Productivity · head to head
Focus@Will vs Remember The Milk
Focus@Will
Productivity
Subscription streaming of instrumental music channels intended to be worked to rather than listened to
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Focus@Will the central claim, that this music aids concentration more than other instrumental music, rests largely on work the vendor commissioned or published itself, and a buyer has no independent way to test it before paying.; Remember The Milk interface looks dated compared to modern task managers
- They diverge on capability: Focus@Will covers Channels by style, Remember The Milk covers Smart lists.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Focus@Will and Remember The Milk actually diverge.
| Attribute | Focus@Will | Remember The Milk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Founded | 2011 | 2004 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Focus@Will
- Channels by style
- Session timer
- Vocal-free catalogue
- Browser and mobile
- Single-purpose subscription
Only in Remember The Milk
- Smart lists
- Location reminders
- Task sharing
- Advanced search
- Subtasks
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Evernote
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Focus@Will
- An open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention.not Remember The Milk
- Timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session.not Remember The Milk
- People who find their own music library distracting precisely because they know every track too well.not Remember The Milk
- Study and revision sessions where silence turns out to be worse than background sound.not Remember The Milk
Remember The Milk
- Schedulingnot Focus@Will
- Appointment bookingnot Focus@Will
- Time trackingnot Focus@Will
- Resource managementnot Focus@Will
- Team coordinationnot Focus@Will
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Focus@Will
- The central claim, that this music aids concentration more than other instrumental music, rests largely on work the vendor commissioned or published itself, and a buyer has no independent way to test it before paying.
- Everything it does has a free substitute, since instrumental playlists on any streaming service cost nothing, so the subscription is defended only by curation, which is the hardest kind of value to demonstrate.
- It is a single-product subscription from a small vendor with no larger business underwriting it, so a service like this can change hands, change terms or stop with little notice and no obvious successor.
- Delivery is by streaming, so weak connectivity, aeroplanes and commutes are simultaneously where you most want it and where it is least dependable.
- Nothing accumulates in the account, which means there is no export problem but also nothing that makes renewal feel necessary, so it is among the first subscriptions cancelled whenever costs are reviewed.
Remember The Milk
- Interface looks dated compared to modern task managers
- Limited mobile app features compared to desktop version
- No advanced project management features like Gantt charts or timeline views
Pricing, plan by plan
Focus@Will
Free- FreeFree
- Limited access to music
- Basic 25-min timer
- Ads
- Basic$4.95/month
- Unlimited music access
- Custom timers
- No ads
- Pro$9.95/month
- Everything in Basic
- Advanced analytics
- Priority support
Remember The Milk
Free- FreeFree
- Task creation and organization
- Basic reminders
- List sharing
- Pro$39.99/year
- All free features
- Advanced sorting
- Attachments
Which should you pick?
Choose Focus@Will if
- You need channels by style.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
- You also want session timer.
Choose Remember The Milk if
- You need smart lists.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want location reminders.
Questions people ask
- Is Focus@Will or Remember The Milk better?
- Neither clearly leads. Focus@Will starts at Free and Remember The Milk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Focus@Will or Remember The Milk?
- Focus@Will starts at Free and Remember The Milk at Free.
- Does Focus@Will or Remember The Milk run on more platforms?
- Focus@Will runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. Remember The Milk runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use Focus@Will for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Focus@Will best used for?
- Focus@Will is most often used for an open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention., timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session., people who find their own music library distracting precisely because they know every track too well., study and revision sessions where silence turns out to be worse than background sound.. Of those, an open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention. and timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session. are not what Remember The Milk is typically brought in for.
- What can Focus@Will do that Remember The Milk cannot?
- Focus@Will covers Channels by style, Session timer, Vocal-free catalogue, Browser and mobile. Remember The Milk covers Smart lists, Location reminders, Task sharing, Advanced search.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Focus@Will: How is this different from a focus playlist?
The vendor's position is that the selection and sequencing are designed against attention research rather than assembled by taste. Whether that difference is audible to you is the whole question, and it is subjective.
Remember The Milk: Is there a free version of Remember The Milk?
Yes. Remember The Milk is free to download and use with core features like task creation, lists, reminders, and basic sharing. A Pro subscription at $39.99 annually unlocks advanced features like advanced sorting, attachments, and Apple Watch support.
SourceFocus@Will: Does it work offline?
Treat it as a streaming service that needs a connection. If you work on aeroplanes or in poor coverage, check the current apps before subscribing rather than after.
Remember The Milk: What devices and platforms does Remember The Milk support?
Remember The Milk is available across desktop, mobile, web, and wearable platforms with native applications, ensuring tasks remain synchronized across all devices.
SourceFocus@Will: Can a team use it?
It is sold to individuals. There is no admin console or central billing of the kind an organisation would need, so a team means several personal subscriptions.
Remember The Milk: Can I share tasks with others in Remember The Milk?
Yes, Remember The Milk allows you to share lists and assign tasks to others to coordinate work and get things done faster.
SourceFocus@Will: Can I use the music in videos or streams?
No. A personal listening subscription does not grant synchronisation or broadcast rights, so it must not sit behind published content.
Remember The Milk: Does Remember The Milk integrate with other apps?
Yes, Remember The Milk integrates natively with Gmail, Google Calendar, Evernote, and Zapier, allowing you to capture tasks from multiple sources.
SourceRelated pages
More on Remember The Milk
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- Remember The Milk vs HEY
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- Remember The Milk vs Akiflow
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- Remember The Milk vs Supernormal
- Remember The Milk vs Gamma
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- Remember The Milk vs Lazy
- Remember The Milk vs LibreOffice