Pomotroid vs Pomofocus: Desktop App or Web Timer?
Both are free Pomodoro timers — one lives on your desktop, the other in a browser tab. Here’s how to choose.
Updated October 2026 · 8 min read
⚡ Quick Answer
| Pomotroid | Pomofocus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open-source | Free |
| Install needed | Yes (.exe / .dmg / .AppImage) | No — runs in browser |
| Works offline | ✅ Fully | ❌ Needs internet |
| Custom themes | ✅ 20+ JSON themes | ❌ |
| Mini / always-on-top mode | ✅ | ❌ |
| Tick sounds | ✅ Customizable | ✅ Basic |
| Task list | ❌ | ✅ Simple |
| Best for | Daily focused work | Quick sessions anywhere |
The honest breakdown
Pomotroid wins as a daily driver. A native app with themes, mini mode, tick sounds, and offline support is simply a nicer object to live with than a browser tab you might accidentally close. v1.7.1’s Tauri rebuild also made it remarkably light.
Pomofocus wins on convenience. No install, no admin rights, no Gatekeeper dialogs — open the URL and focus. It’s the timer you use on computers that aren’t yours.
Use both: Pomotroid on your own machines, Pomofocus everywhere else. Same technique, zero friction. And if you outgrow both and need tasks + sync, see our alternatives guide — Todoist plus Pomotroid is the classic upgrade path.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Pomotroid vs Pomofocus — which is better?
Pomotroid is better as a daily driver (native, offline, customizable). Pomofocus is better when you can’t install software. Most focused people end up using both in different situations.
Do I need to install anything to use Pomofocus?
No. Pomofocus runs entirely in your browser — that’s its whole point. Pomotroid needs a one-time install per computer.
Which is better for a Chromebook?
Pomofocus. Chromebooks can’t run Pomotroid’s desktop builds, so the web timer is the natural choice there.
Can I use Pomotroid and Pomofocus together?
Absolutely. Use Pomotroid on your own computer and Pomofocus on shared or locked-down machines. The Pomodoro technique is the same either way.