Time & Distraction Management Apps and Software

Free/Low Cost AT for Time & Distraction Management


Cold Turkey

Features:

  • Block distracting websites
  • Set the websites you want blocked and for how long and go “cold turkey” from them
  • If the timer is still going, you won’t be able to access your blocked websites
  • Pro version provides blocking of Applications, White Listing, Break Intervals, and Frozen Turkey features

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Windows; Mac


focus booster

Features:

  • Pomodoro Timer to help you stay on task when completing work
  • Using the Pomodoro Method of 25 minutes of work and 5 minute break, maximize your work session
  • Track your time more efficiently within your account
  • Productivity reports on your dashboard
  • Different visual themes for your flexibility

Cost: Free for basic; Individual: $3/month

Compatibility: Online Resource; Windows; Mac


Fokus

Features:

  • Highlight only the text you want to read while Fokus dims and darkens the rest of your Chrome or Firefox window with an overlay
  • Highlights the paragraph you’re reading with the ability to change the opacity of the background overlay
  • Easy to install extension with the ability to turn the feature on or off
  • More Information

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome and Firefox Add-On


Just Read

Features:

  • Chrome extension for distraction-free reading
  • Customizable platform

Cost: Free; Premium $9.99/year

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


MyTomatoes

Features:

  • Use MyTomato to time and track your progress using the Pomodoro technique
  • Start the timer and work for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break
  • At the end of each work sitting, write what you did to track your progress

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Online Resource


Page Eraser

Features:

  • Assist with erasing unwanted parts of a webpage
  • Minimize distractions while browsing
  • Easily toggled on and off

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


Features:

  • Personal-Analytic service to track how you spend your time on your computer, smartphone or tablet
  • Get a customized report of what sites you visit and what you do on your devices
  • No manual data-entry, it tracks as you work

Cost: Free for chrome or mobile app; charges apply for OS downloads

Compatibility: Mac, iOS, Windows, Linux, Android, Chrome


SelfControl

Features:

  • Block your own access to distracting websites, mail servers, or anything on the internet using this downloadable program to your computer
  • Set a timer for the amount of time to block websites
  • If the timer is still going, you won’t be able to view or access these websites

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Mac OS


StayFocusd

Features:

  • Increase your productivity by limiting the amount of time you spend on websites that waste your time
  • Pre-program distracting and time-wasting websites
  • When your time limit is up, these sites will be inaccessible for the rest of the day

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


Strict Workflow

Features:

  • Use this Chrome Extension to enforce a 25 minute work and 5 minute break distraction-free work zone
  • Uses the Pomodoro Technique
  • Blocks you from distracting websites you have set in your customizable list

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


Time Timer

Features:

  • Visual timer great for people of any age
  • Visually structure your time or break time into segments using this timer program
  • Easy to use app interface with up to four visual timers and physical timers available as well
  • Time seconds, minutes or hours with this timer

Cost: Free

Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone; Android


Time Tracker

Features:

  • Track how long you’ve been off task in a website
  • A running time clock appears at the top of the tab you have opened counting how many minutes and seconds you’ve been on that website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


Tomato Timer

Features:

  • Using the Pomodoro Time method, break up your work or school tasks into manageable worktimes
  • Use the 25 minutes of worktime and 5 minutes of break time pattern to maximize workflow
  • After a set number of short Pomodoros, take a longer Pomodoro break

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Online Resource


Witeboard

Features:

  • Distraction-free virtual white board space
  • Share your witeboard to collaborate with others
  • Save your work as an image

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Online Resource


WriteRoom

Features:

  • Full screen, distraction free writing environment
  • Get your computer distractions out of the way with just you, and the text on your computer screen
  • Limited layout ability, including limiting the ability to add graphs, and tables
  • Auto save and word count are available features

Cost: $9.99

Compatibility: Mac OS