Comparison

Focus Matrix vs Tasks

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Focus Matrix

Organize your tasks efficiently using a priority matrix based on urgency and importance. This app helps you focus on what truly matters by categorizing tasks and providing tools for scheduling, reminders, and detailed tracking. Sync across devices and export your lists for seamless productivity.

Highlights
  • Eisenhower Box priority matrix
  • Task categorization and sorting
  • Drag-and-drop task management
  • Due dates and reminders
  • Recurring tasks
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Task export to PDF
Features
Read full description

Focus Matrix is a smart personal organizer based on the so-called Eisenhower box, a personal productivity strategy created by Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States. The principle uses a special priority matrix that helps break your tasks into several groups depending on their urgency and importance, and work your way through your daily agenda in the most efficient way possible. This app will help you focus on what really matters, and get rid of the things that can be painlessly delegated to others or postponed indefinitely until you have time for them. Task Organization • Two views: Matrix and List of Sections • “Unsorted” section to hold incoming tasks until you categorize them • Move tasks between sections using drag-and-drop • Maximize sections to focus on specific content Task Scheduling and Reminders • Assign due dates to tasks • Set “All day task” for whole-day planning • Create recurring tasks with customizable repeat options • Set reminders to never miss an important deadline Advanced Task Features • Automatically move a task to 'Urgent' as its deadline approaches, with timely notifications • Automatically move a task to 'Urgent' when a linked task is completed • Track task creation and completion dates for detailed management • Paste multiline text as individual tasks to speed up input Sorting, Filtering, and Tags • Sort tasks by title, due date, or manually • Use tags to organize tasks effectively • Filter tasks by tags and statuses (completed/uncompleted) • Save and quickly apply custom filter presets for easy navigation Synchronization and Integration • Sync data across all your devices • Sync tasks with Calendar • Integrate with Be Focused*: Sync tasks between apps and start timer in Be Focused directly from Focus Matrix Exporting and Reporting • Export task lists to PDF or print them for offline use • Configurable statistics and reports for completed tasks Security and Privacy • Password and Face ID protection for secure task management Platform Compatibility • Fully available for Mac and iOS Pro Version Features • Cross-device synchronization • Synchronization of tasks with Calendar • Integration with Be Focused*: Sync tasks between apps and start timer in Be Focused directly from Focus Matrix Focus Matrix is free to download and use forever. However, if you want to access the Pro features on all your iPhones, iPads, and Macs, you can upgrade to the Pro version. The Pro subscription comes in three different options: Monthly, Yearly with a 7-day trial, and Lifetime (one-time payment). Payment will be charged to your App Store account and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://xwavesoft.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: https://xwavesoft.com/terms-of-use.html * Be Focused helps you get things done by breaking up individual tasks among discrete intervals. It’s available for Mac and iOS devices in App Store. Integration with Be Focused requires the Pro version of Be Focused, sold separately.

About

Tasks

This app helps you manage tasks beyond a simple to-do list. It allows for customizable statuses, tags, and hierarchical organization with a Kanban view to visualize project progress. Syncs across Apple devices and offers extensive customization for your workflow.

Highlights
  • Customizable task statuses
  • Tagging and hierarchical organization
  • Kanban project view
  • Smart lists and powerful queries
  • Attachments (PDFs, images)
  • iCloud sync
  • Home screen widgets
Features
Read full description

Tasks is a flexible task manager built for Apple devices. Start with a simple to-do list, then add structure only when you need it—with projects, subtasks, tags, priorities, custom statuses, Kanban boards, collaboration, and powerful automations. Your work is rarely just “to do” or “done.” A task might be in progress, waiting, under review, or following a workflow unique to your team. Tasks lets you shape every project around the way you actually work, without overwhelming you upfront. START SIMPLE. GROW YOUR WAY. • Capture tasks quickly and organise them into folders, projects, and subtasks • Add tags, priorities, task types, notes, links, images, PDFs, and other details • Create custom statuses for any workflow • Use fixed or completion-based recurring reminders • Build Smart Lists with powerful filters across all your projects • Find tasks, comments, and project information with advanced search • Start faster with project templates and helpful tag and date suggestions SEE WORK MOVE FORWARD Turn any project into a clear visual workflow with Kanban. Move tasks between custom statuses, or let completing a task advance it naturally through your flow. From a personal checklist to a multi-stage project, you can always see what is happening and what comes next. AUTOMATE ALMOST ANYTHING With more than 50 App Intents, Tasks works deeply with Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight, and system automations. Create, edit, clone, search, and organise tasks and projects without opening the app. Build workflows around dates, recurring rules, locations, tags, priorities, statuses, comments, and collaborators. COLLABORATE WITHOUT THE OVERHEAD Share projects by email or public link, assign work, add comments, and keep files with the tasks they belong to. Only the person sharing a project needs Tasks Plus—collaborators can join without purchasing their own subscription. MADE FOR THE APPLE ECOSYSTEM Tasks is designed for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro, with reliable CloudKit-powered sync across your devices. • Interactive Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets • A full Apple Watch app for capturing and completing tasks from your wrist • Share and Action extensions for creating tasks from other apps • Focus Filters, rich notifications, and Time Sensitive alerts • Keyboard, trackpad, drag-and-drop, and multi-window support • Native dark mode, Dynamic Type, and accessibility support • Face ID and Touch ID protection for private projects • Import from Apple Reminders and Notes • Export and import complete backups using the .tasks format • URL schemes and x-callback-url support for advanced workflows PRIVATE BY DESIGN Tasks is built with privacy in mind, with secure CloudKit-powered sync across your Apple devices. START FREE Tasks is free to download with a generous free tier. Upgrade to Tasks Plus with monthly, annual, family, and lifetime options when you need more. Questions or feedback? We read every message. tasks@msquarelabs.com Privacy Policy: https://mufasayc.com/thetasksapp/privacy Terms of Use: https://mufasayc.com/thetasksapp/terms

Screenshots

Focus Matrix4 screens
Tasks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Tasks at none against Focus Matrix's shown. Tasks also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 7 months) and device support (5 vs 2). Focus Matrix's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 63%) and monetization model (freemium vs paid). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Focus Matrix sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Tasks sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Focus Matrix against 4.6 for Tasks. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Focus Matrix's written reviews are positive against 63% of Tasks's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Matrix ships an update every 7 months, Tasks weekly. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Focus Matrix versus Tasks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus MatrixTasks
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.6K ratings)4.6 (1.9K ratings)
Positive reviews82.2% of reviews — better62.6% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K1.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB159 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoMsquare Labs Technologies Private Limited

Customer experience

Focus Matrix

All ratings1,586 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.8%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews780 reviews
Positive82.2%
Neutral7.3%
Negative10.5%

Tasks

All ratings1,904 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral3.5%
Negative6.0%
Written reviews273 reviews
Positive62.6%
Neutral12.8%
Negative24.5%

User reviews

Focus Matrix

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Keeps me on track
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Helps prioritize tasks
  • 👍 Integrates well with calendar
  • 👍 Simple and effective

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Sync issues across devices
  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🔒 Security concerns with sync
  • 💡 Need for more customization options
  • 💡 Lacking recurring tasks

Tasks

From 1.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Intuitive interface
  • 💡 Customizable task statuses
  • 🚀 Seamless cross-device sync
  • 👍 Clean and visually appealing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Sync issues between devices
  • 🐛 Inconsistent behavior
  • 🔒 Limited free trial
  • 🐛 Slow performance on some devices

Bugs and requests

Focus Matrix

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Sync issues causing data loss
  • Frequent crashes
  • Inability to log in across devices
  • Calendar integration not working as expected

Requested features

7 requests
  • Ability to have multiple matrices (e.g. work, personal)
  • Recurring tasks
  • More export options (e.g. CSV)
  • Dark mode
  • Better sync reliability across devices
Show 2 more
  • Subtasks or nested tasks
  • Ability to archive completed tasks

Tasks

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Tasks not syncing correctly
  • Inability to delete tasks
  • Crashes when adding comments
  • Unreliable date and time handling
  • Inconsistent behavior when rearranging tasks

Requested features

7 requests
  • Recurring tasks
  • Calendar integration
  • Ability to move tasks between projects
  • Global tag management
  • Expanded note-taking capabilities
Show 2 more
  • Shortcuts and automation support
  • Batch task editing and management

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Focus Matrix

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Pro$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro7 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$34.99
10 purchases

Tasks

Subscriptions8
  • Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Tasks Plus (Monthly)$3.991 Month
  • Tasks Plus Family (Monthly)$7.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Tasks Plus$24.991 Year
  • Tasks Plus (Yearly)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Annual (Offer)14 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Tasks Family Plus$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • Tasks Plus Lifetime - Individual$69.99
  • Tasks Plus Lifetime - Family$99.99

Questions

Is Focus Matrix free?
Focus Matrix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tasks free?
Tasks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focus Matrix or Tasks?
Focus Matrix and Tasks are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.6K and 1.9K ratings respectively.
Do Focus Matrix or Tasks have ads?
Focus Matrix shows ads; Tasks does not.
Which is updated more often, Focus Matrix or Tasks?
Focus Matrix ships an update every 7 months, and Tasks weekly. Most recently, Focus Matrix was updated on September 22, 2026 and Tasks on September 22, 2026.

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