· FOCUS TIMER ·
A focus timer that lives next to your breath, sleep, and habits.
Pomodoro, custom intervals, Lock mode, ambient soundscapes, Lock Screen Live Activity, and a small animated pet companion. Free, no subscription, no ads.
Why a focus timer matters
A timer is a contract you make with yourself. For the next 25 minutes, this is what I am doing. The mechanic is simple, the science is older than the apps. The reason it works is that it externalizes the decision to focus, so you do not have to make the decision again every five minutes.
Most apps that sell you a timer also try to sell you a subscription, a streak shame loop, or a notification habit. hope. does none of that. The timer is free, the lock mode is free, the soundscapes are free.
What hope.'s focus timer does
- Nine modes. Classic 25-minute Pomodoro, custom intervals, deep work blocks, free-form open timer.
- Four ambient soundscapes. Quiet room, rain, lofi, and a soft instrumental loop. Volume independent of system audio.
- Lock mode. Prevents app-switching from breaking the session. Touching the phone pauses (does not invalidate) the timer. No scolding.
- Lock Screen Live Activity. Glance at remaining time without unlocking. Pet appears next to the countdown.
- Pet companion. Eight to choose from. Reacts to completed sessions, stays patient on broken ones.
- Quiet streaks. Optional, hidable, never publicly compared.
Compared to other focus apps
Forest is a focus-only app with a tree-planting mechanic. Excellent at its narrow job. If you only want focus, Forest is purpose-built.
Focus@Will is a subscription audio app for productivity music. Strong audio library, weaker timer.
hope. is a wellness toolkit that includes a focus timer. If your focus needs to live next to your breath, sleep, habits, and stillness practice, in one app, with no subscription, hope. is the wider tool. Longer comparison: Focus Timer vs Forest.
Frequently asked
- Is the focus timer free?
- Yes. All 9 focus modes, 4 ambient soundscapes, Lock mode, and the Lock Screen Live Activity are free. No subscription.
- Does it support classic Pomodoro?
- Yes. The default Focus mode is a 25-minute Pomodoro with a 5-minute break, plus eight other modes for deeper or custom work blocks.
- Does it work offline?
- Yes, fully. No internet connection is required.
- What does the pet do during a focus session?
- The pet rests during the session and reacts when you complete it. The Live Activity on the Lock Screen shows the pet next to the countdown.