Dev tools · alternatives · 2026
24 alternatives to An app to help you stay Focused
I built this app in less than 4 hours over a busy and noisy weekend to help me stay focused while studying, during my college days. Since then I have been maintaining this open source project. Its been quite a fruitful and enjoyable ride. Hope you all like it :)
Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. An app to help you stay Focused launched in 2023; newer entries below may have overtaken it.
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I initially released this as just an IOS app. Since then it has been growing steadily but a lot of people have emailed asking for a web / android version. It took me nearly 2 months to build a version for the web. The nice thing about using Convex as my backend is that all the data is always synced between the app and web. I do not have to setup any syncing logic. The moment you change something in the app, it will reflect on the web version in realtime. I know there are loads of these kind of tools online but it's starting to feel like mine is actually starting to differentiate itself…
2025 · three-cells.com · its alternatives →
- 4IS
Hey HN friends, I keep getting distracted working from home and always end up watching youtube, browsing blogs like HN or just mindlessly scrolling then I feel like crap because I didn’t do enough. I went through dozens of productivity tools but they’re quite overwhelming to use and none of them actually helped me focus. So I built http://complish.ai, a web-based sidebar that helps me focus on one task at a time. I launched it last month and have over 3,000 users now and I’ll be keeping it free. Would love for you all to try and give some feedback!
2023 · its alternatives →
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my phone secretly robbed all my dreams and i didn’t even knew it got so bad. when i saw my screen time being about 11hrs with ~95 phone pickups per day, i realized how bad it got. my problem is that i could not avoid social media entirely as i post actively because i’m involved in marketing and branding. I tried the usual, app blockers & time limits, but i always find myself hitting “one more minute” like a junkie. i’m not looking for a complete social media absence or deleting everything as these radical solutions don’t fit my lifestyle and needs and i tend to come back needing even more.…
2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →
- 6BY
I've just published my app and I would love to have more feedback on it. I got the idea when I was busy moving around several projects during my last semester. And I always don't know which project I should work on next. Even worse, whenever I'm busy with something, I no longer have time to "read book", "go jogging" etc. That's when I thought it would be great if there is an app that keeps track of all the tasks that you want to do and habits that you want to make. And here it is! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKVr0k9Hax0…
2014 · its alternatives →
- 7TA
Hey! I just launched TimeSlate.app — a completely free web app to help students stay focused and organized with zero friction. No accounts, no ads, no subscription What it does: - Pomodoro Timer - Task Manager – Tag tasks by subject, assign priorities, track progress. - Subjects - Revision Timetable – Block out your day visually with subject-based time blocks. - Dashboard – See time spent, tasks completed, Pomodoros per subject/day. It’s built for students, self-learners, or really anyone trying to structure deep work time without distractions. Why I made this: Every productivity app I…
2025 · timeslate.app · its alternatives →
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- 9IP
Hey hackers, Like many of you, I'm always trying to optimize my productivity, and I have tried a lot of apps out there to do so. I didn't find the exact one that I could use, so I built one for myself. Check it out and let me know if you have any thoughts!
2024 · focusmax.io · its alternatives →
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TimeSnap▲8Hey HN I just launched TimeSnap, a lightweight desktop app built for deep work and distraction control. What it does: Tracks your focus sessions Lets you whitelist apps (everything else is considered a distraction) Shows you exactly when and where you lost focus Optional glowing screen border for visual feedback Clean UI with session history, achievements & recap No bloat. No complicated setups. Just a fast way to get into flow and stay there. Check it out https://usefsgh.gumroad.com/l/uxhixl($39.99) I'd love your feedback on the concept, design, or anything you'd…
2025 · usefsgh.gumroad.com · its alternatives →
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Ultra-minimalist to-do app designed for focus, not overwhelm
2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →
- 12AD
Hi guys, This is my first time building something from scratch so go easy on me. I've always used to-do lists to keep me productive and stave off anxiety (not sure why they work so well for me but they do). I get kinda annoyed at the to-do list apps on the app stores because they move tasks to the bottom of the list when you tick them off. Some people may like that, but it annoys the shit out of me, because I like to feel a sense of progression as I go down through the list over the course of the day. So this was borne out of my frustration really. I also made it browser-based so it's easy…
2022 · anotherdarntodo.com · its alternatives →
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Turn your phone into a study and work companion.
2025 · focusminny.app · its alternatives →
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I’ve always liked fast online tools for jotting notes or organizing thoughts — but most “productivity” sites either save data to the cloud, require sign-ups, or are full of distractions. So I built an online productivity tools website, a small collection of browser-based tools. It includes an online notepad where you can write and save notes right in your browser, a cornell notes tool available in more than 20 languages, and more coming soon like a pomodoro timer and a simple blank page for focused writing. Everything works entirely in-browser using localStorage — no accounts, no cloud sync,…
2025 · onlinenotep.ad · its alternatives →
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2018 · davidtsong.com · its alternatives →
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tickk▲5Hey HN, I built tickk because I have ADHD and every productivity app felt like work. I'd have an idea, open an app, then spend 5 minutes deciding if it's a "task" or a "note" or which project it belongs to. By then, the thought was gone. What it does: - Talk into your phone/laptop → it transcribes and auto-categorizes into tasks, notes, or events - Uses local NLP (compromise.js) - no data leaves your device - Works offline, no account needed, completely free The key insight: Capture first, organize later. Your brain shouldn't have to categorize while it's still thinking. Tech stack: -…
2025 · tickk.app · its alternatives →
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Hey HN, First time posting here. Go easy on me, haha. I made Focus with strangers, a site where you can do pomodoros alongside some random people online for a hit of social pressure. There's a simple todo list built in, and you can chat (or 'shout' as I like to call it) with other participants during the break. If you don't like the idea of interacting with randoms, you can send a link and work with your friends as well. No logins/accounts, free to use. Made using elixir + phoenix, hosted on fly. Any feedback would be welcome!
Oct 2025 · focuswithstrangers.com · its alternatives →
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2012 · play.google.com · its alternatives →
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Hi Everyone, I created a mobile app called Accumoo, and I would appreciate it if y'all can have a look, download and give me a favorable review. Lots of blood, sweat, tears and love went into this app, and I hope you LOVE it as much as I do - it's the app I always needed and wanted. Anyhow, I've been a Rails developer and Software Engineer for a long time, and this is my first stab at a mobile app. It's a "habit tracker" app on steroids that's just fun to use - syncs across devices, local-first architecture - and an easter egg game for good measure. Help a disabled vet out and give it a go.…
Jan 2026 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →
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Mond is a tiny chrome extension that kindly ask you to choose what you want to do before having an Internet session. Based on your choice, it will open in advance / block webs to save you lots of manual actions and prevent distraction. This is a product I made to solve my own problem and I been using it for about 2 months before releasing it. Look forward to your feedbacks folks.
2023 · chrome.google.com · its alternatives →
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App summary: Local-first productivity tool that combines note-taking, task tracking and journaling into one simple app. Advantages over Notion: Way simpler UI, all user data is only stored locally on their device - providing significantly faster load time, fully functional offline mode and complete privacy of their data Advantages over Obsidian: Dedicated features for task tracking and journaling - not just note-taking, with cheaper end-to-end encrypted device syncing compared to Obsidian Sync
2024 · impactdiary.com · its alternatives →
- 24IM
Hi HN, I’ve struggled with anxiety and procrastination for most of my life, feeling overwhelmed and stuck in cycles of stress. A few weeks ago, I decided to channel this experience into something meaningful: TheInnerAlien.co. It’s a platform designed to help people like me manage anxiety and time overwhelm through structured tools, personalized systems, and a supportive community. It’s still early, but I’m excited to share it and hear what you think. Here’s the link: http://www.theinneralien.co I’d love your feedback or ideas on how to improve it. Thanks for taking a look!
2024 · its alternatives →
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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →