Productivity · head to head
Focusmate vs OmniFocus 3
Focusmate
Productivity
Virtual co-working platform for accountability and productivity
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
OmniFocus 3
Productivity
Professional task management for complex workflows
- From
- $39.99/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Focusmate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Focusmate the free plan caps sessions at 3 per week; OmniFocus 3 apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
- They diverge on capability: Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Focusmate and OmniFocus 3 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Focusmate | OmniFocus 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $39.99/year |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, IOS, Android | MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web |
| Founded | 2017 | 1993 |
Identical on both: 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 OmniFocus 3
- GTD-based task organization
- Projects and subprojects
- Contexts and tags
- Custom perspectives
- Automation
- Quick entry
- Sync across devices
- Deferred and due dates
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 OmniFocus 3
- Building a focused work routine with timed sessionsnot OmniFocus 3
OmniFocus 3
- Getting Things Done style task and project management on Apple devicesnot Focusmate
- Capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cyclesnot Focusmate
- Syncing a personal task database across Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watchnot 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
OmniFocus 3
- Apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
- Web access is not included with a perpetual licence and costs an extra $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
- The Pro perpetual licence costs $149.99 against $74.99 for Standard
- Future major upgrades are a paid discount rather than free for perpetual licence holders
- The $99.99 per year subscription is the only option that bundles Pro plus web access
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
OmniFocus 3
$39.99/year- Standard$39.99/year
- Mac and iOS apps
- Cloud sync
- Core features
- Pro$99.99/year
- Everything in Standard
- Advanced automation
- Perspective management
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 OmniFocus 3 if
- You need gtd-based task organization.
- You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
- You also want projects and subprojects.
Questions people ask
- Is Focusmate or OmniFocus 3 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Focusmate starts at Free and OmniFocus 3 at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Focusmate or OmniFocus 3?
- Focusmate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Focusmate and $39.99/year for OmniFocus 3.
- Does Focusmate or OmniFocus 3 run on more platforms?
- Focusmate runs on Web, IOS, Android. OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
- Can I use Focusmate for free?
- Yes. Focusmate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus 3 starts at $39.99/year.
- 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 OmniFocus 3 is typically brought in for.
- What can Focusmate do that OmniFocus 3 cannot?
- Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Partner matching, Video co-working, Goal setting and tracking. OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Custom perspectives.