FocusMe
FocusMe is a UK-based productivity software company offering tamper-resistant website and application blockers for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. It serves individual professionals, students, parents, and small teams seeking to control digital distractions via subscription-based desktop software with AI-assisted coaching and enforced focus modes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What FocusMe does
FocusMe, operated by the UK-incorporated private limited company Reclaim Time Ltd., is a productivity software vendor specializing in website and application distraction blocking across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Founded by programmer Jon Rumens around 2011 after he failed to find a blocker he could not circumvent, the company built its desktop product around a tamper-resistant Enforced Mode that combines random character challenges, stop delays, and plan hardening to make active sessions impossible to bypass, stop, or disable. The platform supports blocking by URL, process name, window title, or RegEx pattern, with specialized rules for YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels, plus scheduling, per-site time limits, launch limits, and Pomodoro-style enforced break reminders. Optional Chrome and Firefox browser extensions improve URL detection on desktop, and a free Android application extends the platform to mobile.
The technical architecture layers an AI Productivity Coach over the blocking engine; the coach ingests per-user structured screen-time and session data, surfaces burnout risk indicators, and recommends personalized blocking plans with one-click activation. A community-contributed Plan Library allows subscribers to import configurations built by other users and export their own; CLI hooks into Windows Task Scheduler, cron, and external scripts enable power-user automation. Headcount remains in the 1–10 range, with the founder actively authoring product copy and blog content.
The company runs a product-led, direct-to-consumer go-to-market: no-credit-card 14-day trial, multi-tier pricing (monthly subscription, annual at approximately $9.95/month, lifetime, and a 30% educational discount), a 60-day unconditional money-back guarantee, and a 30% first-year affiliate program operated through FirstPromoter. The customer base is dominated by individuals and small teams — busy professionals, students, parents, educators, and small/mid-market teams — with stated scale of 10,000+ paid users and 100,000+ cumulative downloads, and zero external institutional funding.
FocusMe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FocusMe
- Legal name
- Reclaim Time Ltd.
- Website
- https://focusme.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- FocusMe is a UK-based productivity software company offering tamper-resistant website and application blockers for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. It serves individual professionals, students, parents, and small teams seeking to control digital distractions via subscription-based desktop software with AI-assisted coaching and enforced focus modes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FocusMe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Productivity Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Study Skills & Executive Function Coaching (Planning, Organization, Time Management) (EDANADAB)
Keywords
Where FocusMe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FocusMe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription (Desktop): Annual and monthly subscription plans for desktop application (Windows, macOS, Linux). Includes all features with unlimited blocking plans, synchronization across devices, and priority support.
- Free Android App: Free Android application with core blocking features. No license required. Premium features may be added in future.
- Educational Discount: 30% discount for students and educators with valid email verification.
- Affiliate Commission: 30% commission on first-year sales for each referred subscriber. Managed through FirstPromoter affiliate platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly subscription for individual use |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual subscription with ~27% savings |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Lifetime access one-time purchase option |
| Subscription | Annual | Student/Educator discounted annual plan |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
FocusMe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FocusMe develops and sells cross-platform distraction-blocking and productivity software (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android) that prevents users from accessing blocked websites, apps, games, and short-form video through a tamper-resistant Enforced Mode. The desktop product is sold via monthly or annual subscriptions (with a lifetime license option) and is augmented by an AI Productivity Coach that analyzes screen-time behavior and recommends personalized blocking plans; the Android app is offered for free.
Product overview
FocusMe is a distraction blocking and productivity software company offering a unified product portfolio centered around its core desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux, complemented by a free Android mobile app and browser extensions. The flagship desktop application provides comprehensive website, application, and game blocking capabilities featuring an AI-powered Productivity Coach, tamper-resistant Enforced Mode, enforced screen breaks, and over 100 customization options including blocking by URL, process name, window title, or RegEx pattern. The product suite includes specialized features for blocking YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels, a Plan Library with community-submitted templates, and CLI/automation capabilities for programmatic control. The Android app tracks app usage and supports blocking across multiple browsers including Samsung Internet, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Brave, and Microsoft Edge. All products work together to help users combat digital addiction and reclaim productive time.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FocusMe Desktop Application (Windows, macOS, Linux) Primary paid desktop productivity application providing website, application, and game blocking with tamper-resistant Enforced Mode, AI Productivity Coach, enforced screen breaks, Pomodoro timers, per-site time limits, launch limits, CLI/automation hooks, and a community Plan Library — sold by monthly/annual subscription or lifetime license to individual consumers, students, parents, and small teams.
- FocusMe for Android Free Android app that tracks app usage and launches, blocks apps and websites, supports scheduling, and enforces per-app daily/hourly time limits, launch limits, and maximum use time per launch — sold/distributed separately from the desktop application and serving as both a standalone consumer product and a lead-in for the desktop subscription.
Quantifiable outcome
- Users save an average of 3.24 hours per day
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use FocusMe
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
FocusMe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
FocusMe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- HabiticaminorPartnership for cross-promotion of productivity tools. Habitica gamification platform collaborated with FocusMe to provide integrated productivity and habit-building experience for users.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FocusMe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cold Turkey: Cold Turkey is a direct competitor offering cross-platform website and application blockers with enforced/timed blocking modes. It targets the same procrastination and digital-wellness use cases as FocusMe with a very similar feature set.
- Freedom: Freedom is a leading subscription-based website and app blocker with cross-platform sync and scheduled sessions. It competes head-to-head with FocusMe in the enforced focus / distraction blocking category.
- RescueTime: RescueTime combines automatic time tracking with focus sessions and website blocking on desktop and mobile. It addresses the same productivity/distraction audience and overlaps with FocusMe's AI Coach value proposition.
- Forest: Forest gamifies focus by growing a virtual tree during focus sessions and blocking distractions. It targets the same student and professional audience as FocusMe with a different but adjacent methodology.
- StayFocusd: StayFocusd is a free Chrome extension that limits time spent on websites. It is a free, single-platform alternative that puts pricing pressure on FocusMe's browser-blocking value proposition.
- LeechBlock: LeechBlock is a free, open-source browser extension for blocking websites with time-based rules. It competes in the same category at the free tier, particularly among technical users.
Emerging players
- Opal (ScreenTime): Opal is a venture-backed screen time and focus app primarily targeting iOS, with AI-driven focus sessions and app blocking. It overlaps meaningfully with FocusMe's mobile use case and digital-wellness positioning.
- One Sec: One Sec is a mobile-first app that forces a pause before opening distracting apps, addressing attention and addiction. It overlaps with FocusMe's Enforced Mode value proposition on mobile devices.
- Be Focused: Be Focused is a Pomodoro-style task and focus timer across Apple devices. It overlaps with FocusMe's Pomodoro timer and task-management features for individual users.
Regional players
- Qustodio: Qustodio is a parental control and digital wellbeing platform with cross-device screen time and app blocking. It overlaps with FocusMe's Parents segment and parental control use cases, though at a different price point and B2C subscription model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FocusMe social profiles
Digital presenceFocusMe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FocusMe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
FocusMe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FocusMe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FocusMe
What does FocusMe do?
FocusMe develops and sells cross-platform distraction-blocking and productivity software (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android) that prevents users from accessing blocked websites, apps, games, and short-form video through a tamper-resistant Enforced Mode. The desktop product is sold via monthly or annual subscriptions (with a lifetime license option) and is augmented by an AI Productivity Coach that analyzes screen-time behavior and recommends personalized blocking plans; the Android app is offered for free.
Is FocusMe a public or private company?
FocusMe is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was FocusMe founded?
FocusMe was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FocusMe based?
FocusMe is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does FocusMe make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription (Desktop) is the primary driver. The others are free Android App, educational Discount and affiliate Commission.
Who are FocusMe's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cold Turkey, Freedom, RescueTime, Forest, StayFocusd and LeechBlock. Emerging players are Opal (ScreenTime), One Sec and Be Focused. Qustodio is listed as a regional player.
Does FocusMe have an API?
No public API is recorded for FocusMe.
What industry is FocusMe in?
FocusMe's product category is Productivity Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSADAJAH, Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities, with a secondary code of EDANADAB, Study Skills & Executive Function Coaching (Planning, Organization, Time Management). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.