Expert-recommended productivity and focus apps

Everybody has a ton of things they want to do but not enough time to do them. Distracting notifications and a lack of focus may make any activity feel never-ending, whether you’re at home, the office, or somewhere else.

According to TopResume resume writer and trained professional job counselor Amanda Augustine, increasing productivity is about managing yourself differently rather than merely managing your time more effectively. According to Augustine, you must change your perspective if you wish to increase your productivity.

A productivity app is anything that can assist you with better time and task management. Apps can help you stay focused and better manage your time, but they are not a panacea for your productivity problems.

GO Ahead and Skip 2025’s top productivity applications | How to steer clear of productivity problems | Why should I trust NBC Select?

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Our top picks

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  Best productivity timer

  Focus Keeper

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  Focus Keeper

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  For blocking apps/distractions

  Freedom

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  Freedom

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  Best for staying organized

  Trello

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  Trello

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How we picked the best productivity apps

What you want to achieve will determine which productivity software is ideal for you.

Which gadgets do you use? To learn more about productivity and focus and how applications may support them, we chatted with an expert.

Following their advice, we incorporated staff-favorite and expert-recommended apps that work on iPhones, Android phones, and browsers. We chose timer, focus, to-do, and organizing apps that meet various demands because everyone thinks, focuses, and organizes their activities differently.

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The best productivity apps for 2025

The productivity apps listed below are recommended by staff members and experts and are compatible with Android, iPhone, and browsers. Every app offers a free trial to get you started or is free to use.

Best productivity timer:

Focus Keeper

Focus Keeper

Augustine suggests using Focus Keeper to assist you in putting the Pomodoro Technique—a timer-based approach to organizing your work hours—into practice. The method consists of three repetitions of 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break. You take a lengthier, 20–30 minute pause after three rounds. This cycle can be repeated all day long at work. Even though I don’t use the Focus Keeper app, I’ve found that setting up specific times for work and relaxation throughout the day has kept me productive and organized for years.

For blocking apps and distractions:

Freedom

Freedom

Sadhana Daruvuri, social editor for NBC Select, blocks social media apps with the Freedom app so she can concentrate. Freedom can also restrict websites that you want to use on all of your devices, including streaming and shopping. Sites can be blocked for a set amount of time or according to a custom timetable.

Freedom is not a to-do or task management app; instead, it should be used in conjunction with another productivity tool.

Best simple to-do list:

Rocket 135

Rocket 135

For those looking for a straightforward tool that adheres to the 1-3-5 criteria, Augustine suggests Rocket 135. Keep your to-do list to one major task, three medium tasks, and five minor tasks per day. According to Augustine, this compels you to reduce your to-do list to nine items in order to increase your concentration and output. The app allows you to categorize your to-do list and tracks your progress.

Best for staying organized:

Trello

Trello

Trello has helped me manage dozens of tasks and projects at once, and I’ve been using it for years to plan my workday, workweek, and workflow. Documents, notes, to-do lists, deadlines, links, and more can all be stored on the home screen, which resembles cards affixed to a corkboard. Multiple boards can be created, and they will sync with all of your devices.

For time management:

RescueTime

RescueTime

According to Augustine, RescueTime can assist you in accurately assessing your day’s activities. This time-tracking application breaks down your daily, weekly, and monthly surfing time into categories and displays how long you’ve spent on various websites. According to Augustine, you can configure it to block distracting websites and apps of your choosing and receive alerts when you’re spending too much time on a particular task or website.

RescueTime offers a free 14-day trial on browsers and through apps for iPhone and Android, but the web version is the best based on user and review feedback. Try the Digital Wellbeingsetting on Android or the Screen Timesetting on iPhone if you want a comparable feature on your phone.

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How to avoid productivity pitfalls

Time management and productivity are more complex than merely utilizing an app. Our specialist suggested a comprehensive strategy for increasing productivity. She also gave us advice on how to maximize every workday.

Tackle the biggest challenge first

While it would be tempting to begin your day with a long list of short things to cross off your to-do list, Augustine advises doing the exact opposite. According to Augustine, even if it could seem like you’re finishing a lot of work, you’re actually putting off doing the more difficult jobs that call for greater concentration.

Regardless of how unpleasant or difficult they may be, complete the most important things on your list when you are most likely to be focused and have the most energy. According to Augustine, save the easier, lesser activities for when your focus is weakest.

Build small breaks into your routine

You can stay focused and be more productive if you take breaks during the workplace. Numerous scientific studies that have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Applied Psychology and Consciousness and Cognition have shown that even brief breaks from work can improve performance, focus, and stress levels. Stretching and walking for a few minutes have both helped me stay productive during long workdays.

Practice mindful downtime

Making the most of your downtime is a component of making the most of your work time. According to the NeuroLeadership Institute, a cognitive science consulting group, we frequently misuse downtime by cramming it with things like TV and podcasts, while in fact, downtime means no goals and no concentrated attention. The secret to unlocking meaningful downtime is engaging in idle activities like taking a stroll, folding clothes, taking a shower, or daydreaming.

Try the 2-minute rule

According to Augustine, if a task will take you two minutes or less, finish it right away rather than adding it to your never-ending to-do list. This rule has unwittingly helped me keep organized and on top of work-related chores for years. However, I’ve found that adhering to this guideline has occasionally caused me to be late for occasions since I keep seeing tasks that I could finish in less than two minutes.

Apps aren t everything

It could be naïve to expect immediate productivity gains after downloading five brand-new productivity apps. In my experience, it might be better to optimize the way you use an existing program.

The path to increased productivity is unique to each individual. According to Augustine, try out a variety of tactics and resources until you determine which one best fits your tastes and working style.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we collaborate with professionals that possess specific expertise and power derived from pertinent education and/or job experience. Additionally, we take precautions to guarantee that all professional counsel and suggestions are given impartially and free from unreported financial conflicts of interest.

• 
  Amanda Augustine
  

  is a certified professional career coach and resume writer for

  TopResume

  , a resume writing service.

Why trust NBC Select?

I cover technology as a reporter for NBC Select, including how-tos for smartwatches, TVs, and over-ear headphones. I asked professionals like job coaches and doctors for their advice in order to gain a deeper understanding of attention and productivity tools. I also spoke with the NBC Select team to find their favorite productivity apps.

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