The Focus Matrix Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Focus Matrix 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 Matrix
The Insider’s Guide
Eisenhower matrix task manager for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among to-do list apps, read from Focus Matrix’s own pages.
Made by Xwavesoft (Denys Ievenko) · checked Oct 9, 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 Matrix’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Focus Matrix’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade
Focus Matrix is a personal task organizer built on the Eisenhower box, which sorts tasks into groups by urgency and importance. Tasks can be viewed as a matrix or as a list of sections, given due dates, reminders, repeats and tags, and are moved to the urgent side automatically as a deadline approaches. The app is free to download for iPhone, iPad and Mac, and a Pro upgrade adds sync between devices, Calendar sync and a link to the Be Focused timer.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Focus Matrix, taken from its own pages and our grades.
New tasks land in an Unsorted section and you drag each into the box where it belongs, which is the whole idea.
- 1
Best for sorting tasks by urgent and important
It's Apple only, bulk editing and list sharing are Mac only, and the Be Focused link needs that app's own Pro too.
- 2
Paid plans start at $1.50 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $2.99 per month, or $17.99 per year.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free to download and use with no time limit: matrix and list views, due dates, reminders, recurring tasks, tags, filters, reports and password protection. Sync and integrations need Pro.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 5
Matrix and list views
Tasks sit in sections by urgency and importance, shown as a matrix or as a list of sections, with an Unsorted section for incoming tasks. Drag and drop moves a task between sections.
- 6
Due dates, reminders and repeats
A task can have a due date, an all-day setting, a reminder and a repeat with customizable options. Creation and completion dates are tracked.
- 7
Automatic move to Urgent
A task moves to the Urgent side on its own as its deadline approaches, with a notification, or when a task it is linked to is completed.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 48 of 123
That is against the other to-do list apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A to-do list at its plainest is tasks with dates, repeats and a box to tick.
Focus Matrix at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $2.99 per month, or $17.99 per year
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial with the Yearly Pro subscription
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Xwavesoft (Denys Ievenko)
- Category
- To-Do List Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.6 on the App Store, 1,598 ratings
The report card
Best for sorting tasks by urgent and important
Focus Matrix is a to-do list built on the Eisenhower box for iPhone, iPad and Mac: tasks sit in sections by urgency and importance and move to the urgent side as a deadline nears. The free version has no time limit but no sync, so two devices means Pro at $17.99 a year. It's Apple only, bulk editing and list sharing are Mac only, and the Be Focused link needs that app's own Pro too.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Yearly Pro is $17.99, about $1.50 a month, inside the cheapest quarter of this category, and Lifetime Pro is $34.99 once. What Pro buys is sync: between your devices, with Calendar and with the Be Focused timer. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free with no time limit: both views, due dates, reminders, recurring tasks, tags, filters, reports, password protection. That covers one device. Two devices need Pro for sync. |
| Features | C | It does the Eisenhower matrix completely, down to tasks sliding to Urgent as a deadline nears, with repeats, tags, saved filters and reports. But that's one method rather than this category's whole job, and batch editing and sharing a list are Mac only. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.6 from about 1,600 App Store ratings, below this category's top band. New tasks land in an Unsorted section and you drag each into the box where it belongs, which is the whole idea. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Apple only: iPhone, iPad and Mac, with Apple Calendar and the Be Focused timer. No Android, Windows or web version, and the Be Focused link needs that app's Pro version, sold separately. |
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 Matrix is for
- Fits if you already sort your tasks by urgent and important
- Works for one iPhone, iPad or Mac, where the free version has no time limit
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Android, Windows or a browser, as no version is listed for any of them
- Tight if you're staying free on two devices, because sync between them and with Calendar needs Pro
- Not for you if you share lists or edit tasks in bulk, as both are listed for the Mac version only
- Watch out: the Be Focused timer link needs Pro here and the Pro version of Be Focused, sold separately
Good to know
Good for
- People who prioritize with the Eisenhower matrix
- iPhone, iPad and Mac users who want one priority board
- Be Focused users who want tasks tied to their timer
Worth knowing
- Apple platforms only: it is offered on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and on the Mac App Store, with no Android, Windows or web version listed.
- Cross-device sync, Calendar sync and the Be Focused integration all need the Pro upgrade.
- The Be Focused integration also needs the Pro version of Be Focused, which is sold separately.
- Editing several tasks at once and sharing task lists by email or messages are listed for the Mac version only.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1.50
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Focus Matrix has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.99 per month, or $17.99 per year.
What Pro buys is sync: between your devices, with Calendar and with the Be Focused timer.
Free
$0
Matrix and list views, due dates, reminders, recurring tasks, tags, filters, reports, PDF export and password protection, without sync between devices.
Monthly Pro
$2.99
per month
Adds cross-device sync, task sync with Calendar and the Be Focused integration on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Yearly Pro
$17.99
per year
The same Pro features billed once a year, with a 7-day trial.
Lifetime Pro
$34.99
one-time payment
The same Pro features unlocked with a single in-app purchase and no renewal.
The free plan
Free to download and use with no time limit: matrix and list views, due dates, reminders, recurring tasks, tags, filters, reports and password protection. Sync and integrations need Pro.
Trying it first
7-day free trial with the Yearly Pro subscription
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Yearly Pro costs about half of monthly
The US App Store lists Monthly Pro at $2.99 and Yearly Pro at $17.99, so a year on the yearly plan costs about 50% less than twelve monthly payments.
Stated on apps.apple.comLifetime license
Lifetime Pro for a one-time $34.99
A Lifetime Pro in-app purchase unlocks the Pro features with a single payment in place of the monthly or yearly subscription.
Stated on apps.apple.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Lifetime Pro”, against $34.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $49.99 | $35.14 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 3,499 | $36.17 | about the same |
| Philippines | ₱ 2,290.00 | $36.45 | about the same |
| Indonesia | Rp 699ribu | $39.09 | 12% more |
| Mexico | $799.00 | $43.90 | 25% more |
| Germany | 39,99 € | $44.81 | 28% more |
| Brazil | R$ 229,90 | $45.93 | 31% more |
| United Kingdom | £34.99 | $46.26 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Eisenhower matrix task manager for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, tasks, reports.
But that's one method rather than this category's whole job, and batch editing and sharing a list are Mac only.
- Matrix and list views
- Tasks sit in sections by urgency and importance, shown as a matrix or as a list of sections, with an Unsorted section for incoming tasks. Drag and drop moves a task between sections.
- Due dates, reminders and repeats
- A task can have a due date, an all-day setting, a reminder and a repeat with customizable options. Creation and completion dates are tracked.
- Automatic move to Urgent
- A task moves to the Urgent side on its own as its deadline approaches, with a notification, or when a task it is linked to is completed.
- Tags, sorting and filter presets
- Tasks are sorted by title, by due date or manually, organized with tags, and filtered by tag and completion status. Filter presets can be saved and reapplied.
- Reports and export
- Configurable statistics and reports cover completed tasks, and task lists can be exported to PDF or printed.
- Sync and integrations in Pro
- Pro syncs data across iPhone, iPad and Mac, syncs tasks with Calendar, and connects to the Be Focused app so a timer can be started from a task.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Apple Calendar
- Be Focused
Focus Matrix is made by Xwavesoft (Denys Ievenko).
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
48/123
Other to-do list apps it is graded above
Focus Matrix's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 43.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 68 of 123) and worst on features (C, above 8).
Its paid plans start at $1.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $3 for the category: 8 of the 68 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 7 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 124 to-do list apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Focus Matrix’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 50 of 123
- BFree plan and trialAbove 68 of 123
- CFeaturesAbove 8 of 123
- BEase of useAbove 56 of 123
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 19 of 123
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 99 to-do list apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Focus Matrix 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.
Your call
A to-do list at its plainest is tasks with dates, repeats and a box to tick.
You could make the core of Focus Matrix for yourself: tasks and reports. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $17.99 a year it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Tasks and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Focus Matrix’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
Eisenhower, 4.Do, Priority Matrix, TickTick and Things 3
The 5 tools Focus Matrix is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Eisenhower
Free plan · from $2.99 one-time
Eisenhower Matrix to-do app for the web and iPhone.
- Only Focus Matrix lists a macOS app.
- Only Eisenhower lists a web app.
- Focus Matrix can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
4.Do
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Eisenhower Matrix task manager for Android, iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Only 4.Do lists an Android app.
- Focus Matrix can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Focus Matrix also covers reports.
- 2.6GPA
Priority Matrix
Free plan · from $12/mo
Eisenhower-matrix task and project manager for teams.
- Only Priority Matrix lists a web app.
- Only Priority Matrix lists Windows and Android apps.
- Only Priority Matrix lists a browser extension.
- 3.4GPA
TickTick
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
To-do list with a calendar, habit tracker and Pomodoro timer built in.
- Only TickTick lists a web app.
- Only TickTick lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only TickTick lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
Things 3
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
Personal task manager for Apple devices, sold as a one-time purchase.
- Focus Matrix has a free plan. Things 3 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Focus Matrix also covers reports.
- Things 3 also covers Markdown, natural-language input and calendar.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
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 Matrix free?
Focus Matrix has a free plan. Free to download and use with no time limit: matrix and list views, due dates, reminders, recurring tasks, tags, filters, reports and password protection.
How much does Focus Matrix cost?
Focus Matrix lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Focus Matrix work on?
Focus Matrix is available on iOS and macOS.
Does Focus Matrix offer any discounts?
Focus Matrix publicly lists the following: Yearly Pro costs about half of monthly; Lifetime Pro for a one-time $34.99.
How is Focus Matrix rated?
Focus Matrix's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1,598 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Focus Matrix have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Focus Matrix is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Focus Matrix have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Focus Matrix is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Focus Matrix open source?
Focus Matrix is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Focus Matrix integrate with?
Focus Matrix's listing names Apple Calendar and Be Focused. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Focus Matrix have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial with the Yearly Pro subscription.
Who makes Focus Matrix?
Focus Matrix is made by Xwavesoft (Denys Ievenko).
What are the alternatives to Focus Matrix?
The closest alternatives to Focus Matrix in our directory are Eisenhower, 4.Do, Priority Matrix, TickTick and Things 3.
How does Focus Matrix compare with other to-do list apps?
Focus Matrix's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 43.
Is Focus Matrix good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Focus Matrix B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $1.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $3 for the category: 8 of the 68 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Focus Matrix?
A to-do list at its plainest is tasks with dates, repeats and a box to tick.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Focus Matrix’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Xwavesoft's own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-22.
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 Xwavesoft (Denys Ievenko). Prices change, so check xwavesoft.com 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 Matrix, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/focus-matrix
- 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 Matrix: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/focus-matrix
Know someone choosing between to-do list apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/focus-matrix/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded to-do list apps after Focus Matrix, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- To-Do List Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 124 to-do list apps we grade, compared
- Apple Reminders Insider's GuideApple's free to-do app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch3.6 GPA
- Microsoft To Do Insider's GuideFree to-do list from Microsoft that syncs with Outlook tasks3.6 GPA
- Google Tasks Insider's GuideGoogle's to-do list, built into Gmail, Calendar, Chat and Docs3.4 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 Matrix’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 Matrix is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Xwavesoft (Denys Ievenko). Prices and plans change: check xwavesoft.com before you buy.