Focused Work - Pomodoro Timer

Name: Focused Work - Pomodoro Timer
Rating: 4.7 (588 reviews)
Author: Michael Tigas

Time Management, Focus & ADHD

Free · In‑App Purchases

588 Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Productivity
Developer

Michael Tigas
Language

EN
English
Size

155
MB

## Featured by App Store in 150+ Countries & Regions # Hot This Week # Apps We Love Right Now # Big Apps From Small Teams # New Apps, Features, and Content ## What People Are Saying "A simple, but valuable utility for creating timed focus sessions of productivity." - MacStories "Focused Work helps you stay on track better than ever" - iMore "Focused Work makes it easy to create and manage Focused Sessions." - 9to5Mac "A tool that helps overcome that first step." - Knapsack Focused Work is a powerful timer that helps you focus and be productive. It's purpose-built for people who want to focus for long periods and struggle with this. Add structure to your day with "Focus Sessions" that encourage you to complete goals, tasks, and help you divide your time into Focus, Break, and Prepare stages. Pick from a selection of templates, including a simple timer, Pomodoro - inspired by the Pomodoro Technique, Flowmodoro - inspired by the Flowtime Technique, and other various sessions. You can also create repeatable sessions specifically tailored to your needs. Add stages, set time limits, and much more. Ultimately, Focused Work helps you be more accountable by reminding you to focus, reflect, and build healthy productivity habits by completing various daily goals. **Core Features** · A simple, powerful timer that keeps you on-task Choose what to focus on. Start the timer. Get stuff done! · Curated Basic Sessions to get started Run a Pomodoro session, Flowmodoro session, or even just a simple timer · Create Focus Sessions Tailor them to your needs with a plethora of configurable options · Reminders Be reminded to stay focused, when to take breaks, and also to start a focus session! · Reflection Track what went well for you during your focus session and what you can improve upon · Scratch Pad Jot down thoughts that come to mind during your session and return to them after · Daily Goals Completing your daily focus goals earns you a streak and helps you form healthy productivity habits · Statistics & Charts Review recent productivity across the past week, month, and year · Block Distractions Select apps and websites you want to restrict access to during a session · In-app Shortcuts Automation Automatically perform actions as you progress through your session, such as turning on Focus · Link with Toggl Track Explore advanced time tracking by linking with Toggl to create time entries, assign projects and tags · Productivity Export Export completed sessions in CSV format **iOS & iPadOS Features** Focused Work is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with extensive support for each platform; · Live Activities Control your session from the Lock Screen or Dynamic Island · Interactive Widgets Control your session, view daily goals, and start a session from the Home Screen · Control Center Widgets Start a session or access the Scratch Pad with Control Widgets · StandBy Interact with your session while iPhone is in StandBy · Spotlight Search Quick start and interact with sessions from search · Focus Filters Filter which sessions can be viewed & started based on the active Focus · App Shortcuts & Siri Start and interact with a session via various shortcuts that can also be linked together · Picture-in-Picture Show a floating timer above other apps with Picture-in-Picture mode · Session Alerts on all devices Start a session on one device and receive update alerts on others with Focused Work installed · iCloud Syncing Sync productivity stats & created sessions between devices · Privacy Focused Your data is securely stored and managed via iCloud. No account registration. · And much more Mac Support, Share Sheet controls, App Icons, Keyboard Shortcuts, VoiceOver, Split View & Slide Over, Low Power Mode, Drag & Drop, Dark Mode, URL Schemes If you have any questions, please reach out to focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.au Privacy Policy: https://focusedwork.app/privacypolicy/ Terms of Use: https://focusedwork.app/terms/

Ratings & Reviews

4.7

out of 5

588 Ratings

I love this app!
03/22/2022

SovereignD
I love this, I use it every day. There is just one thing. When I am focused and doing the focused things - these infernal reminders to focus that require me to stop focusing to shut them off are no bueno. And there is no easy way to stop them. I turned them off on one of my devices, but struggling to figure out where to do it on the mac desktop. Please make that an optional thing - that someone has to select to use instead of being automatically set up. It's awful. I have ADD and superfocus when I can FINALLY get myself into the zone.. and it actually disrupts my ability to stay in that state.

Developer Response
Thank you for the kind review, really appreciated!It's possible to turn off particular alerts on the Mac app via the Preferences screen. Once the Focused Work app is opened, in the top left corner of your screen click the "Focused Work" menu button, then "Preferences". A new screen will appear where you can turn off the Distraction Awareness alerts. If you have any other questions please feel free to reach out at focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.au. Cheers!
I love this app!
03/22/2022

SovereignD

I love this, I use it every day. There is just one thing. When I am focused and doing the focused things - these infernal reminders to focus that require me to stop focusing to shut them off are no bueno. And there is no easy way to stop them. I turned them off on one of my devices, but struggling to figure out where to do it on the mac desktop. Please make that an optional thing - that someone has to select to use instead of being automatically set up. It's awful. I have ADD and superfocus when I can FINALLY get myself into the zone.. and it actually disrupts my ability to stay in that state.
Developer Response 03/27/2022
Thank you for the kind review, really appreciated!It's possible to turn off particular alerts on the Mac app via the Preferences screen. Once the Focused Work app is opened, in the top left corner of your screen click the "Focused Work" menu button, then "Preferences". A new screen will appear where you can turn off the Distraction Awareness alerts. If you have any other questions please feel free to reach out at focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.au. Cheers!
I hate when apps put annoying review reminders in my face, especially when I’m trying to focus
01/25/2024

barryhorowitz123
So I’ll give an honest review. This app is weird. Why do the default settings include a constant ticking sound, in-session popup notifications, and automatic transition between segments only logical for a robot? Is this intended to help a person focus? Customizing the sessions is nearly impossible, and even when you succeed, the app attempts to be persistent about sticking to the original template. I’m often finding that sessions get paused and never restarted, or new segments never start, and I don’t remember doing this myself. Excessive pause during a session, or excessively long break between segments? Those would be good times to alert a user that something is amiss. The concept is simple on its face, I’m not sure why I have yet to find a well made app that matches the ease of a timer with a few thoughtful features. Hoping this one improves on some good foundations, namely the design and the big bold view of the timer on the lock screen. Update: it appears a 10 minute pause notification has been put into the iOS version at least, which I learned because I guess I’ve spent 10 minutes writing this review. Would add 1/2 a star for that. Minus half a star for going back in the app only to find it’s still asking me to review.

Developer Response
Hi, thanks for the review! This kind of feedback is super helpful, appreciate you taking the time to write it out - lots of points noted. 🙏 I've a few questions I'd love to pick your brain on, in particular about the initial configuration, alerts, and templates - if you're open to it? Always trying to optimise for the right balance with those. If so, shoot me an email at focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.au and I'll hit you up - cheers!
I hate when apps put annoying review reminders in my face, especially when I’m trying to focus
01/25/2024

barryhorowitz123

So I’ll give an honest review. This app is weird. Why do the default settings include a constant ticking sound, in-session popup notifications, and automatic transition between segments only logical for a robot? Is this intended to help a person focus? Customizing the sessions is nearly impossible, and even when you succeed, the app attempts to be persistent about sticking to the original template. I’m often finding that sessions get paused and never restarted, or new segments never start, and I don’t remember doing this myself. Excessive pause during a session, or excessively long break between segments? Those would be good times to alert a user that something is amiss. The concept is simple on its face, I’m not sure why I have yet to find a well made app that matches the ease of a timer with a few thoughtful features. Hoping this one improves on some good foundations, namely the design and the big bold view of the timer on the lock screen. Update: it appears a 10 minute pause notification has been put into the iOS version at least, which I learned because I guess I’ve spent 10 minutes writing this review. Would add 1/2 a star for that. Minus half a star for going back in the app only to find it’s still asking me to review.
Developer Response 01/28/2024
Hi, thanks for the review! This kind of feedback is super helpful, appreciate you taking the time to write it out - lots of points noted. 🙏 I've a few questions I'd love to pick your brain on, in particular about the initial configuration, alerts, and templates - if you're open to it? Always trying to optimise for the right balance with those. If so, shoot me an email at focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.au and I'll hit you up - cheers!
Tremendous App With some Caveats
04/07/2023

SchemeViller
The app is gorgeous, I love the design. & the core functionality is only matched by two other apps that I know of. Creating custom sessions with URL schemes is super neat. The popover timer, too. There’s just a lot to live about this app. However, there are two things that cause it to lose a star.1. I don’t understand the logic of being able to start a timer on one device but NOT having the option to mirror the timer on another device. I spent way too much time trying to start a timer on my phone & have it mirrored on my Mac, only to find out that the iCloud sync is limited to sessions & notifications. I think the option should be there. 2. The app uses shortcuts for blocking rather than Apple’s built-in screen time API. If I remember correctly, shortcuts was the way to go before developers could access the screen time API, it’s been out for ages now and is far easier to use from a UX perspective. But I’m not a developer, so I can’t speak to how challenging it would be to implement, I’m just sharing something that bothers me, personally. I’d love to move away from a different app that I’m using, which is equally gorgeous, morris timers, and has a bonus watch app — but lacks the ability to set custom sessions. However, until the timer mirroring issue option is added, I just can’t do it. But, I don’t think that should deter anyone away from using this app, it’s really great & the developer has done a great job. He’s super innovative.

Developer Response
Thank you for the super kind review, and helpful feedback! 🙏 r.e. #1, Focused Work was originally designed to work exclusively on-device rather than relying on an active internet connection, thus making it extremely cumbersome to link sessions between devices (which I've experimented with in the past). I'd love to add it some day though, and will add your vote for that feature! For #2, touche! It will be something I'll look into in the near future. If you're interested, I'd love for you to share some context why syncing timers is an important feature for you? Shoot me an email at focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.auCheers, and thanks again! 😀
Tremendous App With some Caveats
04/07/2023

SchemeViller

The app is gorgeous, I love the design. & the core functionality is only matched by two other apps that I know of. Creating custom sessions with URL schemes is super neat. The popover timer, too. There’s just a lot to live about this app. However, there are two things that cause it to lose a star.1. I don’t understand the logic of being able to start a timer on one device but NOT having the option to mirror the timer on another device. I spent way too much time trying to start a timer on my phone & have it mirrored on my Mac, only to find out that the iCloud sync is limited to sessions & notifications. I think the option should be there. 2. The app uses shortcuts for blocking rather than Apple’s built-in screen time API. If I remember correctly, shortcuts was the way to go before developers could access the screen time API, it’s been out for ages now and is far easier to use from a UX perspective. But I’m not a developer, so I can’t speak to how challenging it would be to implement, I’m just sharing something that bothers me, personally. I’d love to move away from a different app that I’m using, which is equally gorgeous, morris timers, and has a bonus watch app — but lacks the ability to set custom sessions. However, until the timer mirroring issue option is added, I just can’t do it. But, I don’t think that should deter anyone away from using this app, it’s really great & the developer has done a great job. He’s super innovative.
Developer Response 01/18/2024
Thank you for the super kind review, and helpful feedback! 🙏 r.e. #1, Focused Work was originally designed to work exclusively on-device rather than relying on an active internet connection, thus making it extremely cumbersome to link sessions between devices (which I've experimented with in the past). I'd love to add it some day though, and will add your vote for that feature! For #2, touche! It will be something I'll look into in the near future. If you're interested, I'd love for you to share some context why syncing timers is an important feature for you? Shoot me an email at focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.auCheers, and thanks again! 😀
Great app, but annoying
08/01/2024

1992brz
I spent a lot of time searching for an app with a flexible Pomodoro timer that includes a count-up clock and tracks my sessions. I love that Focused Work offers a Flowmodoro option, a flexible timer, and the traditional Pomodoro. The Toggl integration is also very convenient. This app has really boosted my productivity.I knocked off one star because there are some features that I find extremely annoying. So much so that every now and then, I stop using the app, try to find something similar, but never find it, so I come back. The main issue is the notifications. I didn’t like them, so I turned them off. Now I get reminders to turn on notifications so that I can get reminders! It really makes no sense. Then there are the reminders to rate and review, which I guess worked. I also wish we could complete the session without having to pause it and that it had better sync between iPhone and MacBook
Great app, but annoying
08/01/2024

1992brz

I spent a lot of time searching for an app with a flexible Pomodoro timer that includes a count-up clock and tracks my sessions. I love that Focused Work offers a Flowmodoro option, a flexible timer, and the traditional Pomodoro. The Toggl integration is also very convenient. This app has really boosted my productivity.I knocked off one star because there are some features that I find extremely annoying. So much so that every now and then, I stop using the app, try to find something similar, but never find it, so I come back. The main issue is the notifications. I didn’t like them, so I turned them off. Now I get reminders to turn on notifications so that I can get reminders! It really makes no sense. Then there are the reminders to rate and review, which I guess worked. I also wish we could complete the session without having to pause it and that it had better sync between iPhone and MacBook

Thank you for using Focused Work in 2025! This update improves support for the latest version of iOS and iPadOS, including minor bug fixes. We hope you find them super helpful for your productivity. Please leave a kind review if you do! :)