Comparison

Focus Matrix vs Clear Bearing

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

Clear Bearing

Features
Read full description

Clear Bearing takes the guesswork out of prioritization. Add your tasks, set importance and deadlines, and the app's personalized priority engine scores and ranks everything automatically — so you always know exactly what to focus on next. HOW IT WORKS Every task gets a priority score based on what matters: importance, deadline urgency, estimated effort, and custom tags you define. As deadlines approach and priorities shift, your list reorders itself in real time. SMART TAGS Create tags like "Work," "Health," or "Finance" and assign each one a priority weight. Schedule tag weights by day of the week — boost Work tasks on weekdays and Personal tasks on weekends. Set temporary overrides when priorities change unexpectedly. WIDGETS Home Screen widgets show your next task at a glance. Never open the app wondering what's next — it's already there. NOTIFICATIONS Set reminders with flexible timing. Multiple reminder offsets, daily repeats, and recurring tasks keep you on track without constant manual scheduling. CLEAR BEARING PRO Upgrade to Pro for unlimited tasks and cloud sync. Sign in with Apple and keep your tasks in sync across all your devices. Free users get up to 10 active tasks with full prioritization features. Clear Bearing is the app for people with multiple priorities — too much to do and not enough time. Let the priority engine decide what comes first. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Focus Matrix4 screens
Clear Bearing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Clear Bearing at none against Focus Matrix's shown. On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 Clear Bearing sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Focus Matrix versus Clear Bearing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus MatrixClear Bearing
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.6K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.6K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 months—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoHyperMod LLC

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

Clear Bearing

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
1 purchases

Clear Bearing

Subscriptions1
  • Clear Bearing Pro$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Focus Matrix free?
Focus Matrix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Clear Bearing free?
Clear Bearing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Focus Matrix or Clear Bearing have ads?
Focus Matrix shows ads; Clear Bearing does not.

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