Focus Flow vs Pomofocus: Two Free Pomodoro Timers Compared
Last updated: 23 Oct 2026 · Author: Abdalla Idris, maker of Focus Flow
Disclosure: I build Focus Flow. Pomofocus details come from pomofocus.io, checked on 23 October 2026. Features and plans change, so check its site before you decide.
The Short Answer
Pomofocus is a clean, popular Pomodoro timer with a task list and reports. It opens straight into the timer, and its free plan shows ads. Focus Flow is a free study app built around the same timer idea, with flashcards, exam countdowns, an assignment tracker and study rooms for friends, and no ads. Pick Pomofocus if you only want a timer and a to-do list. Pick Focus Flow if you also want your flashcards and deadlines in the same place.
Side by Side
| Focus Flow | Pomofocus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to use, no ads | Free plan with ads; paid Premium |
| Start without an account | Yes: a 10-minute quick session (or 5 or 25) on the home page | Yes: the timer starts straight away |
| Timer methods | Pomodoro (Classic 25/5, Deep Work 50/10, Quick Sprint 15/3, Custom) and count-up Flowmodoro | Customizable Pomodoro focus and break lengths |
| Tasks | Kanban board and assignment tracker with deadlines | Task list with Pomodoro estimates and a finish-time estimate |
| Reports | Dashboard with stats, heatmap, streaks and XP | Daily, weekly and monthly reports; yearly reports on Premium |
| Flashcards | SM-2 spaced repetition | Not included |
| Study with friends | Focus Rooms: one shared timer, chat locked during focus | Not included |
| Integrations | None | Todoist and webhooks on Premium |
| Platforms | Any browser, installable PWA | Desktop and mobile browser, plus Mac, Windows and Linux downloads |
What Pomofocus Does Well
Pomofocus is fast and focused. You add tasks, estimate how many Pomodoros each one needs, and it tells you roughly when you will finish the day. Templates save repeat task lists, and the reports show your focus time by day, week and month. Premium adds projects, yearly reports, a CSV download of your history, unlimited templates, Todoist and webhook integrations, and removes the ads. If you already plan your work in Todoist, that integration is a real advantage.
What Focus Flow Adds
- Flowmodoro. A count-up timer for when the bell keeps cutting you off. Every 5 focused minutes bank 1 minute of break, up to 15. Read Flowmodoro vs Pomodoro for when each one fits.
- Flashcards. SM-2 spaced repetition with Forgot, Hard, Good and Easy ratings, in the same account as your timer.
- Exams and assignments. Exam countdowns with study plans, plus an assignment tracker with deadlines.
- Focus Rooms. Study with friends on one shared Pomodoro timer. Room chat is locked during focus blocks and opens on breaks. See Focus Rooms.
- Streaks, XP and achievements, if a little game helps you come back tomorrow.
Where Pomofocus Is the Better Pick
- You want the simplest possible timer, open in a tab, nothing else.
- You want a downloadable desktop app for Mac, Windows or Linux.
- You live in Todoist or want webhooks to log sessions elsewhere.
- You do not want to create an account for anything beyond a quick session. Focus Flow's full app needs a free account with a verified email.
Accounts, Explained
Both let you start a timer without signing up. In Focus Flow, the quick session on the home page runs in your browser and saves nothing. Saving your session history, using Focus Rooms, flashcards and the rest of the app need a free account with a verified email.
Try Both
The fairest test is a week each. Run your normal study blocks in one, then the other, and keep whichever you actually open. To start with Focus Flow, open the home page and run a 10-minute session, no account needed. New to the method? Start with how to use the Pomodoro Technique.
Comparing more study tools? See the best free study apps for university students