Comparison

Focus Matrix vs Startodo

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

Startodo

This app helps you manage your tasks and prioritize what's important. It offers customizable audio reminders to keep you focused and a progress tracker to motivate you towards your goals. Your data is securely stored and synced across all your devices.

Highlights
  • Task prioritization
  • Customizable audio reminders
  • Goal and progress tracking
  • Cloud sync across devices
  • Subtasks and attachments
  • Dark mode support
Features
Read full description

Find yourself ALWAYS have too many things to do? Startodo is here to help! • It helps you prioritize what’s important. • It keeps you motivated. • It keeps you focused and nudges you forward. == Tasks & Prioritization • To-Do List == • Tasks is a powerful and easy-to-use to-do list. • Efficient prioritization is at the center of the design. • It helps you focus on the most important or urgent tasks first. • Your tasks are safely stored in the cloud. • Your tasks are kept in sync automatically across devices. • You can organize lists by groups and customize them with emojis. • You can add subtasks, attachments and notes to tasks. == Audible Nudges • Interval Reminders == • Audible Nudges provide fully customizable speech reminders. • It is designed to keep you focused and moving forward. • You can define nudge steps either by duration or by start/end time. • You can chain steps together to provide really sophisticated nudge sequences. • You can customize the reminder intervals, reminder contents and more. • You can lock your screen and the nudges will run reliably in the background. == Goal & Achievements • Progress Tracker == • Goals is a beautiful and innovative progress tracker. • It’s designed to keep you motivated and keep you going. • You can create goals and milestones and set progress on them. • It rewards you with pleasant surprises when you achieve a goal. == More == • All data is safely stored in the cloud. • All data is kept in sync automatically across your devices. • Full dark mode support. • Customize the lists with emojis.

Screenshots

Focus Matrix4 screens
Startodo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Startodo at weekly against Focus Matrix's every 7 months. Focus Matrix's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 31). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Startodo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Focus Matrix holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focus Matrix has 1.6K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Focus Matrix's written reviews are positive against 67% of Startodo's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Matrix ships an update every 7 months, Startodo weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Focus Matrix versus Startodo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus MatrixStartodo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.6K ratings) — better4.2 (31 ratings)
Positive reviews82.2% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K — better31
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoActowise LLC

Customer experience

Focus Matrix

All ratings1,586 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.8%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews781 reviews
Positive82.2%
Neutral7.3%
Negative10.5%

Startodo

All ratings31 ratings
Positive77.4%
Neutral9.7%
Negative12.9%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%

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

Startodo

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
3 purchases

Startodo

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Focus Matrix free?
Focus Matrix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Startodo free?
Startodo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focus Matrix or Startodo?
Focus Matrix is rated higher. Focus Matrix averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Startodo averages 4.2 from 31 ratings.
Do Focus Matrix or Startodo have ads?
Both Focus Matrix and Startodo show ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Matrix or Startodo?
Focus Matrix ships an update every 7 months, and Startodo weekly. Most recently, Focus Matrix was updated on October 14, 2026 and Startodo on October 7, 2026.

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