If you’re a student in need of a time management system to improve productivity during study hours, let’s talk about the Pomodoro technique—a method that divides long sessions into short, organized blocks of time.
It happens to the best of us: We’re half an hour into a study session, and five minutes later, a medley of sounds—buzz, ding, pop, bark—pulls us away from the task. Before we know it, two hours have gone by. We tell ourselves, “Oh, the exam’s not for another two weeks,” and call it quits for the day. We extend our surrender to study distractions like YouTube, and suddenly we’re cramming a semester’s worth of material three days before the exam. 😱
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Thanks to smartphones, distractions are constantly at our fingertips; this makes it easy for us to lose focus on our tasks and lose track of time. So in an age of information and distraction overload, how do we stay focused and gain back control of our time?
One university student found a way. ⏱
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat is a Pomodoro Timer App?
In the 1980s, Italian student Francesco Cirillo struggled with completing his university assignments. He wanted to understand how long it took to finish tasks and sought to get more work done in less time.
With only a pen, paper, and tomato-shaped kitchen timer, he organized short study sessions to help him track time on tasks and improve his concentration. Thus, the Pomodoro Technique was born, and decades later, over 2 million people use this time management method to improve their productivity skills!
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat to Look for in Pomodoro Apps?
- User Interface (UI): The app should be intuitive and easy to use. A clean, distraction-free interface will help keep you focused on your tasks.
- Customization: Look for an app that allows you to customize the length of work and break intervals to suit your personal productivity rhythm.
- Task Management: Some Pomodoro apps come with built-in task management features. These can help you organize your tasks and prioritize them effectively.
- Notifications: Choose an app with unobtrusive but effective alerts to let you know when it’s time to take a break or get back to work.
- Syncing Capabilities: If you work on multiple devices, an app that syncs your progress across them can be invaluable.
- Reporting Features: Some apps provide reports on your productivity over time. This can be a great way to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Price: There are free Pomodoro apps available, but some premium versions offer more features. Consider your budget and what features are most important to you.
Summarize this article for me please15 Best Pomodoro Apps & Timers for Focus in 2024
1. ClickUp
Best for Productivity & Task Management
ClickUp is a free task management solution to track time, mark due dates, and organize coursework on one platform. Instead of running around and doing things out of order, you’ll prioritize what needs to be done first to get started right away. ClickUp’s Free Plan is all you need to start designing your days to how you work best. There’s no condition to upgrade to one of the paid plans because ClickUp is free forever!
Notable time tracking features in ClickUp include:
🌐 Global time tracking: Access the Time Tracking modal from a task, the Quick Action menu, List view, Board view, and ClickUp Chrome Extension
🔄 Integrations: choose from 100 native integrations along with popular time tracking apps—Harvest, Everhour, Toggl, and more
📊 Time reporting: build time tracking Dashboards in ClickUp for visual insights into ongoing and completed tasks
✅ ClickUp pros
- Plan, manage, and accomplish your daily, weekly, quarterly, and yearly Goals
- Visualize tasks, projects, and workflows the way that works best for you with ClickUp’s 15+ customizable views
❌ ClickUp cons
- No Dashboard export feature
- Not all ClickUp views are available on the mobile app… yet! 🔮
💸 ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever Plan (best for personal use)
- Unlimited Plan (best for small teams ($7/member per month)
- Business Plan (best for mid-sized teams ($12/member per month)
👉 If you need a full software suite to handle your Enterprise workloads and processes, we’d love to help set you up for success! Please contact Sales when you’re ready.
💬 ClickUp customer ratings
- G2: 4.7/5 (3,880+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,480+ reviews)
2. Paymo
Best for Freelancers and Small Business Owners
Paymo is a full-fledged project management solution that caters to freelancers and small businesses. Users can keep track of their tasks and projects, turn time entries and timesheets into reports and invoices—all while keeping and eye on their profitability. When it comes to Pomodoro capabilities, users can start the in-app stopwatch or the desktop widget or use an automatic timer.
✅ Paymo pros
- Each Pomodoro session is linked to a specific task, project, etc.
- Time tracking functionalities are part of a wider selection of features, including task management, resource scheduling, and invoicing
❌ Paymo cons
- Pomodoro breaks interrupt time entries recorded in the Timesheets
- Cannot track time without an internet connection
💸 Paymo pricing
- Paymo offers free and paid plans starting at $4.95/user per month
💬 PomoDone customer ratings
- G2: 4.6/5 (570+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (420+ reviews)
3. PomoDone
Best Standalone Pomodoro App
PomoDone is a performance-boosting tool making it easy to create a time tracking system using the Pomodoro Technique. Alone, the PomoDone app is an ample Pomodoro timer, but with your favorite task management software like ClickUp, you can customize your workflow! Get started with PomoDone and ClickUp in three easy steps:
- Install the PomoDoneApp Extension
- Log into or create a PomoDone account
- Open a ClickUp task to connect and begin tracking time
Additionally, you can download PomoDone’s desktop app to sync tasks from ClickUp, as well sync timer data back to ClickUp tasks and statuses.
✅ PomoDone pros
- Click the play button to start working on a task right away
- Block certain websites when the Pomodoro begins to limit interruptions
❌ PomoDone cons
- Up to five different time intervals for work and short breaks are allowed
- Not suitable as a task management tool on its own
💸 PomoDone pricing
- PomoDone offers free and paid plans starting at $4.96/user per month
💬 PomoDone customer ratings
- G2: 4.1/5 (7 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (120+ reviews)
4. Toggl Track
Best for Time Tracking and Analytics
Toggl Track is a time management tool that aims to shave hours off administrative tasks. Members can get started on their research assignments right away using features like background tracking, software auto start Pomodoros, and idle detection. For the best Pomodoro timer experience, integrate Toggl Track with ClickUp!
✅ Toggl Track pros
- Time entry suggestions based on the software you’re currently using
- 100+ app integrations to continue one’s current workflow
❌ Toggl Track cons
- Free plan members can’t pin the most frequently-used time entries for easy access
- Not suitable as a task management tool on its own
💸 Toggl Track pricing
- Toggl Track offers free and paid plans starting at $9/user per month
💬 Toggl Track customer ratings
- G2: 4.6/5 (1,400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (1,700+ reviews)
Bonus: Toggl Track Vs. Clockify
5. Pomofocus
Best for Pomodoro Timer App for Studying
Pomofocus is a customizable timer that works on desktop and mobile browsers. Its simple interface features tabs to switch between sessions and breaks, a task input window with estimated Pomodoros, and custom timer intervals to suit any preferences.
✅ Pomofocus pros
- Color transition to switch moods between work time and rest time
- Audio notifications at the end of a timer period
❌ Pomofocus cons
- No advanced task management features
- Limited time tracking capabilities compared to other top-rated Pomodoro apps
💸 Pomofocus pricing
- Pomofocus offers free and paid plans. Inquire with Pomofocus for pricing
💬 Pomofocus customer ratings
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
6. Forest
Best for Combating Procrastination with Gamification
Improving your focus can also help the environment! With the Forest app open on your phone, a seed grows into a virtual tree after you’ve successfully completed Pomodoro sessions. Watching a visualized forest spread as the result of all the focus hours you’ve logged is gratifying!
However, if you leave the app during a working session to do things like check Instagram or answer a text message, the tree withers. The sense of achievement while seeing a flourishing forest with each tree representing your dedication motivates you to reduce procrastination, and helps you build a good habit of time management!
✅ Forest pros
- Users can cash in virtual coins accumulated to plant real trees with Forest’s partnership with Trees for the Future
- Users can customize tags for each task to track time distribution
❌ Forest cons
- The app is not suitable as a task management tool
- The app limits the number of real trees each user can plant to five
💸 Forest pricing
- Forest is available for $3.99 with in-app purchases
💬 Forest customer ratings
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
7. Focus Booster
Best for Enhancing Focus
Focus Booster is a simple Pomodoro timer that aims to help users accomplish more and visualize progress. Dashboard reports highlight times where most productive moments happen and weekly email reports share previous weeks’ data. With these insights into past Pomodoros, users can appropriately plan for the future!
✅ Focus Booster pros
- Users can continue to track Pomodoros, even without a network connection
- Users can easily reallocate time entry dates, labels, lengths, and durations
❌ Focus Booster cons
- The app is geared towards users with businesses
- The app’s free plan is limited to 20 Pomodoro sessions per month
💸 Focus Booster pricing
- Focus Booster offers free and paid plans starting at $4.99/user per month
💬 Focus Booster customer ratings
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
8. Focus Keeper
Best for Teams and Collaboration
Similar to a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, users adjust the timer with their fingers to customize the time length on the Focus Keeper app. Its smart interface combined with features like daily goals and alarm sounds makes it a worthwhile app for those who want to upgrade to a premium plan.
✅ Focus Keeper pros
- Users can assign any sounds separately for the short break, long break, and Pomodoro session
- Users can customize audio notifications
❌ Focus Keeper cons
- The app is not suitable for desktop browsers
- The app’s free version limits customization
💸 Focus Keeper pricing
- Focus Keeper offers a free plan with in-app purchases
💬 Focus Keeper customer ratings
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
9. Pomello
Best for Trello Users
Calling all Trello users! Pomello is a Pomodoro timer with the ability to sync seamlessly with Trello cards. Users can create unlimited pomodoro sessions and track time to their heart’s content on the free plan.
However, customization and checklist items—must-haves for a true Pomodoro experience—are only available to premium plan members.
✅ Pomello pros
- The app is available for free on Mac, Windows, and Linux
- The app uses Trello to organize tasks
❌ Pomello cons
- The app has a learning curve for non-Trello users
- The app has a limited free plan compared to other top-rated Pomodoro apps
💸 Pomello pricing
- Pomello offers free and paid plans starting at $20/user per year
💬 Pomello customer ratings
- G2: 4.6/5 (4 reviews)
- Capterra: N/A
10. Tide
Best for Relaxation and Mindfulness Integration
For fans of ASMR sounds and videos, the Tide app is just for you! It’s a beautifully designed focus and Pomodoro timer packed with natural sound scenes and melodies to create an immersive workspace. Listen to cut veggies, crunchy snow, or raindrops on rocks. Whether you’re alone in your dorm or at the public library, pop in your headphones, hit start, and you’re set!
✅ Tide pros
- Available for iPhone, Android, iPad, and Chrome
- Daily inspiring quotes
❌ Tide cons
- No integrations with task management tools
- Limited time tracking features and personalization
💸 Tide pricing
- Tide offers free and paid plans. Inquire with Tide for pricing
💬 Tide customer ratings
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
11. Be Focused
Best for Customizable Pomodoro Cycles
In true Pomodoro fashion, Be Focused has the features users need to get started with time tracking and managing tasks. The app also offers customized reports for fast and easy goal tracking so users can see the progress of their work.
✅ Be Focused pros
- The app supports Apple Watch
- The app’s alarm sounds in the background
❌ Be Focused cons
- The app’s auto-backup account feature is not on the free plan
💸 Be Focused pricing
- Be Focused offers a free plan with the option to upgrade to a premium plan
💬 Be Focused customer ratings
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
12. Marinara Timer
Best for Pomodoro Technique Purists
“As working creatives, we found the Pomodoro method to be too rigid. 25-minute work segments with five or 15-minute breaks are not ideal for all individuals, companies, or industries,” said Marina Timer’s creators. Users have the option to choose from three timers: Pomodoro, Custom, and Kitchen, to match their needs and preferences.
✅ Marinara Timer pros
- The app’s simple and smart functionality makes it enjoyable to use regularly
- The app has three different timer settings to make Pomodoro sessions unique
❌ Marinara Timer cons
- The app is not a suitable task management tool
- The app’s interface is outdated
💸 Marinara Timer pricing
- Marinara Timer is free
💬 Marinara Timer customer ratings
- G2: N/A
- Capterra: N/A
13. TimeCamp
Best for Tracking Productivity Analytics
TimeCamp is an online Pomodoro timer app that also comes with a suite of time tracking features to monitor time spent on online activities. It can automatically scan the domain names of the apps and groups them into predefined categories.
✅ TimeCamp pros
- The free plan includes idle and automatic time tracking
- Time entries can be added, adjusted, and deleted
❌ TimeCamp cons
- Calendar integration is a paid feature
- Productivity reports are not available on the free plan
💸 TimeCamp pricing
- TimeCamp offers free and paid plans starting at $6.30/user per month
💬 TimeCamp customer ratings
- G2: 4.7/5 (170+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (540+ reviews)
Check out these TimeCamp alternatives!
14. FocusList
Best for Daily Planning and Prioritization
FocusList is a great Pomodoro timer app and to-do list that helps you stay focused and manage your tasks effectively. It’s designed around the concept of time blocking, breaking your day into “focus sessions” that you can devote to individual tasks. FocusList is ideal for anyone who wants to increase productivity and manage time better.
✅ FocusList pros
- Allows you to plan your day, estimate time for tasks, and track time spent.
- The app promotes the Pomodoro technique, which alternates 25-minute focused work sessions with 5-minute breaks.
- Provides statistics that allow you to view your performance history and discover productivity patterns.
- Works offline and syncs seamlessly across your devices when you are online.
❌ FocusList cons
- Lack of regular updates and technical support.
- Available only on Apple devices.
- No way to pause the pomodoro timers once a session has started.
💸 FocusList pricing
- Free
💬 FocusList customer ratings
- Apple App Store: 3.2/5 (30+ reviews)
15. Everhour
Best for Team Productivity
Everhour is a time tracker and Pomodoro tracker rolled into one platform. It’s a great tool for freelancers, remote workers, and teams who want to improve productivity and effectively monitor their work progress.
✅ Everhour pros
- Simple and intuitive timer that follows the Pomodoro technique.
- It has an in-depth reporting feature which provides insights into productivity, time management, and workload.
- The tool allows for seamless integration with project management tools like Trello, Asana, and Basecamp providing a holistic approach to track tasks and time.
- It has a billable hours feature that is great for freelancers and businesses.
❌ Everhour cons
- It does not provide desktop notifications, which can make it easy to lose track of time.
- Some users have reported issues with the mobile version of the app.
- No free version available, although they offer a free trial.
💸 Everhour pricing
- Everhour is $10 per user per month starting at five users.
💬 Everhour customer ratings
- G2: 4.7/5 (120+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (260+ reviews)
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow Does the Pomodoro Technique Work?
- Write your daily tasks on a to do list
- Choose one task to work on
- Set the timer for 25 minutes and begin working
- Wrap up the task when the timer expires
- Take a 5-minute break
- Repeat steps 2-5 to complete three Pomodoro sessions
- Take a longer break (20-minutes) after four Pomodoros
To be fair, Francesco Cirillo invented this before the evolution of social media and smartphones, so he didn’t have to worry about likes, comments, and notifications. Or respond to family group chats. 👥
This is what the Pomodoro Technique looks like for today’s student:
- Write your daily tasks on a to do list the night before
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Prepare your mind and environment during a time of day you’re at your most energized
- Grab snacks and water
- Turn off your phone
- Okay, check your notification one last time then turn off your phone
- Play calming music or ambient sounds in the background
- Choose one task to work on
- Set the timer for 25 minutes and begin working
- Wrap up the task when the timer expires
- Take a 5-minute break
- Repeat steps 2-5 to complete three Pomodoro sessions
- Take a longer break (20-minutes) after four Pomodoros and get out of your seat
- Return to step 9
Summarize this article for me pleaseClickUp: The Best Pomodoro App for Your Focus Needs
One of the best improvements you can make to your productivity is by using powerful time management software. You’ll prevent burnout and shrink the hours it takes to plan your workload. With this extra time in your day, how would you spend it?
Get started with ClickUp’s native time tracking feature today! ✨
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