Comparison

Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper vs Next Thing

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

Head to head
About

Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper

This app uses the Pomodoro Technique to boost productivity by breaking work into focused sessions with scheduled breaks. It helps users concentrate on tasks, study, or improve skills with simple, adjustable timers and built-in calendar reminders.

Highlights
  • Pomodoro Technique timer
  • Adjustable focus sessions
  • Scheduled short and long breaks
  • Built-in calendar
  • Session reminders
  • Customizable session timings (Premium)
Read full description

Focused uses the Pomodoro Technique which is proven to improve your productivity by helping you focus on your work. After each session a short and adjustable break is given and after 4 sessions follows a long break. Whether you are trying to study, work, trying to read more or improve your skills in any other areas, the app offers you simple features to help you stay focused and productive. Focus Sessions are pre-set to 25 minutes, simply press the play button to begin the timer. Roll up your sleeves and get to work, focus on your chosen task until the timer rings. CALENDAR & REMINDERS: -The app has a built-in calendar and with this you can set reminders for your sessions to any day you want. Premium users get the ability to customize their sessions and the timing of their sessions as well as the short and long breaks.

About

Next Thing

This app helps you focus on one task at a time using the simple Ivy Lee Method. Prioritize your top tasks each evening and tackle them sequentially the next day, reducing stress and boosting effectiveness. Ideal for those who find traditional to-do lists overwhelming.

Highlights
  • Ivy Lee Method task prioritization
  • Single-task focus
  • Evening task selection
  • Daily habit building
  • Lock screen widgets
  • Home screen widgets
  • Focus bell reminders
Features
Read full description

Most productivity apps make you more stressed, not less. Endless lists, complex systems, notifications pulling you in every direction. Next Thing is different: one list, one task at a time. Built on the Ivy Lee Method, a century-old system famously used by Charles Schwab, Next Thing strips productivity down to its most powerful form. Each evening, choose your most important tasks and rank them in order of priority. The next day, focus on one thing at a time. That's it. We've heard from users with ADHD that this single-task approach is a game changer. No overwhelming lists, just the next thing in front of you. How it works: - Add tasks to your list anytime a thought crosses your mind - Each evening, pick your top 6 and rank them by priority - The next day, focus on one task at a time. Done or skip. Nothing else. - Build the habit with streaks and satisfying completion moments - Optional morning and evening reminders, off unless you turn them on NEW: Projects Some work is bigger than a day. Tap the pill in the corner to switch to Projects mode, with the same calm, one-thing-at-a-time focus. - Break projects into tasks and subtasks - Add owners, start dates, and due dates - Progress rings fill as you check off subtasks - Rank your projects and see each one's next step on your focus screen - Check off the next step with one tap, right from the focus screen - Archive finished projects and restore them anytime Free to use, including one active project. Upgrades are one-time purchases. No subscription, ever. Ivy Lee Pro: - Live Activity and Dynamic Island - your current task, always in view - Lock screen widgets - see your #1 task without unlocking your phone - Home screen widget - see your #1 task without opening the app - Focus bell - set a reminder to check in on your current task - Streaks heatmap - track your consistency over time - Recurring tasks - daily habits auto-return to your list - Custom app icons and focus screen themes - Unlimited task list Projects Pro: - Unlimited active projects Complete: - Everything in Ivy Lee Pro and Projects Pro, for less than buying both Already own Pro from an earlier version? Thank you. Projects Pro is included, free. Your privacy matters. No account required, no login, no data sharing. Your tasks live on your device and nowhere else. Stop managing your productivity system. Start doing your next thing.

Screenshots

Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper4 screens
Next Thing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Next Thing at 100% against Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper's 50%. Next Thing also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume, ads 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 Timer pomo, focus keeper sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Next Thing sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Next Thing holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper's written reviews are positive against 100% of Next Thing's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper ships an update every 6 weeks, Next Thing every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper versus Next Thing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus Timer pomo, focus keeperNext Thing
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (8 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHubs Social LLCJEREMIAH DANIEL ROBERTS

Customer experience

Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper

All ratings8 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Next Thing

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper

One-time2
  • Premium Unlock$2.99
  • Focused (Premium)$2.99
3 purchases

Next Thing

One-time3
  • Ivy Lee Pro$3.99
  • Projects Pro$5.99
  • Next Thing Complete$7.99

Questions

Is Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper free?
Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Next Thing free?
Next Thing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper or Next Thing?
Next Thing is rated higher. Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper averages 3.4 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Next Thing averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper or Next Thing have ads?
Neither Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper nor Next Thing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper or Next Thing?
Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper ships an update every 6 weeks, and Next Thing every 3 weeks. Most recently, Focus Timer pomo, focus keeper was updated on November 3, 2026 and Next Thing on October 31, 2026.

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