Staying focused can feel like an uphill battle, but luckily, plenty of apps help with distractions. Whether working from home or trying to avoid the endless scroll on social media, the right tools can make all the difference.
In this post, we’ve rounded up the top 10 apps that will help you boost productivity and regain control over your day. Let’s dive into how these tools can keep you focused and efficient.
Contents
What’s a focus app?
A focus app is a valuable tool designed to help you eliminate distractions and enhance productivity. These apps serve a specific purpose: they create a distraction-free environment, allowing you to concentrate on your work more effectively.
While productivity apps help you manage tasks, set deadlines, and organize projects, focus apps take it further by minimizing interruptions and keeping you in the zone.
Top 10 apps to help with distractions
Now that you know what a focus app is and how it can help you, let’s check out the top 10 apps that can help with distractions and boost your productivity. Each app offers unique features so you can easily find the perfect fit for your workflow and stay focused.
1. Rambox
Rambox is a workspace simplifier that puts all your applications in one interface. But the best part isn’t just having everything in one organized place; it’s that Rambox allows you to customize the notifications for all your apps.
This means you get to decide how and when you want to be notified, helping you cut down on distractions. With a simple right-click on your apps or workspaces, you can choose to receive alerts with sound, mute them, or turn off notifications entirely.
So, what happens to those notifications you’ve decided to pause? Rambox has you covered—it thoughtfully archives them in the Notification Center. No more FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)! You can catch up on your notifications whenever it suits you, ensuring you never miss anything important.
Rambox’s Focus Mode is your best friend when you need to be entirely focused. You can set a specific time to pause notifications or keep them off indefinitely. And don’t worry about missing anything while you’re deep in work—once you turn off Focus Mode, all those notifications will be waiting for you in your Notification Center.
That sounds great, right? Rambox is the perfect app for cutting out distractions and staying fully focused on your work. Try Rambox for free! It’s super easy: sign up, download the app, and enjoy all its features immediately.
2. Click Up
ClickUp is a powerful app that helps you manage tasks, projects, and workflows all in one place. Whether you’re working solo or with a team, ClickUp keeps everything organized and easy to track, making it simple to stay on top of your work and meet deadlines.
What makes ClickUp stand out is how you can fully customize notifications. You can choose exactly what you want to be notified about and when, so you only get updates that matter most to you. This way, you can stay focused and productive without being distracted by unnecessary notifications.
Source: help.clickup.com
3. Notion
Notion is a workspace where you can easily combine notes, tasks, and databases. It’s not just for taking notes; it’s a space to keep your thoughts, plans, and team projects together. You can set it up however you like, making it perfect for personal use or group work.
Notion supports your focus by allowing you to customize your notification settings. You’ll receive alerts when someone mentions you or replies to your comments, and you can set reminders for important deadlines. Depending on your preference, notifications can pop up on your desktop or mobile or arrive in your email. You can turn off these notification options if you’d rather not be disturbed.
Source: Notion.so
If you want to learn more about this app, don’t miss our complete Notion review!
4. Todoist
Todoist is a task management app designed to help you stay organized and on top of your tasks. It allows you to create to-do lists, set deadlines, and prioritize what you need to do, making managing both work and personal projects easier. With its clean and intuitive interface, Todoist is perfect for anyone looking to boost productivity and keep track of their responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed.
Source: Todoist.com
You can choose which events to be notified about, such as when someone mentions you in a comment or assigns you a task. These alerts can be sent via email or push notification, keeping you informed while allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
Todoist is a great competitor to Notion. If you want to know which of these two apps is the perfect fit for you, don’t miss our full review of Notion vs Todoist.
5. Trello
Trello is a visual project management tool that helps you organize tasks and collaborate with others easily. You can track your projects and workflows clearly and engagingly using boards, lists, and cards.
To minimize distractions, Trello allows you to customize your notification preferences. You can choose between email alerts or push notifications, ensuring you receive only the updates that matter to you. While all notifications are accessible within the app, they can only be cleared by reading them or marking them as read. This means you overlook important updates without carefully managing your notifications.
Source: Trello.com
6. Pomofocus
Pomofocus is a productivity app that employs the Pomodoro Technique to help users manage their time effectively. The app allows users to customize their work sessions, break lengths, and long breaks, enabling them to find a rhythm that suits their individual workflow.
This app provides a simple, user-friendly interface to track your progress and focus on tasks without distractions. It’s particularly useful for people who struggle with procrastination or need a structured way to enhance their productivity.
Source: Pomofocus.io
7. Taskade
Taskade is a focus app designed to enhance productivity by minimizing distractions and providing users with essential tools for task management. Its clean and intuitive interface allows users to concentrate on their work without unnecessary clutter, making it easy to focus on what’s important. With customizable workspaces, users can tailor their environments to suit their specific needs, enabling efficient organization and prioritization of tasks.
The app also offers real-time collaboration features, allowing team members to work together seamlessly without the distractions of back-and-forth emails or lengthy meetings. This promotes clear communication and quick decision-making, keeping everyone focused on their objectives. Additionally, Taskade includes a built-in Pomodoro timer, encouraging users to work in focused sprints followed by short breaks, which helps prevent burnout.
Source: Taskade.com
8. Brain FM
Brain.fm is a unique focus app designed to enhance concentration and productivity through specially crafted music. The app uses neuroscience-based soundtracks that are scientifically engineered to help users enter different mental states, whether they need to focus, relax, or sleep.
Users can select the duration they want to listen to, which helps maintain a structured work session. This approach improves concentration and helps manage time effectively.
9. IFTTT
IFTTT (If This Then That) is a handy automation tool that connects different apps and devices to make your life easier. With IFTTT, you can create simple “applets” that trigger actions based on specific events. For instance, you can set it up to automatically save your Instagram photos to a Google Drive folder or receive a weather update every morning via email. It’s like having a personal assistant who handles repetitive tasks for you!
What makes IFTTT a great focus app is its ability to help you stay on track by eliminating distractions. Automating those everyday tasks lets you focus on what matters without getting lost in the details.
10. Pocket
Pocket is a great app designed to help you save articles, videos, and web pages for later viewing. It acts like a digital pocket where you can store content you come across online but don’t have time to read or watch immediately.
Source: blog.getpocket.com
Instead of getting distracted by every interesting article or video you find, you can save them for later, freeing up your mind to focus on your current tasks.
The best apps to help with distractions at a glace
| Pros | Cons | |
| Rambox | Customize notifications for all apps in one place, making management simple. | Silencing an app means checking the Notification Center to catch updates. |
| Focus Mode pauses all notifications, helping you concentrate. | ||
| Archives all notifications, so you won’t miss anything important later. | ||
| ClickUp | Customizable notifications ensure you only get relevant updates. | Many features may overwhelm new users, potentially causing distractions. |
| Combines task management, time tracking, and collaboration in one app. | Initial setup might require time, distracting you from immediate work. | |
| Notion | Turn off notifications completely or customize them to suit your needs. | Its versatility can be confusing, leading to distractions if you’re unfamiliar with it. |
| Organizes notes, tasks, and projects in one place for easy access. | Disabling notifications might cause you to miss important updates. | |
| Todoist | Choose which events trigger notifications, keeping alerts relevant. | Poor management of notifications can still be distracting, especially with emails. |
| Clean interface helps organize tasks efficiently, improving focus. | Limited integrations may restrict workflow options. | |
| Trello | Customize notifications to receive only essential updates, minimizing interruptions. | All notifications must be marked as read, risking overlooked important updates. |
| Visual layout allows quick task assessment, enhancing focus. | Notifications can be missed if you don’t check the app regularly. | |
| Pomofocus | Implements the Pomodoro Technique for manageable work sessions, helping maintain focus. | Limited features beyond time management may not meet everyone’s needs. |
| Simple interface is easy to use, free from distractions. | May not fit all work styles; some prefer more flexibility. | |
| Taskade | Customizable workspaces reduce clutter for focused work sessions. | Some features may lack robustness compared to other apps, limiting effectiveness. |
| Real-time collaboration keeps teams on task without distractions. | Requires an internet connection; offline capabilities may be restricted. | |
| Brain FM | Offers music designed to boost focus, creating a distraction-free work environment. | Effectiveness of the music varies by user. |
| You can select the duration for listening, helping to structure work sessions. | Limited to audio support; those preferring silence or other concentration aids may not find it useful. | |
| IFTTT | Automates repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on what truly matters. | Initial setup can be time-consuming, potentially distracting from immediate tasks. |
| Connects various apps and devices, streamlining your workflow and reducing app-switching. | Automation options may be limited for specific needs, leading to leftover manual tasks. | |
| Saves articles and videos for later, letting you focus on current tasks without distractions. | Saved content can be forgotten, leading to a backlog of items to read or watch later. | |
| Clean interface makes accessing and organizing saved content easy. | Primarily a storage solution, limiting functionality for interacting with saved content. |
Did you like several of these apps and want to give them a try? Rambox is the best choice! You can add Trello, Notion, IFTTT, and all your favorite apps to your workspace and customize all your notifications from one convenient place! This makes it easy to stay organized and focused, helping you manage everything without hassle.
Adding apps to Rambox is super easy:
- Click on “Add an app or workspace” in your main tab or workspace.
- Type the name of the app you want to add in the search panel on the left.
- Configure the application settings to your liking. You can choose which profile to use in the app (inherit from workspace, primary, private, incognito, or a custom profile).
- Click on “+Add,” and that’s it! The app is now added to your Rambox workspace!
FAQ
How do these apps help reduce distractions?
These 10 apps help reduce distractions by allowing you to customize notifications, organize tasks, and create focused work environments so you only get updates that matter to you.
How can I focus better with distractions?
To focus better amidst distractions, use techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, set specific work times, and minimize notifications by using apps that help manage your alerts.
What are the best free apps to help with distractions?
Rambox is a standout free app for reducing distractions. It allows you to add various productivity tools like Trello, Notion, and IFTTT to one workspace. You can customize your notifications and stay organized, making it easier to focus on your work.
