The Pomodoro Technique is now already a favorite among students, freelancers, telecommuters and productivity people around the world. Its one-dimensional concept of working in 25-minute focused sessions with followed short breaks has assisted millions to beat procrastination and enhance focus. However, the thing is that the original Pomodoro technique is not appropriate to all people. The 25-minute timer is too restrictive when a person needs deep work, preferences to flexibility, possession of built-in analytics, distraction blocking or connecting with various other applications.
In this paper, we are going to discuss 15 effective options of standard Pomodoro timers, all of which are different in their opportunities and help to become more efficient, keep focus and become more productive in the shorter span of time.
1. Focus Booster
Focus Booster is a productivity application on the principles of the Pomodoro Technique, but the interface is more modern and versatile. It has easy timekeeping and the option of scheduling according to your working style. It also tracks your working time automatically and thus one can view his/her working progress and even create reports.
Recommended to: Freelancers and specialists who desire to have Pomodoro and time-tracking functionality.
2. Forest
Forest makes time turning into a game. A virtual tree starts to grow whenever you start a focus session. When you log out of the app the tree dies. All in a long run you will be able to develop a whole forest in the digital sphere. Forest also collaborates with a genuine tree-planting organization that enables the users to plant a genuine tree during their intentional sessions.
Best For: Individuals that are visualizers and gamers.
3. Toggl Track
Toggl Track is a time tracking application although it can be customized to Pomodoro-like work. It enables users to create timers manually, to split the tasks, and to produce reports in detail format. Although it was not built with Pomodoro in mind, it also enables you to build your focus phases and break time.
Best Served To: The team, consultants, and freelancers that need in-depth knowledge of how they spend their time.
4. Session
Session is devoted to intense work and attention. It integrates the Pomodoro technique with songs, mood monitoring and productivity records. It allows you to block distracting sites and applications during concentration sessions, which makes it perfect for individuals with a weakness to digital temptations.
Best suited to: Deep focus, conscious and distraction-free work.
5. Be Focused
Be Focused is an effective minimalistic Pomodoro timer, which users may divide the work into intervals, depending upon short breaks. The app allows you to make your own to-do lists, see the list of your daily tasks and see your productivity dynamics.
Who Is It Best For: Mac and iOS users that like lean, but still functional, interface.
6. TimeBloc
TimeBloc is a time-blocking Pomodoro-style application. It allows the user to compartmentalize his or her day by allocating it time slots on particular activities. Timers may be placed on these blocks (just like the Pomodoro time), and the time may be flexible according to the amount of energy you have.
Most Suitable To: Individuals who want to plan in a more organized, calendar based manner rather than fixed time increments.
7. PomoDone App
PomoDone can be connected to such project management tools as Trello, Asana, Todoist, etc. It gives you the facility of implementing the Pomodoro Technique in activities related to tasks in your current to-do lists. The app can give you logs and analytics, which can be used to understand how to spend time in the different projects.
Best used by: Users who already operate productivity platforms and who need Pomodoro integration.
8. Marinara Timer
Marinara Timer is a browser pomodoro timer which has three menu options: traditional Pomodoro, custom timer and a kitchen timer. It is free to use, unlike the majority of apps, and it is completely web-based and enables one to share timers with other people, which is very suitable in a virtual study group or team productivity.
Recommended To: Students, teams and browser users that do not have a preference to install apps.
9. Focus To-Do
Focus To-Do integrates the functionality of the Pomodoro clock, as well as the task management system. They are able to create to-do lists, deadlines, and connect the task to a focus session. It also has reminders, tracking of habits, and performance reports.
Its Best For: People interested in a comprehensive productivity and Pomodoro platform.
10. RescueTime
Although RescueTime does not rely on Pomodoro intervals specifically, it does very well to make you realize how you spend your time. It works in the background and monitors you. With RescueTime, there is a Focus Session, which involves blocking the distracting websites and reminding you to operate without distraction.
Best For: Data-driven insights and automatically focused professionals.
11. Clockify
Clockify is a powerful time tracking application that has Pomodoro timer add-ons. The mechanism to record work, sort work, and export reports is available to the users. It is also possible to join forces and monitor billable hours. The Pomodoro mode can be achieved through the browser extensions and gives the flexibility of setting the intervals.
Most Applicable To: Organizations and even freelancers who have to charge or keep track of staff productivity.
12. Focusmate
Focusmate has a different strategy, in that they introduce you to an actual accountability partner through live video per focus session. Granted, it is not based on Pomodoro intervals per se, it encourages the element of social pressure to remain on task throughout the 50-minute session of the virtual coworking.
Best Suited: Individuals who love responsibility and social productivity.
13. KanbanFlow
KanbanFlow is a Pomodoro kanban task management tool. With your work cards, you can plan your work in kanban boards, record the time of work per task, and even launch Pomodoro timers. It also displays the Pomodoros you finished and the pending tasks.
Best Use: Visual thinkers and project teams with a kanban project management tool.
14. Brain.fm
You can take brain.fm scientifically-designed music to make work sessions more concentrated. Although it is not a timer, the music integrated in the app helps to retain a deep concentration longer and be used together with any timer-based productivity system such as Pomodoro.
Best Use: Those users who find inclusion of audio stimuli helpful in keeping them on focus.
15. TickTick
The TickTick to-do list has an in-app Pomodoro clock. You may divide work in tasks, use timers and measure the time each task takes. There are also calendars, reminders, habits tracking, and good clean layout design in the app.
Best Suited: Individuals that require a task manager, including Pomodoro.
Conclusion
The traditional Pomodoro Technique will help you quite a decent number of people, but it does not fit everyone. Others require variable time slots, the combination of tasks, distractions hindrances, or an improvement in the interface. Other people might be better served by social responsibility, relaxing music, or gamification.
The best alternative will lie with the way you work and personal requirements. Toggl Track and Clockify are fantastic time trackers in case you want to keep track of your time in details. Focus To-Do and Forest are a good choice in case you like visual incentives. And in case you want serious attention and computer self-control, give it a go with Session or RescueTime.
After all, the end objective of any focus tool is to allow you to work with more intelligence that effort. Check some of these options and find out which best suits your activity. You will be astounded at getting more things done within a day when you finally have the right match.
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