Become the person
who ships
You know you're procrastinating. Willpower isn't enough. Refocus coaches you through distraction with personalized voice nudges so you can stop scrolling and start building.
macOS 12+ required · Apple Silicon & Intel supported
You already know the problem
You open Twitter for "just a sec" and emerge 45 minutes later, proposal untouched.
to regain focus after each distraction
average attention span on screens
more drifts in afternoon sessions
Social media uses slot machine mechanics to hijack your dopamine system. You're not weak. You're fighting an unfair fight.
Blocking apps triggers reactance—that "why are you forbidding me?" feeling. Refocus takes a different approach: voice coaching that nudges you back instead of walls that lock you out.
How it works
Not another blocking app. A voice coach that learns what motivates you.
Passive Monitoring
Refocus runs quietly in your menu bar, tracking which app is active. Set your session goal and classify apps as productive, neutral, or distracting. Zero input required—it just observes.
Progressive Voice Intervention
When you drift to a distraction, Refocus escalates through three stages. First, a gentle voice nudge personalized to your goal. Then a slightly more urgent reminder. Finally, a guided breathing exercise to reset your focus.
Adaptive Learning
The app learns what works for you. If gentle reminders stop helping, it tries direct or humorous approaches. Your identity goals power the nudges: "You said you want to ship projects. Your proposal is waiting."
Three intensity presets: Gentle (3min/5min/5min) · Standard (1min/2min/2min) · Strict (30s/1min/1min)
Why this is different
Forest sells guilt. Freedom sells walls. Refocus sells transformation.
Voice Coaching, Not Notifications
Each nudge is AI-generated based on your context: current app, window title, session goal, and your identity. Delivered via natural text-to-speech for hands-free, ambient coaching.
Identity-Based Motivation
During onboarding, you define who you want to become. "I want to be someone who ships projects." Every nudge references this identity—research shows identity goals are 3x more resilient than outcome goals.
Learns What Works For You
Thompson Sampling optimizes which tone and approach lands. Five tones (gentle, questioning, empathetic, direct, humor) × four approaches (reminder, reflection, implementation intention, stakes). If gentle stops working, it adapts.
Progressive Escalation
Unlike apps that block immediately, Refocus gives you chances to self-correct. Voice nudge → second nudge → breathing exercise. You stay in control.
Built for knowledge workers
Not for people who don't know they have a problem. Not for those who want hard blocking. For the self-aware who need a helping hand.
- You do creative or deep work—coding, design, writing, analysis
- You're self-aware enough to admit you have a focus problem
- You feel a gap between who you are and who you want to be
- You work remote or solo and need external accountability
- You've tried willpower. It's not enough.
"I want to be someone who finishes what they start."
— The first thing Refocus asks you
From beta users
Real feedback from people rebuilding their focus.
"I thought I had ADHD. Turns out I just fucked my dopamine with endless scrolling. Refocus helped me rebuild actual focus."
"The voice nudges feel like a friend checking in, not a cop blocking me. That's the difference that made it stick."
"I've tried Forest, Freedom, One Sec—none of them worked because they made me feel controlled. Refocus coaches me instead."
Everything you need
Built for deep work, designed to stay out of your way.
Focus Metrics
Daily focus time, drift count, context switches, and streaks. See your patterns at a glance.
Smart App Classification
Mark apps as productive, neutral, or distracting. AI suggests categories for new apps automatically.
Breathing Exercises
When voice nudges don't work, a guided breathing overlay provides a mindful reset before you return to work.
Privacy First
All data stays on your Mac. No accounts, no cloud sync, no tracking. Window titles are processed locally.
Lightweight
Native macOS app built with Rust + Tauri. Minimal CPU and memory—you won't notice it running.
Browser Extension
Track distraction in browser tabs. Knows when you're on YouTube vs YouTube Music, Twitter vs TweetDeck.
Simple pricing
Currently free while in beta. No credit card required.
Get full access to all features while we're in beta. Help shape the future of Refocus.
- Unlimited focus sessions
- All nudge intensity levels
- AI-powered app classification
- Focus metrics & analytics
- Browser extension included
- Local-only, privacy-first
No signup required · Download and start focusing