Batti · focus timer

The best Pomodoro timer apps for Mac

The best Pomodoro timer is the one you notice without opening it. Here's how the main Mac options differ.

Pick by what you need

• Free, and always in sight: Batti, from Spritefolk. A pixel traffic light on your desktop: red while you focus, green while you rest. Free for good, no account, works offline, and it can turn on Do Not Disturb for each focus round.
• Stats and focus history: Session and Flow. Both have a free timer, with paid upgrades for deeper stats and extras.
• Tasks with each round: Be Focused. Free on the Mac App Store, with Pro in-app purchases; it runs on iPhone and iPad too.
• Nothing to install: the Clock app's Timers tab. Fine for one round; you start each round, and each break, yourself.

What to look for

• A timer you can see while you work, so you don't keep checking it.
• Breaks that start on their own; most people skip the ones they have to start by hand.
• Notifications quieted only during focus, then let back in.
• Your own lengths: 25/5 is a starting point, and many people prefer 50/10.