Pomofocus Alternative: Flow
Pomofocus is a genuinely good Pomodoro timer. It's fast, free, uncluttered, the task list is right there, and it does the one thing it promises without ceremony. As a pure timer, there's little to criticize.
But most people don't run a Pomodoro in silence — they open Pomofocus in one tab and a YouTube lofi stream in another, and now the 'simple' setup has ads, unrelated tab audio, and music that keeps playing into the break. Flow is that whole desk in one tab: the same timer-and-tasks workflow, plus original focus music produced in-house and an ambient mixer underneath it.
Side by side
| Pomofocus | Flow | |
|---|---|---|
| Pomodoro timer | Excellent — presets, tasks, estimates | Same workflow: presets, custom splits, per-session tasks |
| Music | None — bring your own tab | 80+ original tracks produced in-house, synced to the block |
| Ambient sounds | None | 12-layer mixer: rain, café, fire, and more |
| Stats | Reports and streaks | Streaks, heatmap, records — measured minutes only |
| Price | Free; small yearly premium for reports | Free tier; Pro at $9.99/mo for the full library |
When Pomofocus is still the right pick
If you work in silence — or your audio setup is already sorted and you truly just need a clean timer with a task list — Pomofocus does that with less product around it, and its free tier will never bother you. There's no shame in the simpler tool when the simpler tool is enough.
Pick Flow when the second tab is the problem: when you want the music, the ambience, and the timer to be one machine that starts and stops together.
Questions
Is Flow's timer as good as Pomofocus?
It covers the same ground — work/break presets from 25/5 to 90/15, custom lengths, and a per-session task list next to the clock. The difference is everything around the timer, not the timer itself.
Do I have to pay for Flow where Pomofocus is free?
No. Flow's timer, tasks, ambient sounds, and part of the music library are free. The paid plan adds the full in-house library — the thing Pomofocus doesn't have at any price.
Can I use my own music with Flow?
You can keep any player running alongside, but Flow's point is the built-in library: instrumental tracks made for focus that start and stop with your block, with ambient layers mixed underneath.
Other splits
The full setup is one click away
This page is the timer on its own. The app adds original focus music — produced in-house, not stock loops — an ambient mixer, tasks, and honest stats. Free tier, no sign-up to try.