Why it's a strong pick

Focus To-Do puts the timer and the task list in the same place, so you do not need a second app to track what you are working on. Its privacy policy says you can use it offline without registering. The trade-offs: without an account your tasks stay on one device, and a second listing with a very similar name exists.

What it does

Focus To-Do combines a Pomodoro timer with a to-do list. The vendor lists reminders, repeating tasks and subtasks, plus sync across Android, iOS, Windows and Mac. The Chrome listing adds customizable timers, priority levels, due dates, a calendar view, theme colors and daily, weekly and monthly statistics.

Key features

Timer and tasks together. Start a focus session from the task you are about to work on.
Task tools. Priority levels, due dates, a calendar view, reminders, repeating tasks and subtasks.
Customizable timers. The listing says you can change the timer lengths.
Statistics. Daily, weekly and monthly views of your focus time, plus time tracking.
Local mode. The vendor's privacy policy says you can use it offline without registering.
Sync with an account. Register to sync tasks across devices. The Chrome listing mentions "Chrome sync".

Who it's for

Focus To-Do suits people who want one place for the timer and the task list. It fits students and anyone who plans the day around tasks, not just time blocks. If you only want a plain timer, Marinara or Tomato Clock is simpler. See Marinara alternatives for a side-by-side.

Does Focus To-Do work without an account?

Yes, according to the vendor. Its privacy policy says you can use it offline without registering. Without an account there is no sync across devices, and the policy says local task data is lost if you uninstall. Register if you want your tasks on more than one device.

Which Focus To-Do listing should I install?

Check the publisher name before you install. More than one store listing uses the name "Focus To-Do", and one is titled "Focus To-Do: Pomodoro Timer & To Do List". We link the listing above, but we could not confirm from the Chrome Web Store which one the vendor runs. Compare the publisher with the vendor's site, focustodo.cn.

Does Focus To-Do sync across devices?

Yes, with an account. The vendor says its apps sync across Android, iOS, Windows and Mac, and the Chrome listing mentions "Chrome sync". Without an account there is no sync. We did not test sync, so check how it works for your devices before you rely on it.

What does Focus To-Do do with my data?

The vendor's privacy policy says premium members' data is stored in a database and sent over SSL. It also says local data stays on your device if you do not register. That is the vendor's description, not our test. Read the full policy before you sign up.

What permissions does Focus To-Do ask for?

We did not find a permissions list we could check. Look at the install prompt in Chrome before you add it. Permissions can change between releases, so read the prompt again after big updates. Also check the publisher name, because a second listing with a very similar name exists.

FAQ

Is Focus To-Do free? A premium tier exists. We did not verify what it adds, so check the vendor's premium page for the current list.

Do I need an account? Not to use it locally, per the vendor's privacy policy. You need one to sync.

Is it open source? We could not confirm that, so we do not say it is.

Good to know

Without an account, your tasks live only in the browser and disappear on uninstall. Register before you put weeks of tasks into it. The privacy policy says so, and it is easy to miss.

Other productivity timers to compare

Focus To-Do is one of 6 picks in our productivity timers guide:

Marinara: A plain Pomodoro timer in your toolbar. Set your own interval lengths. Open source under MIT.
Tomato Clock: An open-source Pomodoro timer. Tomato intervals, stats and a dark theme. No task list, no site blocking.
Pomofocus: A Chrome listing that pairs a Pomodoro timer with a task manager and a website blocker. Check the publisher name before you install.
Forest: A focus timer that grows a virtual tree. Leave a session early and the tree dies.
ActivityWatch Web Watcher: An open-source extension that logs your browser activity for the ActivityWatch time tracker.

See alternatives: Marinara alternatives lists Focus To-Do as the to-do list option.

Also see: Best Chrome extensions for students · Best Chrome extensions for remote work