Productivity · head to head
Focusmate vs DeskTime
Focusmate
Productivity
Virtual co-working platform for accountability and productivity
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
DeskTime
Productivity
Automatic computer activity tracking and productivity analytics
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Focusmate the free plan caps sessions at 3 per week; DeskTime screenshots are excluded from the Pro plan and start at Premium
- They diverge on capability: Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, DeskTime covers Automatic activity tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Focusmate and DeskTime actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Focusmate
- 25-minute work sessions
- Partner matching
- Video co-working
- Goal setting and tracking
- Session history
- Reflection notes
- Weekly sessions
- Mobile-friendly
Only in DeskTime
- Automatic activity tracking
- Application and website tracking
- Daily reports
- Weekly summaries
- Privacy-first design
- Detailed analytics
- Goal setting
- Mobile apps
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Focusmate
- Booking virtual coworking sessions with an accountability partnernot DeskTime
- Building a focused work routine with timed sessionsnot DeskTime
DeskTime
- Automatic time tracking of desktop app and website usagenot Focusmate
- Measuring team productivity and idle timenot Focusmate
- Scheduling shifts and tracking absencesnot Focusmate
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Focusmate
- The free plan caps sessions at 3 per week
- Unlimited sessions require the Plus plan at $8 per month billed annually or $12 per month billed monthly
- The Business plan is priced by quote with no published rate
DeskTime
- Screenshots are excluded from the Pro plan and start at Premium
- Integrations and API access require the Premium plan
- Shift scheduling requires the Premium plan
- Enterprise is aimed at 200+ users and is priced by quote with no published rate
- The advertised $6.42 and $9.17 per user rates require annual billing; monthly billing costs more
- The trial lasts 14 days
Pricing, plan by plan
Focusmate
Free- FreeFree
- 25-minute sessions
- Limited sessions per week
- Basic matching
- Plus$5/month
- Unlimited sessions
- Priority matching
- Session history
DeskTime
Free- FreeFree
- Activity tracking
- Basic reports
- Weekly emails
- Pro$9/month
- Everything in Free
- Advanced reports
- Detailed analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Focusmate if
- You need 25-minute work sessions.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want partner matching.
Choose DeskTime if
- You need automatic activity tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, Linux.
- You also want application and website tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Focusmate or DeskTime better?
- Neither clearly leads. Focusmate starts at Free and DeskTime at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Focusmate or DeskTime?
- Focusmate starts at Free and DeskTime at Free.
- Does Focusmate or DeskTime run on more platforms?
- Focusmate runs on Web, IOS, Android. DeskTime runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, Linux.
- Can I use Focusmate for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Focusmate best used for?
- Focusmate is most often used for booking virtual coworking sessions with an accountability partner, building a focused work routine with timed sessions. Of those, booking virtual coworking sessions with an accountability partner and building a focused work routine with timed sessions are not what DeskTime is typically brought in for.
- What can Focusmate do that DeskTime cannot?
- Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Partner matching, Video co-working, Goal setting and tracking. DeskTime covers Automatic activity tracking, Application and website tracking, Daily reports, Weekly summaries.