YouTuber Hank Green’s Focus App Overtakes ChatGPT in the App Store
Focus Friend is a cute focus app from YouTuber Hank Green that recently shot out of nowhere to the top of the US App Store charts. It currently sits at number one in the Top Free Apps category, beating out even ChatGPT. So what’s going on?
Basically, the app gives you a friend — a cute little bean that knits for you while you focus on work. All it wants to do is knit you some socks, but it can’t do that if you’re glued to your phone the whole time. Wouldn’t you rather focus a little while your friend knits for you?
Pomodoro timer, but cuter
Focus Friend (available for both iPhone and Android ) is essentially a Pomodoro app where by default you focus for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break and repeat the process. But like most Pomodoro apps, you’re not limited to that time, so when you start the timer, you can choose any time interval up to 120 minutes.
At the start of the game, you meet a cute little bean character that you can name however you like. Once you start the timer, the bean gets to work and starts knitting socks for you. What the heck? It really doesn’t want to be bothered. Now it’s time for you to get to work. Imagine doubling your body with your virtual bean.
The app also plays some nice funky music in the background (a nice change from the usual lo-fi music found in office apps). But by default, playback stops when the screen turns off. If you want to keep listening to the music (like me), you’ll need to enable it in the settings menu.
You can cancel the timer at any time, but if you do, a pop-up will appear asking if you are really sure. Your bean will be upset too, but don’t worry, he will be hopeful for the next session.
Once the timer is up, your bob companion will reward you with knitted socks that you can add to your collection. The longer the timer, the more socks you get (my last 30-minute session netted me 26 socks, not to brag). Once you’ve collected enough socks, you can exchange them for home decor items. You can buy a beautiful table, a painting for the wall, furniture, or even new upholstery for your bob. Keep in mind, though, that decorating the entire room will take time, as a simple rug costs 75 socks, and the price will only go up.
But maybe that’s the point? The more you use the app, the easier it will be for you to focus and gradually decorate a cute house for your cute little person.
Visual gamification and tangible progress
The Pomodoro method is a tried-and-true approach, and it’s certainly a fun one. And if you think you can just cheat by switching to another app, there’s a Deep Focus mode that integrates with Screen Time features to block them. Just be careful using the Screen Time features in the free version of Focus Friend, as they block almost every other app on your phone. To allow access to specific apps, you’ll have to pay for the premium version, which costs $1.99 per month, $14.99 per year, or $29.99 for a lifetime subscription.
The Pro upgrade also lets your companion knit scarves, and you can knit three times as many socks. The Pro version also lets you customize your virtual bean. For a fee, you can unlock a skin in the form of Hank or John Green, a jelly bean, or even a coffee bean.
But if you’re even slightly dedicated, you can get by with the free version. For example, I use Session for my Pomodoro needs. It’s a handy Mac app that costs $40 a year (similar to my colleague Justin Pot’s Focus Timer ). But I pay for it because it helps me focus when it really matters, like when I’m writing these articles. Using Focus Friend today has made me seriously consider the need for this subscription.
However, the simplicity of the app has its downside. Focus Friend is only available on iPhone and Android, and whether it’s a free version or not, it doesn’t have “pro” features like a toolbar, custom settings, notes, or past event statistics.