Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Focus@Will vs Todoist

Focus@Will logo

Focus@Will

Productivity

Subscription streaming of instrumental music channels intended to be worked to rather than listened to

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Todoist logo

Todoist

Productivity

The world's #1 task manager and to-do list app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Todoist no built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl
  • They diverge on capability: Focus@Will covers Channels by style, Todoist covers Natural language input.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Focus@Will and Todoist actually diverge.

Attributes where Focus@Will and Todoist differ
AttributeFocus@WillTodoist
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Founded20112007

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 Todoist

  • Natural language input
  • Recurring tasks
  • Projects and sub-tasks
  • Labels and filters
  • Priority levels
  • Productivity tracking
  • Templates
  • Notifications

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 Todoist
  • Timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session.not Todoist
  • People who find their own music library distracting precisely because they know every track too well.not Todoist
  • Study and revision sessions where silence turns out to be worse than background sound.not Todoist

Todoist

  • Personal task managementnot Focus@Will
  • Team project coordinationnot Focus@Will
  • Goal trackingnot Focus@Will
  • Habit buildingnot Focus@Will
  • Daily planningnot 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.

Todoist

  • No built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl
  • Free plan limited to 5 personal projects only
  • No Gantt charts, resource allocation, or advanced project management features for large enterprises
  • Phone support not available; email and help center only
  • Calendar view and advanced filtering only available on paid plans

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

Todoist

Free
  • BeginnerFree
    • 5 personal projects
    • Smart Quick Add
    • Task reminders
  • Pro$5/month
    • 300 personal projects
    • Calendar layout
    • Custom task reminders
  • Business$8/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Shared team workspace
    • Up to 500 team projects

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.
Focus@Will review

Choose Todoist if

  • You need natural language input.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want recurring tasks.
Todoist review

Questions people ask

Is Focus@Will or Todoist better?
Neither clearly leads. Focus@Will starts at Free and Todoist at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Focus@Will or Todoist?
Focus@Will starts at Free and Todoist at Free.
Does Focus@Will or Todoist run on more platforms?
Focus@Will runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. Todoist 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 Todoist is typically brought in for.
What can Focus@Will do that Todoist cannot?
Focus@Will covers Channels by style, Session timer, Vocal-free catalogue, Browser and mobile. Todoist covers Natural language input, Recurring tasks, Projects and sub-tasks, Labels and filters.

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.

Todoist: Does Todoist work offline?

Basic editing and task management work offline, but advanced features like syncing reminders and shared updates require internet connectivity.

Source
Focus@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.

Todoist: Does Todoist have a free plan and what does it include?

Yes, Todoist offers a free Beginner plan with 5 personal projects, Smart Quick Add, task reminders, flexible layouts, 3 filter views, and 1 week activity history. More advanced features require the Pro or Business plans.

Source
Focus@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.

Todoist: Can I use Todoist on mobile devices?

Yes, Todoist offers native apps for both iOS and Android with over 30 million downloads. Mobile apps provide full task management functionality across devices.

Source
Focus@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.

Todoist: What integrations does Todoist support?

Todoist integrates with over 100 apps including Slack, Google Calendar, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, and Toggl Track. Additional integrations are available through Zapier, Make, and IFTTT automation platforms.

Source
Todoist: How much does Todoist cost?

Free plan is $0. Pro plan costs $5/month (billed annually) or $7/month (monthly billing). Business plan costs $8/month per user (annual) or $10/month per user (monthly), as of December 2025.

Source
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