15 Best Focus Apps: To Make You More Productive

Do you also feel that working online is, at times, less beneficial? As there is always a notification sitting on your desktop or phone to distract you. Is it just us, or does everything get more interesting when we sit to work online? Like per se someone might not even follow Taylor Swift, but today, while working, their feed might be filled with Taylor winning her 14th Grammy, and that might seem like the most interesting event. So, amidst everything, the person’s mind might ponder upon this question ‘is there a way to not get distracted online? Well, the answer is ‘focus apps.’ We have made a list of all the focus apps that you need at this point and enjoy while working. You can thank us later. Without further adieu, let’s focus on these apps now. 

What are Focus Apps?

Focus apps are the apps that cut down your distractions in any way possible, may it be blocking certain websites or setting timers to make you efficient and your work more effective. It makes sure that your task is completed on time and that you have time for yourself, too. There are different types of apps; one might play serene music for you, and one might set reminders. They often target certain distractions or blockers that one might face. 

What Do Focus Apps Usually Do?

These are a few of the features of the focus apps-

1) Tracks your time spent on websites
2) Compile daily and weekly reports on how much time you have spent on websites and how much work is done from your end.
3) Set times for you to keep you on track.
4) Keep your headspace clear with music and build your focus even further.
5) Block access to your most distracting non-work websites
6) The reward points are given in the form of a game to keep you focused and enjoy. 

What are the Best Focus Apps?

If you don’t want to lose your focus and waste your time researching the focus apps, then you have come to the right place. Here is a list of the best focus apps to use. 

1. Noisli

Best For: Enhance productivity and focus by playing natural sounds
Best Feature: Block out distracting noises and create a soothing auditory backdrop.
Price: Free plan- (€0/$0)
Pro plan- €10/$12 month (€8/$10 month if paid yearly)

Noisli Focus app is a great app that helps in enhancing concentration and productivity, and it also helps in the betterment of our mental health. The app basically cuts down all the noise in the background. It plays serene environment sounds, where users can also make a playlist for themselves with the amalgamation of different natural sounds that can soothe them. If you feel that this app is the first step in your concentration journey, then you can also check out Top 10 ways to increase attention span

2) Focus Bear

Best For: Time tracking, task management, and motivational aspects
Best Feature: Provides intuitive interface, allows users to organise their tasks into customisable lists and categories easily.
Price: $4.99/month

It is one of the best focus apps to improve focus as it is a novel productivity tool that helps users stay motivated and focused by fusing time tracking, task management, and motivational aspects. Fundamentally, Focus Bear uses an endearing bear figure as its mascot to lead users through their assignments and offer support along the way. 

3. Forest

Best For: It is a fun and effective way to stay focused.
Best Feature: Works as a game.
Price: Android- Free version (Pro- $1.99)
ISO- $1.99

Forest is one of the best focus apps. It is a very creative, effective, and interactive way to stay focused. It is like a game in which if you are focused, then you are able to grow a virtual tree, but if you break the rule of staying away from all sorts of distractions, then the tree dies. People get really attached to the forest they build while working towards their goals. It is a perfect app for people who have ADHD and people who are unable to overcome their distractions. If you want to leave procrastinating but procrastination doesn’t want to leave you then read about how to stop procrastinating. 

4. Cold Turkey Blocker

Best For: Blocks Websites
Best Feature: Users can set time limits for access to particular websites, apps, or even the entire internet
Price: $39 (one-time purchase)

Cold Turkey Blocker is a great focus app to enhance your productivity as it helps users avoid internet distractions and maintain concentration on their jobs. With the help of this program, users can set time limits for access to particular websites, apps, or even the entire internet, allowing them to create distraction-free workspaces that promote productivity. Additionally, the program has scheduling features that let users schedule regular blocking sessions for particular periods of the day or week.

5. Freedom

Best For Blocks distractions on all devices at once
Best Feature: Allows you to block websites, set durations and specific timeframes
Price: Free version, Premium $2/month

Freedom helps you stay on schedule; it also lets you make personalised block lists for your daily activities. Which websites you block and how long you block them are up to you. With the ability to sync all sessions across all devices, this elegant and uncomplicated design is easily accessible and controllable from the dashboard. It is one of the best focus apps to use as it blocks all the distractions at once. It is a great website blocker app. 

6. Brain.FM

Best For: Relaxation with personalised music
Best Feature: Customised session length, progress tracking, and offline listening capabilities
Price: $5/month

Brain.fm is a state-of-the-art program that uses customised music and soundscapes to improve focus, relaxation, and productivity. Brain.fm provides scientifically tuned audio tracks that are specifically designed to stimulate brain activity and boost cognitive performance, in contrast to standard music streaming services. It has a vast collection of music and soundtracks intended to promote various mental states, such as concentration, relaxation, meditation, and sleep.

7. Stay Focused

Best For: Website and App Blocking
Best Feature: Customizable Settings
Price: Subscription- $1 and $31

Stay Focused helps users stay focused and effectively handle distractions. With features like focus clocks, website and app blocking, and configurable settings, users may divide work sessions into intervals for concentrated productivity and set time limitations to prohibit access to distracting websites, as it acts as a good social media blocker. Along with providing encouraging elements like progress tracking and success badges to commemorate accomplishments, the app tracks usage to raise awareness of digital habits.It is one of the best focus apps. 

8. Coffitivity

Best For: Plays cafe sounds to soothe the user.
Best Feature: Sounds of cafe is just one click away.
Price: Premium-  $9

Coffitivity is a very creative app; it is an ideal productivity tool that brings the background noises of a busy coffee shop right into your workstation, improving focus, creativity, and productivity. This smartphone and online software provides a variety of background noises that are commonly heard at cafés, including distant background music, clinking cups, and soft conversation hum. If you love sitting at a coffee shop and working, well, you get the coffee shop ambience at home now. It is indeed one of the best focus apps. If this is the kind of app that interests you, then you should check out these best time management apps.

9. TogglTrack

Best For: Track time spent on various tasks and projects
Best Feature: Easily start and stop timers, categorize activities, and generate reports to gain insights
Price: $9/ month

A flexible time tracking program called Toggl Track helps to assist users in effectively managing and keeping track of their working hours. Toggl Track makes it simple for individuals and teams to precisely track the amount of time spent on various jobs and projects thanks to its user-friendly interface and feature-rich functionality. To acquire insights into their productivity, users can classify tasks, start and stop timers with ease, and generate comprehensive reports. It is indeed one of the best focus apps. 

10. Serene

Best For: Analytics and Insights,  Focus Sessions and task management
Best Feature: Mindfulness and Relaxation
Price: $4/mo

With the help of Serene, users can control distractions and accomplish their goals with comprehensive productivity. It creates an organized approach to productivity by combining elements such as task management, the Pomodoro Technique, focus sessions, and mindfulness exercises. Serene gives customers the tools they need to enhance their workflow and keep a healthy work-life balance through analytics and insights.. It is one of the best focus apps. 

11. Taskade

Best For: customizable task lists, and mind maps to organize and prioritize tasks and ideas.
Best Feature: cross-platform compatibility
Price: $8.00/year

Taskade is one of the best focus apps. It provides a plethora of capabilities to improve productivity on a range of jobs and projects and optimize workflows. For people and groups seeking an adaptable and user-friendly platform to organize tasks, generate concepts, and work together in real time, Taskade is the ideal choice. Its smooth task management and collaboration tool integration are one of its best qualities. 

12. Self Control

Best For: Website blocker
Best Feature: Block access to specific websites and applications for a set period of time.
Price: Free

It is one of the best focus apps, as it blocks your access to distracting websites such as mail servers and everything on the internet so that you can just focus, and the best thing about it is that it is free for Mac users. It blocks everything for a set period. You just have to add sites to the block list and click on 'start' until the timer expires. The user will be unable to access those sites even if you restart the computer or delete the application. SelfControl offers a dependable way to help you stay focused and accomplish your objectives, whether you're working, learning, or just attempting to reduce internet distractions.

13. Paw Block

Best For: Blocks website with cute animal pictures
Best Feature: Adorable pictures
Price: Free

Paw Block is one of the best focus apps. It helps in blocking websites to prevent procrastination and excessive web surfing. Whenever you try to go back to these websites, adorable pictures of pets pop up to make sure you do not lose your focus. Although PawBlock doesn't give the customization options of the other browser-based alternatives on this list, it does have one advantage: animals. On a distracted website, you'll encounter an adorable animal who is unhappy with the decisions you make. You'll witness a contented animal if you choose to leave that location. 

14. Leech Block

Best For: Website blocker
Best Feature: Accessible to all
Price: Free

Leech Block works best for people who find it difficult to focus on critical tasks while spending excessive amounts of time on distracting websites and social media platforms. With LeechBlock, users may establish time limits for their browsing or make personalized blocklists of particular websites, which can help them stay productive and focused. In order to keep users from hastily turning off blocks, LeechBlock additionally provides password protection, which helps users stick to their goal of maintaining focus.

15. Headspace 

Best For: Meditation and mindfulness.
Best Feature: Meditation method and user-friendly interface
Price: Annual subscription is $69.99

It is one of the best focus apps; it helps you meditate. It's a mindfulness app meant to assist users in cultivating a calmer, more focused, and less stressed everyday existence. To address different facets of mental health, it provides a variety of guided meditation sessions, mindfulness exercises, and sleep aids.The app provides guided sessions for a variety of requirements and preferences, including personal development, stress management, attention enhancement, and sleep. 

These focus apps combine a number of features that are designed to reduce distractions, boost productivity, and assist users in reaching their objectives. Through various features, including task management, time monitoring, website and app blocking, and mindfulness exercises, these apps enable users to take charge of their digital surroundings and enhance their productivity. The best focus apps offer user-friendly interfaces, customizable capabilities, and motivational elements that make them indispensable resources for developing focus, time management skills, and a balanced approach to work and life. You can also check out our blog on the amber app, to help you find student accommodation at your fingertips.