Comparison

Focus Matrix vs Shortly

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

Shortly

Features
Read full description

Shortly shows your next calendar event right where you'll see it - on your Home Screen and Lock Screen - with a live countdown so you always know how much time you've got. No app to open, no list to scroll. Just glance and go. WHAT SHORTLY DOES Puts your next event front and center with a countdown that ticks down in real time ("45m", "1h 20m", then a live timer in the final minutes). Shows the event title, start time, and a color dot matching its calendar. Works on both the Home Screen and the Lock Screen. HOME SCREEN WIDGET Small and Medium sizes. Choose how many events to show - 1, 2, 3, or 4 at once. Tap the X on any event to skip it; the next one slides right into place. LOCK SCREEN WIDGET Rectangular and inline styles for the perfect glanceable view. Your next event and its countdown, without unlocking your phone. MADE TO STAY OUT OF YOUR WAY Pick exactly which calendars appear, grouped neatly by account. Ignore events you'd rather skip - from the widget or the app - and restore them anytime. "All clear" when your schedule is empty, so you know at a glance there's nothing next. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your calendar is read entirely on your device. Nothing is ever uploaded, shared, or transmitted. No account. No login. No network connection required. No analytics, no advertising, no third-party tracking of any kind. Preferences are stored locally using Apple's secure App Group storage. Add the Shortly widget once and get on with your day. Your next thing is always one glance away.

Screenshots

Focus Matrix4 screens
Shortly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Focus Matrix at Free against Shortly's $5.99. Focus Matrix also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Shortly's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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

Focus Matrix is free to download; Shortly costs $5.99 up front. Focus Matrix sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Shortly asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Focus Matrix versus Shortly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus MatrixShortly
PriceFree — better$5.99
Rating4.6 (1.6K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.6K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 months—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenys IevenkoTurnCards 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

Shortly

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
None

Shortly

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focus Matrix free?
Focus Matrix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shortly free?
Shortly costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Focus Matrix or Shortly have ads?
Focus Matrix shows ads; Shortly does not.

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