Short answer
Short answer: If you want to study together with friends and see your progress grow, pick Pomi. If your problem is putting the phone down, pick Forest. If you live in a task list, pick Focus To-Do. If you do not want to install anything, use Pomofocus. All of them have a free tier.
How we picked
Most Pomodoro apps do the same core thing: count 25 minutes, then 5. What differs is what they build around the timer. We rated each app on six questions:
- Price and ads: Is the free tier actually usable, and does it show ads?
- Offline: Does the timer work without internet?
- Background: Does the timer keep running when you close the app?
- Gamification: Do you earn something tangible when a session ends?
- Studying together: Can you focus with friends at the same time?
- Platforms: iOS, Android, web, desktop?
Comparison table
| App | Platforms | Free tier | Ads | Offline | Gamification | Study together |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pomi | iOS, Android | Yes, full timer | None | Yes | Pixel garden, conquest map, weekly league | Live rooms (everyone on their own timer) |
| Forest | iOS, Android, browser extension | Free on Android, paid on iOS | In free tier | Yes | Virtual tree planting | Group planting |
| Focus To-Do | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, web | Yes | None | Yes | None, stats-focused | No |
| Flora | iOS, Android | Yes | None | Partial | Tree planting | Shared session with a friend |
| Pomofocus | Web | Yes | Yes | Limited | None | No |
| Tide | iOS, Android | Yes, limited | None | Yes | None, sound-focused | No |
| Study Bunny | iOS, Android | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bunny care, in-app currency | No |
| Be Focused | iOS, macOS | Yes | In free tier | Yes | None | No |
Based on public store listings as of September 2026. Apps change prices and features; check the store page before downloading.
The apps, one by one
1. Pomi Study together No ads
Pomi turns every completed 25-minute session into a new plant in a pixel-art garden. Two things set it apart from other gamified timers: live rooms and a conquest map. In a room you focus on the same screen as your friends, but everyone runs their own timer, so one person taking a break does not break anyone else's session. On the conquest map your focus minutes score points for your city, and 81 cities of Turkey compete for regions in 7-day seasons.
- Best for
- Students preparing for exams, fans of "study with me" co-working, anyone who wants to see progress accumulate
- Price
- Free, with an optional Pomi Pro subscription. No ads.
- Missing
- No web or desktop version yet; iOS and Android only.
- Get it
- App Store · Google Play
2. Forest Phone addiction
The best-known app in the category. Start a session and you plant a tree; leave the app and the tree dies. A simple, effective "put the phone down" mechanic. Free with ads on Android, a one-time purchase on iOS.
- Best for
- People whose real problem is picking up the phone, not focusing
- Missing
- Weak task management; limited social features.
3. Focus To-Do Tasks + timer
Combines a Pomodoro timer with a full task manager: projects, subtasks, recurring tasks, estimated pomodoros per task. Syncs across phone, desktop and web. No gamification, which some people prefer.
- Best for
- Professionals tracking work, multi-device users
- Missing
- Busy interface; no motivation layer.
4. Flora Free
The same tree-planting idea as Forest, but free, and you can start a shared session with a friend. Whoever breaks the session kills the tree. Social pressure works.
- Best for
- People who want Forest for free, couples and study pairs
- Missing
- Shallow statistics and task management.
5. Pomofocus Web
A browser-based Pomodoro timer with nothing to install. Set your durations, add tasks, go. The fastest start if you work at a computer.
- Best for
- Desktop workers, anyone who does not want another app
- Missing
- No mobile app; the timer stops when you close the tab.
6. Tide Sounds
Bundles a focus timer with nature sounds, meditation and sleep modes. Calm, polished design. The timer is secondary; the real product is the audio.
- Best for
- People who work with white noise, anyone wanting breathing exercises
- Missing
- No tasks or social features; limited free tier.
7. Study Bunny Students
A bunny you feed by studying, in-app coins and a shop. Popular with high-school and university students. Cute, but heavy on ads.
- Best for
- Students who want a cute character
- Missing
- Ads; dated design.
8. Be Focused Apple
A clean Pomodoro timer for iPhone and Mac. Tracks stats per task and syncs through iCloud. Nothing extra, nothing missing.
- Best for
- Apple users who want simplicity
- Missing
- No Android; ads in the free tier.
Which Pomodoro app should I choose?
- Studying with friends: Pomi (shared room, individual timers) or Flora (paired session).
- Cannot put the phone down: Forest.
- Long task list: Focus To-Do.
- At a computer, want to start now: Pomofocus.
- Work with sound: Tide, or Pomi's mixable focus sounds.
Whichever you choose, the technique matters more than the app. Our Turkish-language Pomodoro guide covers how to apply it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free Pomodoro app?
For an ad-free, fully usable free tier, Pomi and Focus To-Do stand out. Pomi is stronger on gamification and studying together; Focus To-Do is stronger on task management. On the web, Pomofocus is free.
Is there a Pomodoro app I can use with friends?
Yes. Pomi has live rooms you join with a 6-character invite code; everyone is in the same room but runs their own timer. Flora and Forest offer shared tree-planting sessions, where one person leaving affects everyone.
Does the timer keep running when I close the app?
Pomi, Forest, Focus To-Do, Tide and Be Focused keep counting in the background and when the app is closed. The web-based Pomofocus stops when you close the tab.
Do Pomodoro apps work offline?
Pomi, Forest, Focus To-Do, Tide, Study Bunny and Be Focused work without internet. In Pomi, social features such as rooms and the conquest map need a connection, while the timer and garden work offline.
Is there a free alternative to Forest?
Flora offers the same tree-planting mechanic for free. Pomi is also free; instead of a tree you grow one plant per session, plus rooms and a city competition.
Try Pomi for free
No ads, works offline. On iPhone, iPad and Android.
Transparency note: This article was written by the developer of Pomi. Information about other apps is based on their public store listings at the time of publishing; prices and features may change. Spotted a mistake? Email us and we will fix it.