pomodoro sessions up to 25 minutes, up to 5 blocked websites and apps, 3 habits per routine, 3 activities per break, tab limiter and to-do list.
Pro
$9.99
per month, billed monthly
Unlimited website and app blocking, AI-powered blocking, consecutive Pomodoro sessions, focus modes, focus music, meeting detection and strictness levels.
The free plan
Essentials: Pomodoro sessions of up to 25 minutes, blocking for up to 5 websites and apps, routines of up to 3 habits, breaks of up to 3 activities, a browser tab limiter and a to-do list.
Trying it first
7-day full-feature trial, no credit card required
Read from focusbear.io on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
50% discount for students
The pricing page offers students 50% off Pro: enter an official school email address and Focus Bear sends a discount code to use at checkout.
Stated on focusbear.ioOther savings
Discounts for financial hardship
Focus Bear says people experiencing financial hardship, including hardship due to disability, can request a discount by emailing its support team. It notes that not every request is granted.
Stated on focusbear.io
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly Plan”, against $2.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺129,99 | $2.64 | 12% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 49ribu | $2.74 | 8% less |
| Canada | $3.99 | $2.80 | 6% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 179.00 | $2.85 | about the same |
| Australia | $4.99 | $3.48 | 17% more |
| South Africa | R59.99 | $3.63 | 21% more |
| Mexico | $69.00 | $3.79 | 27% more |
| United Kingdom | £2.99 | $3.95 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Distraction blocker and guided routines built for ADHD brains. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, tasks, site & app blocker, Pomodoro timer, focus music, habit tracking.
Most blockers work one device at a time.
- Cross-device distraction blocking
- Block lists and allow lists apply across Mac, Windows, iOS and Android together. By default the app asks whether you really need a site; Grizzly Bear mode blocks anything not explicitly allowed.
- Morning and evening routines
- Set up a routine once and the app guides you through its habits one at a time each day, blocking distractions while the routine runs.
- Break reminders that detect meetings
- Prompts short breaks with stretch and movement demos, recommended every 20 minutes. Reminders are held back while the app detects you are on a call.
- AI distraction detection
- Tell the app what you are working on and it nudges you back when you drift to something unrelated. The vendor says it does not log keystrokes or capture the screen.
- Zen mode for your phone
- Starting a deep work block on the computer puts the phone into Zen mode, where only the apps you need stay reachable until the session ends.
- Pomodoro timer and to-do list
- Timed focus sessions sit alongside a to-do list and a browser tab limiter. Free sessions stop at 25 minutes; Pro can chain consecutive sessions for bigger tasks.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Focus Bear is made by Focus Bear Pty Ltd.
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 Bear'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 (A, above 65 of 65) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $9.99 a month, against a middle price of $2.82 for the category: 39 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Focus Bear’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 65
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 65
- AFeaturesAbove 65 of 65
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 65
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 39 of 65
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 56 focus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Focus Bear is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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 Bear you could make: Pomodoro timer, habit tracking and tasks. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 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 $119.88 a year.
What you could make
- Pomodoro timer, habit tracking and tasks: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Blocking that reaches every browser and app and is hard to switch off.
- A library of sound you would have to license.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features A, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Focus Bear’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
Freedom, Cold Turkey Blocker, Opal, Session and AppBlock
The 5 tools Focus Bear is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Freedom
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Website and app blocker that runs across computers and phones.
- Only Freedom lists a browser extension.
- Freedom can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Focus Bear also covers tasks, Pomodoro timer and habit tracking.
- 2.8GPA
Cold Turkey Blocker
Free plan · from $45 one-time
Website and app blocker for Windows and Mac with strict locks.
- Only Focus Bear lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a browser extension.
- Cold Turkey Blocker can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Opal
Free plan · from $8.29/mo
Screen time app that blocks distracting apps on phone and Mac.
- Only Focus Bear lists a Windows app.
- Opal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Focus Bear also covers tasks, Pomodoro timer and habit tracking.
- 2.2GPA
Session
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Pomodoro focus timer with analytics for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- Only Focus Bear lists Windows and Android apps.
- Focus Bear also covers tasks, focus music and habit tracking.
- Session also covers time tracking.
- 2.8GPA
AppBlock
Free plan · from $2.50/mo
App and website blocker with schedules and a strict mode.
- Only Focus Bear lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only AppBlock lists a browser extension.
- AppBlock can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Bear free?
Focus Bear has a free plan. Essentials: Pomodoro sessions of up to 25 minutes, blocking for up to 5 websites and apps, routines of up to 3 habits, breaks of up to 3 activities, a browser tab limiter and a to-do list.
How much does Focus Bear cost?
Focus Bear lists 2 plans. Essentials: $0.
What platforms does Focus Bear work on?
Focus Bear is available on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Does Focus Bear offer any discounts?
Focus Bear publicly lists the following: 50% discount for students; Discounts for financial hardship.
Does Focus Bear have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Focus Bear is listed for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is Focus Bear open source?
Focus Bear is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Focus Bear have a student discount?
50% discount for students. The pricing page offers students 50% off Pro: enter an official school email address and Focus Bear sends a discount code to use at checkout.
Does Focus Bear have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day full-feature trial, no credit card required.
Who makes Focus Bear?
Focus Bear is made by Focus Bear Pty Ltd.
What are the alternatives to Focus Bear?
The closest alternatives to Focus Bear in our directory are Freedom, Cold Turkey Blocker, Opal, Session and AppBlock.
How does Focus Bear compare with other focus apps?
Focus Bear's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 18 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 11.
Is Focus Bear good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Focus Bear D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $9.99 a month, against a middle price of $2.82 for the category: 39 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Focus Bear?
The plain part of Focus Bear you could make: Pomodoro timer, habit tracking and tasks.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Focus Bear’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 Bear's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-24.
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 Focus Bear Pty Ltd. Prices change, so check focusbear.io before you buy.
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 Bear, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/focus-bear
- 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 Bear: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/focus-bear
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/focus-bear/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after Focus Bear, 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 Bear’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 Bear is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Focus Bear Pty Ltd. Prices and plans change: check focusbear.io before you buy.