Download the latest version of Pomodoro for Mac - Time management app based on the Pomodoro technique. Read 14 user reviews of Pomodoro on MacUpdate. Best pomodoro timers of 2019 for iOS, Android, and Mac OS It's a simple but very efficient method for managing time both online and offline. Thanks to pomodoro timer you will be able to overcome procrastination and focus on current tasks. 10 Best Time Management Apps For 2019. Focus Booster is a Pomodoro timer app for freelancers who work with multiple clients. It syncs all the sessions you run through the timer into the web. The app features a Pomodoro timer, a mini timer, customizable session lengths, report exports, and manual time entry. The company began in 2010, and the app was designed shortly after to help keep employees on track. Best Time Management Apps #4: Focus Booster. Focus Booster utilizes the Pomodoro Technique to track your work. If you’re unsure what the Pomodoro Technique is, it’s a time management method created in the late 80s by Francesco Cirillo.
In today’s fast paced digital world where our attention span is shorter than a Goldfish, everyone is looking for ‘hacks’ to achieve a monk like focus.
And why shouldn’t they.
After all, a higher focus means high productivity, more work, less error and most importantly, more money.
But tell me honestly:
How happy you’d be if I tell you there our specific apps out there designed to help people like you and me increase focus and become more productive.
These tools are called ‘Time Management Apps.’
A time management app is basically a tool that tracks all your digital activities and gives a comprehensive picture of which task, website or app is taking the most amount of your time.
Now, there are dozens of tools out there that calls itself the best in the business. But which one should you go with?
I’ve done the heavy lifting for you and analyzed the 5 most popular time management softwares and the results were quite interesting.
And I’m sure, by the time you’ll finish this article, you’ll have a clear picture in your mind regarding which tool you want to go with.
So, let’s get straight into it.
THE TOP 3 | 1. FOCUSME | 2. RESCUETIME | 3. TOGGL |
OVERALL | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
BEST FOR | All-Around | Auto-Tracking | Freelancers |
TIME TRACKING | Group & Individual | Individual Only | Group & Individual |
AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL | Both | Both | Both |
SCHEDULING? | Yes | No | Yes |
POMODORO SUPPORT | Yes | No | Yes |
DEVICE COMPATIBILITY | Mac, Windows, Android | Mac, Windows, Android and Linux | Mac, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS |
USABILITY | Very easy to use | Only the web app is easy to use | Very easy to use |
RESPONSE TIME | 24 to 30 Hours | Within 5 Hours | Around 36 Hours |
BLOCK WEBSITES? | Yes | Yes | No |
PRICE | Starts from $2.50 per month | Starts from $9 per month or $72 per year | Starts from $9 per month |
Best Time Management Apps
The main goal of this review was to find a complete time management tool that not only tracks time and is easy to use but also gives you detailed reports about how much time you’re spending on each task, and lets you block distracting websites too.
One that you can use individually as well as in your business.
According to my test results and first-hand experience, I’ve ranked these apps in best to worst order.
So let’s see which one won the race and which one came last.
1. FocusMe
FocusMe is the most complete time management app out there. It provides time tracking, website blocking, scheduling, and POMODORO support all in one package
At a cost of only a few dollars a month, it is also great value for money.
FocusMe Pros:
#1 Time Tracking with Detailed Report
FocusMe excels at core purpose of any productivity tool: tracking the total time spent on each website or app.
As soon as you log in to the app, it will automatically begin tracking how much time you’re spending on each website and app in your computer.
The reports break down by both websites and apps used, which gives you a clear picture.
#2 Website and App Blocking
FocusMe is one of the few tools that allows users to block distracting websites (social media, porn sites, news sites, games, etc.)
On top of this is the ability to block incoming emails on Gmail, while still being able to send them.
#3 POMODORO support
If you’ve done any reading about productivity, you’ve probably come across the POMODORO technique. The FocusMe app is one of a few tools that lets its users take full advantage of POMODORO via a customizable timer.
#4 Scheduling Tasks
With FocusMe you can schedule different tasks in your time management tool and track how much time is spent on each one. For extra efficiency, you can even decide the starting and ending time of each task.
#5 Lowest Price
At just $2.50/mo (billed $xx annually), you get access to all FocusMe’s premium features. Students can get 30% discount on all its plans, and if you like their Facebook or Twitter page, you can receive a 15% discount.
FocusMe Cons:
#1 Works with only a few devices
The only disadvantage of FocusMe is the lack of compatibility with many devices.
FocusMe only offers a free Android app, with quite limited features. No iPhone option is currently available. On desktop, it works with Mac and Windows devices, but not Linux.
FocusMe Plans
FocusMe doesn’t have any free plans to offer, but the premium plan is free for the first 15 days, with no credit card required.
Paid plans start from as low as $2.50/month (paid annually). Students can get a 30% discount. There is also a 15% discount for liking and following them on social media.
Businesses must contact the company for a custom price.
Do I recommend FocusMe?
Definitely! The low price point and reporting/tracking features make it one of the best time management software tools available.
2. RescueTime
RescueTime helps you track your time and gain a clear picture of how you spend your time online.
However, while RescueTime does an exceptional job in tracking time and sending reports, it lacks a few key features.
However, while RescueTime does an exceptional job in tracking time and sending reports, it lacks a few key features.
RescueTime Pros:
#1 Brilliant time tracking and reporting
Accurate time tracking is one of the most notable features of RescueTime. The dashboard refrsshes every five to fifteen minutes, to give you real-time reporting for time spent on your phone or computer.
When the sun sets, it makes your computer look like your indoor lights. ↓ 03 – Free Windows Mac Linux Android iOSf.lux makes your computer screen look like the room you’re in, all the time. https://gvdvlrs.weebly.com/internet-block-app-mac.html. In the morning, it makes things look like sunlight again. On the other hand is free.
#2 Set Goals
RescueTime lets you set goals (e.g. restrict social media to one hour day) that can help increase your productivity.
This feature helps users know how they’re progressing towards their desired productivity goal. And this is a unique feature that ai couldn’t find in any other time tracking tool I tested.
#3 Website Blocking
RescueTime is great if you tend to get distracted by social media or news sites while working. The ability to block sites this requires the Premium service, but can be well worth it.
#4 Fast customer support
When I had a question, the support team got back to me within 5 hours and gave a detailed explanation about their product’s feature.
RescueTime Cons
#1 Not so User-friendly interface (Android app)
The app interface shows a lot of things at once, such as total logged time, productivity pulse, a small timer icon in the bottom right corner, etc. This confusing as there are no clear instructions.
#2 No POMODORO support
Unlike FocusMe and Toggl, there is no POMODORO support in the RescueTime app.
#3 No scheduling
There also does not seem to be any option to schedule a task for a certain time period.
RescueTime Plans
RescueTime is one of the few time tracking tools with a free account option.
The RescueTime Lite plan comes with zero cost and limited features. RescueTime premium plan starts from $9/month or $72 when paid annually.
Do I recommend RescueTime?
As a free app, it enables you to track your time and also shows you how much time you’re spending on each website . If you need to block websites, then you can consider the premium plan. However, all things considered, it isn’t as great a deal as FocusMe.
3. Toggl
Toggl is by far the easiest time tracking and productivity app. It offers a clean, easy-to-navigate user interface. It is great for solo freelancers or someone with a small team.
It has many features like POMODORO and scheduling, but there are also a few features missing.
Toggl Pros
#1 Easy-to-use interface
Toggl has a very clean home page with lots of white space. It clearly shows you how you can get started tracking your activities. It also does not require a download and can be used directly through a web browser on their website.
#2 Easy Scheduling
Scheduling a task in Toggl is just a matter of few clicks, which is a great for a time-saving app. You can also schedule a particular task for a specific time day or time.
#3 Great for Freelancers
Toggl is great for freelancers and for a small team. You can track client and add their name, project and other details in your dashboard. This is great for billing and remote workers.
#4 Project Tracking
Toggl makes it easy to track different projects. By selecting the “Projects” option or going to “Reports” it makes it easy to know how much time has been spent.
#5 POMODORO support
The POMODORO technique is supported by Toggl and is available even if you’re using the basic free plan.
Toggl Cons
#1 No website blocking
Unfortunately, the ability to block websites is not supported by Toggl, which can lead to distraction and a drop in productivity.
#2 Slow Customer Support
Toggl does seem to have slow customer support, with their team taking days to respond.
#3 No website or app tracking report
Despite an exceptional job tracking projects Toggl doesn’t show you which websites you’ve visited or apps you used.
Toggl Plans
Toggl offers 4 different plans to its users. Mail app opens automatically mac. The basic plan is free with some decent functionality. The premium plans start from $9/month (billed annually) with a 30 day free trial.
Do I recommend Toggl?
For freelancers and teams looking for a free tool that can track client work and shows you how much time each project Toggl is a great tool.
4. Time Doctor
For freelancers or business owners who hire freelancers, Time Doctor is a fairly popular time tracking tool.
Despite being well known, Time Doctor’s user interface lacks many key features that limit it’s functionality.
Time Doctor Pros
#1 Time tracking for individuals and teams
While it takes a few minutes to figure out, once you get started Time Doctor does a decent job in this section. Of course, you have to download either their phone or computer app.
It’s also fairly easy to add team members to work on a group project. A simple email can invite them to the group to start tracking.
#2 Compatible with most of the devices
Time Doctor is compatible with almost all operating systems including Windows, Mac, Linux and also provides Android, iOS, and Chrome apps.
#3 Exceptional customer support
When it comes to customer support, Time Doctor is the best in class. They answer questions within one hour and provide accurate help.
Time Doctor Cons
#1 Messy Dashboard
When it comes to usability, Time Doctor is the most difficult to use app. Lack of white space and clear instructions make the dashboard cluttered.This means it takes more time to use, which sort of defeats the purpose of a time-saving app.
#2 No website blocking
Time Doctor currently has no way to block distracting websites or apps using this software.
#3 No POMODORO support
There is no function in Time Doctor that enables using the POMODORO technique.
#4 Can’t schedule task
Time Doctor does not allow tasks to be scheduled, you can only create projects and track time.
Time Doctor Plans
Time Doctor offers only a single plan: $9.99/mo per user with a 14 days free trial. There is no credit card to trial it, so it may be worth testing.
Do I recommend Time Doctor?
Time Doctor is the most complicated app and considering the high price and limited features, it’s not very appealing.
However, for a business owner needing to track employees on a particular project tit may prove useful.
5. Timely
Timely is an AI powered time tracking app that incorporates planning tools It has a great interface, yet lacks some key features like website blocking, POMODORO, etc.
Timely Pros
#1 Clean user interface
Timely features a clean interface that makes it clear how to get started with this app.
#2 Add team member
Timely is great for group projects and to see how much time other members are spending on the project.
#3 Compatible with all popular devices
Timely app works smoothly on Mac and Windows computers and on Android or iPhone.
#4 Task Scheduling
Timely also works as a planner, by allowing you to schedule activities ahead daily, weekly and even monthly.
Timely Cons
#1 No website blocking
There does not seem to be the ability to block websites or apps inside the Timely app.
#2 No POMODORO support
For POMODORO fans there is unfortunately no support here.
#3 Slow customer support
While Timely is great to use tool, their live chat took over 36 hours to receive an answer.
Timely app plans
Timely does not offer free plans, but offers three different paid plans: Solo, Essential, and Company, which start from $7/month.
![Best Pomodoro App Mac 2019 Best Pomodoro App Mac 2019](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134253383/158577077.png)
Do I recommend Timely app?
If you’re a freelancer who wants to track different projects as well as add multiple users it can be useful.
But it also lacks necessary features like website blocking, POMODORO support, detailed reporting, etc.
Conclusion
In today’s digital world where our attention span is less than a Goldfish and everyone is crazy about being ‘productive’, a time management tool is a must in your arsenal.
And if you’re looking for a tool that offers you all the required features in the lowest possible amount, go with FocusMe. It’s the best tool out there at the moment.
However, if you don’t want to spend a single penny but still want to track your time and stay productive, RescueTime or Toggl could be the best choice for you.
And finally, if you’re a freelancer who just wants to track your total time spent on each project, you can go with Time Doctor or Timely.
So that’s all from us. Now go out there and make the most out of every second of your day. I’m looking forward to read your blog post about ‘productivity hacks’ on BuzzFeed. ?
Ever caught yourself procrastinating in the morning, only to feel overwhelmed at the end of the day? These two fluctuating states trick you into thinking you can “make” more time for yourself. When at best, you can only organize it. This is exactly what the Pomodoro Technique intends to do: break work into manageable chunks to keep your mind sharp and ready.
Let’s see what this productivity method is all about, along with the best Pomodoro apps to use to get you started.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique was invented by Francisco Cirillo in the late ’80s as a means to study more efficiently. He used a kitchen timer in the shape of a tomato (“pomodoro” in Italian), forced himself to study for exactly 25 minutes, then took a break of 5 minutes. And it worked!
Cirillo discovered that to stay focused you have to work with time, not against it. To follow his advice, divide your projects and tasks into short sprints and reward yourself with regular breaks to recharge before the next sprint. This will boost your productivity and keep the creative juices flowing, without relying too much on your willpower.
Is this it? Frankly, yes. And that’s why the Pomodoro Technique is so attractive. You only need a timer and a paper to keep track of your pomodoros and focus single mindedly on a task.
I’d argue that the length of a work session and break can vary since it takes approximately between 5 and 15 minutes to achieve a flow state.
But here’s how the basic process looks like:
1. Choose a task you want to work on.
2. Set the Pomodoro timer to 25 minutes, the standard pomodoro duration.
3. Work on the task until the Pomodoro timer rings, then put a checkmark on a paper.
4. Take a short break of 5 minutes to do something non-work-related like stretching or making a call.
5. Take a longer break of 20-30 minutes after every 4 pomodoros. This will help you regroup your thoughts and rest before the next batch of pomodoros.
How the Pomodoro Technique works
Notice a couple of things here. You need to approximate how many pomodoros it takes to finish a task. This information is not ready accessible, but through some trial and error you should get the hang of it.
You also need to set up a timetable. Block your most important pomodoros for when you’re most creative (for me it’s the afternoon) and leave the rest for when you tend to get distracted. The point is to have a clear limit and motivate yourself enough to push things forward, as well as a clear boundary between work and spare time.
As for the pomodoro, know that it is a non-negotiable time unit. This means that whenever an emergency or colleague bumps in with a request, you have to either end the pomodoro right then or protect it from outside distractions until completed. In most cases, you can get by with telling your colleagues to reach out in 10 minutes. Otherwise, use the “inform, negotiate, schedule, call back” approach proposed by Cirillo:
- Inform the other person that you’re in the middle of something important.
- Negotiate with them a time to address the issue.
- Schedule it.
- Call back or give them a nudge when the pomodoro is over.
For distractions that are internal by nature like a new idea or article to read, write it down on your paper and proceed with your work until the Pomodoro timer rings.
The benefits of using the Pomodoro Technique
To get a taste of how your life will look like after using the Pomodoro Technique, here are a few benefits to consider:
Improved concentration power
Not all of us can focus for extended periods of time. But everyone can make a little effort to put their heads down for 25 minutes, work, and take a break after.
In fact, a couple of researchers discovered that brief breaks actually improve the overall concentration power, or vigilance as they call it. They actually reset it, allowing you to start with a clean slate. Much like the bonus parts in most video games.
The Pomodoro Technique rests on the same principle. After each pomodoro, take full advantage of your break to recharge and keep your mind fresh for the next session of work. You’ll reduce the number of mistakes caused by a lack of concentration and avoid burnout in the long run.
Decreased back pain
Ever wondered why everyone is so obsessed with making 10,000 steps each day? As cliche as it may sound, sitting is the new smoking. I’m referring here to the health risks associated with excessive sitting, like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Which, according to this study, can’t be compensated by occasional leisure activities even if they exceed the minimum level of physical activity recommended.
In this context, the Pomodoro method becomes your greatest ally for slipping in more movement throughout the day. Use the five minute break to do a stretch, fill up your water bottle, or just chat with a coworker in the lobby area. Your back and shoulders will thank you later.
Get rid of the perfectionist mindset
This is the creator’s curse, also known as Parkinson’s Law, which I talked about in another article. According to it, work expands to fill the time available for its completion. To put it simply, if you have to complete a one hour task in two days, you’ll probably take the full two days. That’s because perfection sets in, making you fine-tune the task until the very end.
By all means, do what you need to do to create your best work. But don’t get stuck in endless revisions and ship it! Use the strict time limit of a pomodoro as a race to get things done and free up more time for other creative endeavors.
Best Pomodoro apps to try out
Enough with the benefits, time to get to the real work.
Again, because of the method’s simplicity, you only need a kitchen timer and a notebook or piece of paper to keep track of your pomodoros. That’s it. Nothing less, nothing more. This doesn’t give you enough insight into timesheets, the nature of your interruptions, or how did you progress on each of your tasks.
To automate the system and customize it to fit your workflow in terms of session lengths, ticking sounds, alerts, and so on, try out these Pomodoro apps:
1. PomoDone (Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android)
PomoDone Desktop App
Best for: using the Pomodoro Technique with a separate task or project management software
![Timer Timer](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134253383/929029442.png)
PomoDone connects with a wide variety of project management tools, allowing you to directly import tasks and time entries from the ones that already have a time tracking module – like Paymo.
If you are looking for modern and customizable all in one project tools that have already a time tracking module, here’s a list with software project management tools.
If you don’t use one, then you can add your own tasks directly into the app. Then clock in using their Pomodoro timer. A pretty robust one I have to say, since you can customize your own session lengths, set auto breaks, and add up an interruption note so you don’t have to rely on a notebook anymore.
PomoDone also comes with a great Chrome Extension that embeds the Pomodoro tracker in certain project management apps and blocks distracting websites if you know yourself to be a slippery procrastinator (I sure am from time to time).
Price:
- Lite plan ($2.29/month), with 3 integrations included
- Ultimate plan ($4.01/month), with unlimited integrations and unlimited log access
2. Focus Booster (Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android)
Focus Booster Mobile App
Best for: freelancers who do client-related work
Best Pomodoro App
Focus Booster seems to be a Pomodoro app that’s more oriented towards freelancers and agency owners since you can choose which client to track time for. All pomodoro sessions get automatically logged under a timesheets area, with the possibility to create manual entries on your own. The best part? You can actually export them into a CSV format so it’s much easier to invoice your client at the end of a month or project.
Data nerds, you’re in for a treat. In terms of analytics, you have complete visibility into how you’ve spent your time over a certain period thanks to the Reports Dashboard. This one also includes stats regarding your profitability and percentage of tracked time per each client, so you know which client brings in more cash.
I also like how you can save incomplete sessions and resume them when ready, a feature that will serve well first time Pomodoro users and hybrid fans.
Price:
- Free, but limited to 20 sessions
- Individual plan ($2.99/month), with 200 sessions and extended settings
- Unlimited plan ($4.99/month), with unlimited sessions and invoicing
3. Focus Keeper (iOS)
Focus Keeper tracker and chart views
Best for: iOS users
By far, the Focus Keeper Pomodoro app is the closest one to the authentic Pomodoro experience. It features a red background that lets you change the length of the pomodoro through a simple swipe (breaks have a blue one). And a ticking sound to know it’s focus time.
You can also set a goal in terms of the number of sessions you wish to accomplish each day, which I find very helpful. Too bad you can’t name them to know what you’re working on. The app has a notification centre though to remind about your session if you browse other apps on your phone.
There are many ways of customizing this app, from different themes to sounds and alarm levels for each session, short, and long break. Charts over the past 14 and 30 are days are there to help you monitor your productivity, limited to only the past 3 days with the free version.
The Pro one brings 10 premium ticking sounds to get more productive or relaxed, depending on the moment of the Pomodoro cycle, and a full view over your stats.
Price:
- Free, limited charts for the past 3 days
- Pro ($1.99/month), unlimited charts plus 10 ticking sounds
4. Focus To-Do: Pomodoro Timer & To Do List (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android)
Focus To-Do Mobile App
Best for: Android users
As the name states, Focus To-Do is an all-in-one Pomodoro timer and to-do list. Quite practical, as you can create projects to better categorize sessions, as well as set task priorities for a clear picture on what to work on first. It’s a bit unclear how many projects I’m allowed to create, since the app introduces you in a free trial of the premium version.
Other than that, I like the “Forest” feature which gamifies the whole user experience and let’s you contribute with your actions at growing a plant. If you don’t complete the daily challenges, you guessed it, the plant dies. An interesting way to build up motivation and stick with the Pomodoro Technique.
This Pomodoro timer also comes with a trend chart of all your completed to-dos and statistics over how you’ve spent your time for each project.
Price:
- Free
- Premium (£2.99/3 months), with unlimited projects, app whitelist, daily/weekly/monthly report, repeating tasks,reminder tasks
5. Marinara Timer (Web)
Shareable links in the Marinara Timer
Best for: teams who want to share their online Pomodoro timers
If you’re looking for a simple Pomodoro app that doesn’t require any setup whatsoever, not even a signup, then Marinara Timer is the way to go. Just open it in a separate web browser tab and pin it there.
In terms of options, you’re lucky enough. The team behind this app thinks the Pomodoro method is a bit too rigid, that’s why they made three timers available:
- A traditional pomodoro with the 25-5 minutes cycles
- Custom one, where you can change the length of each work session and rename them
- Kitchen one, where you set a time limit and let it run backwards
What sets it apart though is the ability to share your timer through a URL. In case you wish to synchronize work with your team and take a break together, or just share your pomodoro clock with a manager. There are two links, an admin one and a viewer link, to avoid stepping on each other’s feet and make sure no timer is stopped by accident. A cautious feature indeed!
Price: Free
Are Pomodoro apps for everyone?
No, not really. The method is best suited for creatives, those who need to ship work and have deadlines in place for them: designers, developers, copywriters, and so on. For them, the boxed sprints might catalyze productivity while also making sure they don’t waste too much time and effort on trivial things.
But what about if you’re a customer support rep or someone who has to do continuous work as it comes in? You can still hack the method and run a few pomodoros back-to-back until you finish the self-imposed target: 50 tickets in one hour, 30 emails in under 30 minutes, you name it. Do a break, then pick up work from where you left it.
It’s not advisable to use a Pomodoro timer when you are engaged in fast-paced projects where changes can occur at any minute. Or when you’re someone who requires a lot of input from the others, like a team leader or sales ops manager.
How does the Pomodoro Technique work with other productivity methods
In essence, a pomodoro focuses more on doing tasks in a timely manner as opposed to planning them. That’s why it’s better to combine it with other productivity methods.
Like the Getting Things Done (GTD) method. Use it to process and organize work, then rely on the Pomodoro Technique to actually get things done. It also works well with the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to prioritize tasks before actually doing them, as well as the Kanban method which relies on continuous delivery and improvement of your workflow. A practice that is also encouraged by Cirillo who insists on spending the first and last 5 minutes of a pomodoro session to recap and review work. For improvement purposes, again.
Note
Don’t overdo this part or else you’ll ruin the simplicity provided by the Pomodoro method.
Best Pomodoro App Mac 2019 Free
Final thoughts
With the existing theory and best Pomodoro apps at hand, you should already be able to use the method on your own. Yes, it will take some time to get the hang of it, but you can only reap its benefits if you try it first hand.
Before we part away, remember that the Pomodoro method is just that – a way for you to get into the zone and recharge your energy with regular breaks. If you happen to be half way through your work and the Pomodoro timer has ringed, stop it, continue with your task, and take a break only after you’ve finished it.
Under all conditions, don’t try to push it if it doesn’t work for you. To put it Ryan Holiday’s words:
What we need is something sustainable. Something balanced. Something deliberate without being forced. Purposeful without being obsessed with productivity.
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Pomodoro App Download
Pomodoro Technique definition
The benefits of using the Pomodoro Technique
Best Pomodoro apps to try out
Are Pomodoro apps for everyone?
How the Pomodoro Technique works with other productivity methods
The benefits of using the Pomodoro Technique
Best Pomodoro apps to try out
Are Pomodoro apps for everyone?
How the Pomodoro Technique works with other productivity methods