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Productivity · head to head

Focusmate vs HARO

Focusmate logo

Focusmate

Productivity

Virtual co-working platform for accountability and productivity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HARO logo

HARO

News

Help A Reporter Out - connecting journalists with expert sources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Focusmate the free plan caps sessions at 3 per week; HARO hARO was rebranded and phased out by Cision in favor of Connectively (www.connectively.us) starting early 2024, per the vendor's own helpareporter.com notice (Internet Archive capture, 2023)
  • They diverge on capability: Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, HARO covers Daily journalist queries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Focusmate and HARO actually diverge.

Attributes where Focusmate and HARO differ
AttributeFocusmateHARO
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb, Email
CategoryProductivityNews
Founded20172008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 HARO

  • Daily journalist queries
  • Source submissions
  • Query archives
  • Response tracking
  • Source directory
  • Email matching
  • Profile management
  • Email

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Focusmate

  • Virtual co-working sessionsnot HARO
  • Accountability partnershipsnot HARO
  • Focus and productivitynot HARO

HARO

  • Finding expert sourcesnot Focusmate
  • Press coveragenot Focusmate
  • Expert positioningnot Focusmate
  • Media relationsnot 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

HARO

  • HARO was rebranded and phased out by Cision in favor of Connectively (www.connectively.us) starting early 2024, per the vendor's own helpareporter.com notice (Internet Archive capture, 2023)

Pricing, plan by plan

Focusmate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 sessions per week
    • No credit card required
  • Plus$8/month
    • Unlimited sessions
  • Business$null/mo
    • For enterprises, small businesses, learning communities

HARO

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Daily email alerts
    • Query submissions
    • Source directory
  • Pro$19.99/month
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support
    • 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.
Focusmate review

Choose HARO if

  • You need daily journalist queries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Email.
  • You also want source submissions.
HARO review

Questions people ask

Is Focusmate or HARO better?
Neither clearly leads. Focusmate starts at Free and HARO at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Focusmate or HARO?
Focusmate starts at Free and HARO at Free.
Does Focusmate or HARO run on more platforms?
Focusmate runs on Web, IOS, Android. HARO runs on Web, Email.
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 virtual co-working sessions, accountability partnerships, focus and productivity. Of those, virtual co-working sessions and accountability partnerships are not what HARO is typically brought in for.
What can Focusmate do that HARO cannot?
Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Partner matching, Video co-working, Goal setting and tracking. HARO covers Daily journalist queries, Source submissions, Query archives, Response tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Focusmate: Does Focusmate offer a free plan?

Yes. Focusmate's free plan includes up to 3 sessions per week at no cost, with no credit card required. Session duration is approximately 25 minutes each. Upgrade to Plus to unlock unlimited sessions.

Source
Focusmate: What is the difference between Plus monthly and annual billing?

Focusmate Plus costs $12 per month when billed monthly, or $8 per month when billed annually. Annual billing provides a 33 percent discount compared to monthly billing.

Source
Focusmate: What features are included in Focusmate Business?

Business is designed for enterprises, small businesses, and learning communities, but specific features and pricing are not listed publicly. Contact Focusmate directly for details on Business plan capabilities and costs.

Source
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