Leave a Review Focus Keeper
Nuther ADHD/ND approved
I knew this technique existed, but this app made it so easy to implement. There are three different phases to this timer, and five “rounds”: two 25-min work rounds, two 5-min break rounds, and one 25-min break round. Each different phase has a different sound to it, so it’s easy to know which round is happening without having to pick up your phone and reset. This is a HUGE bonus for me, since picking up my phone is focus suicide. You can leave this open, even with your phone on silent, and still hear the time ticking away, which is enough auditory stimulation for me to focus on what I’m doing. It will go through the phases without you having to touch anything. This is all for free, by the way. Additional customization options are available for a one-time purchase, but the app can stand on its own without these. Perfect!
I use this on my iPhone 7 for refs sakeShow lessgggggggggggggggggggggeasy
ADHD / ADD APPROVED!!! Yes!!!
Wow! Never in a million years would I have thought that I would gain effective productivity with an app, such as this one! I suffer from anxiety and uncontrollable ADD and my medication to control this challenge, lately, has been effective for my energy (caffeine boost), but I needed something to support me, in addition, to my focus concerns. I have been extremely behind on my work assignments which increases the negative behaviors through my anxiety. I find that I do well, with my medications, combined with a simple tool or self-challenge to hold myself more accountable toward my efforts (or ability) to complete my massive load!!! This app is beyond simple and user friendly and that’s all you need to get your task DONE!!!! I love the fact that I have the ability to change the countdown times, however I see fit for myself in the moment of. I have literally been more productive in my very first time of using this app, that I have in MONTHS! This is my new life saver and I would totally recommend this to ANYONE with ADD/ ADHD. I feel more accomplished and at ease because I am getting my work caught up in long sittings!!! The routine breaks are perfect!!! Prior to the app, I had my life coach advise this on and off rotation for my condition, but it’s not as beneficial or effective as an app that can track your progress! I’m grateful! I think this app saved my job as a director!!! Wow.Show lessJasmin-Corvette
Effective for studying but underhanded in selling pro version
I’ve never written a review for an app before but I felt like I had to warn other people. First of all, credit where it is due, this app is effective. It is set to the traditional pomodoro technique as a default: four rounds of 25/5 minute study/break sessions followed by a longer break. I found it worked very well when I was studying. When I was poking around in the settings I noticed there were some settings that I couldn’t change without buying the “Pro” version. That’s normal. HOWEVER hidden at the bottom of the settings menu is a button labeled “Restore Pro” which when I clicked it, bought the Pro version of the app without giving me a chance to authenticate it. I didn’t intend to buy the Pro version. Because of the underhanded tactics I can’t give it 5 stars.Show lessFocus_123
Best Pomodoro Timer You Can Get!!
Trust me I’ve scoped them all, even written a couple myself (via Shortcuts), but this is the best app on the AppStore if you’re often distracted, unmotivated, or suffer from adult ADHD. I definitely upgraded to pro, worth it to customize my chimes (Pavlov conditioning myself haha), and set the background colors to something I enjoy glancing at all day. The main benefit of this app in my opinion is the tracking/data analytic aspect they perfectly built in. The only thing I wish this app had was a text box you could enter your current task into so that it was present on-screen while the work-session timer is counting down. All in all this is my favorite and most used app whenever I have big tasks to work on or if I ever feel my productivity isn’t at the level where I know it can be. Highly recommend my friends!
Edit: One other note, seems the chime settings are a bit backwards. I guess I expect to set the chime sound that would start the session. For example when setting the Focus Alarm to News Is expect that sound to play when I’m going into a new Focus session however I have to set this sound to the other two breaks to get this to play how I intend since the sound for Focus Alarm actually plays when that session is over.Show lessseasickdyl
Got me through crunch-time studying
We’ve all had the heart-dropping-through-stomach, holy-guacamole-I-haven’t-even-STARTED-my-10-page-Literature-paper-due-tomorrow feeling, and it’s a feeling that leaves us hopelessly overwhelmed! I didn’t know what else to do other than, like my fellow Gen Z’ers, to consult my mobile phone (this here iPhone) and seek the counsel of the App Store gods. Profs have recommended to me the Pomodoro technique (4 rounds of 25 minutes working, 5 minute breaking followed by a longer break—I thought it sounded silly but silly is perhaps the best option once you’ve hit rock bottom!) and I knew I couldn’t trust myself to keep myself accountable for the time intervals, so why not use the app? Super simple, no frills, honestly not very fun either but I guess that’s the point, lol. 12/10 would recommend to a friend (or even an enemy). Paper still isn’t done, but here’s to 25-on, 5-off for the rest of this fine evening! CheersShow lesscheergirl1001
Another ADHD-approved reviewer!
After getting diagnosed with Adult ADHD last year, I realized how all these “impenetrable systems” I created over the years became penetrable... although my symptoms were exacerbated by a major hormone shift, it threw me into desperately seeking help to maintain focus as my work as an entrepreneur and writer declined and continued descending rapidly. With that, I re-discovered Pomodoros. What I believe sets this app apart (from the ones that I know of, at least) is the ability to assign sounds and music to intervals and breaks. It’s a great way to keep working, *ding* stop and take a break, [sound] start working again. The constant sound (waves crashing on the shore) while working adds more focus for me as my brain assigns the sound on a loop with relaxation and focus—and it’s automatic so I don’t have to fiddle with the music app and get distracted there too... And now that my hormone situation is back under control, the Pomodoro method is even more effective in keeping my brain engaged when necessary, and queuing me to reward myself when the breaks roll around. The only thing I’d add to improve it is the option to label intervals. For example, in another app I have on my desktop it allows me to identify what exactly I did during those working intervals. (i.e. “Maintenance Tasks” and “Writing” and “Journaling” and “Brainstorming”.) It makes a difference for me, but it definitely isn’t a deal breaker. Five stars! Highly recommend it.Show lessSEGwrites
Delivers what it promises beautifully, which is rare nowadays
This app is simple but powerful. I have been using it recently to study and it has helped me stay focused. In a day where ads rule the apps, this is the 2nd one where I am glad to pay for it (even if I don’t use the paid things) just to support the app developers. Great app all around!
If I could criticize one thing it would be that on mobile, if you have a iPhone X and higher, you will accidentally stop/start the timer if you have the phone on it’s side and you switch apps or go to the home screen. Apparently it recognizes the gesture as a tap on the timer. Minor but this app still deserves the 5 starsShow lessTenshi Sora
Work Smarter and Get More Accomplished
Focus Keeper enables me intense focus for my studies. By breaking up study sessions into 25 minute blocks it is never too daunting to get started. The 5 minute breaks are a fantastic respite and keep me from getting off task while I study (when I get tempted by a distraction I think, “No, I’ll do that when the bell rings.”) And the 25 minutes FLY and I get super absorbed in the content. Five minute break is plenty and then I easily dive back in. I like this system so much that I even use it to motivate myself to complete chores that I am prone to put off. 25 minutes cleaning out a closet, 5 minute break, 25 minutes more cleaning closet, etc. I tutor students and I introduce this app to each of them. Most LOVE it.Show lesseasy2focus
Just about perfect - one minor adjustment
This app is exactly as simple as it needs to be. Easy to maneuver, easy to set and allows you to customise colours/tones for personal preference.
HOWEVER, one slight adjustment that I would make is that you can currently only set a different tone to denote the end of a long break, however it would be more useful to have a different tone to denote the beginning of a long break. I try to avoid any interaction with my phone when I am working (and therefore using this app) and naturally I use my breaks differently when I have a long break compared to a short break. At the moment, I have to check the timer to see if I have a short or long break but it would be much more preferable to avoid having the pull my phone out as that reintroduces the distractor.Show less.C.R.S.
Great all-around
I like this app because unlike other apps similar to it, you can leave your phone on do not disturb and still get the notifications from this app. That way, this app helps you stay on track without getting distracted by other phone notifications. It also allows you to skip, shorten, and extend breaks and work sessions.
This app also automatically resets the timer for each new day as you sleep (you can change the time for it to reset in settings if you're typically up past midnight).
One slightly annoying thing is that if you get a phone call while the timer is going, it will automatically pause itself when the call ends.Show lesscmc26_whyarethesealltaken
