FocusNow vs Rize
Both apps track your computer time automatically. Rize leans on AI to assign work to projects and adds blocking and team reporting, on a subscription. FocusNow keeps core tracking free, builds the day around focus sessions and leaves project choices to you.
FocusNow fits if
- You want automatic tracking and focus sessions without a subscription
- You'd rather decide yourself which records go to which client
- You want Pomodoro and Deep Work tied to tasks, with Focus Music
- You work alone and want timecards and work statements in the same app
Rize fits if
- You want AI to assign work sessions to clients and projects
- You need distraction blocking
- You want Google Calendar meetings attributed to projects
- You run a team or need an API, webhooks or Zapier
Side by side
| What you're deciding | FocusNow | Rize |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic app and site tracking | Yes, on macOS and Windows | Yes, on macOS and Windows |
| Getting time onto a project | You select tracked records and add them to a timecard, or run a timer | AI assigns sessions to clients or projects from window titles, URLs and learned patterns |
| Focus sessions | Pomodoro and Deep Work tied to tasks, 1 to 180 minutes | Session timer, planned sessions and AI break suggestions |
| Focus music | Five stations plus brown, pink and white noise | Included |
| Distraction blocking | Not available | Available |
| What the AI does | Summarizes a finished day with highlights and recommendations | Categorization, tagging, chat, insights and project assignment; automations and agents on Pro |
| What you hand a client | Work statements as PDF or CSV | Client and scheduled reports as PDF or CSV on Pro |
| Calendar | Your own tracked history; no external calendar sync | Google Calendar integration |
| Teams | Built for individuals | Team dashboards and team plans |
| Integrations | None | API, webhooks and Zapier on Pro; MCP server access |
| Platforms | macOS 12+ and Windows 10+ | macOS 10.14.6+ and Windows 10+ |
| Price | Core tracking free; timecards and billing free during early access | Basic $9.99, Pro $23.99, Max $39.99 per month billed annually; 7-day free trial |
- Automatic app and site tracking
FocusNowYes, on macOS and Windows
RizeYes, on macOS and Windows
- Getting time onto a project
FocusNowYou select tracked records and add them to a timecard, or run a timer
RizeAI assigns sessions to clients or projects from window titles, URLs and learned patterns
- Focus sessions
FocusNowPomodoro and Deep Work tied to tasks, 1 to 180 minutes
RizeSession timer, planned sessions and AI break suggestions
- Focus music
FocusNowFive stations plus brown, pink and white noise
RizeIncluded
- Distraction blocking
FocusNowNot available
RizeAvailable
- What the AI does
FocusNowSummarizes a finished day with highlights and recommendations
RizeCategorization, tagging, chat, insights and project assignment; automations and agents on Pro
- What you hand a client
FocusNowWork statements as PDF or CSV
RizeClient and scheduled reports as PDF or CSV on Pro
- Calendar
FocusNowYour own tracked history; no external calendar sync
RizeGoogle Calendar integration
- Teams
FocusNowBuilt for individuals
RizeTeam dashboards and team plans
- Integrations
FocusNowNone
RizeAPI, webhooks and Zapier on Pro; MCP server access
- Platforms
FocusNowmacOS 12+ and Windows 10+
RizemacOS 10.14.6+ and Windows 10+
- Price
FocusNowCore tracking free; timecards and billing free during early access
RizeBasic $9.99, Pro $23.99, Max $39.99 per month billed annually; 7-day free trial
Competitor details checked on September 26, 2026 against their official pages. Prices are list prices in USD before tax and can change.
What using FocusNow looks like
Your day is recorded in the background. You start focus sessions from tasks on the Focus page, and at the end of the week you review Activities or Calendar and add records to timecards. Every client hour is one you chose.
Two ways to get time onto a project
Rize lets AI decide which project a session belongs to, and you adjust from there. FocusNow keeps that step in your hands: you select the records, and the timecard carries them as evidence. If assigning time is the chore you most want gone, Rize is built for it. If you want every client hour to be a decision you made, FocusNow fits.
Focus tools
Both include a session timer and focus music. FocusNow centers the day on the Focus page, with Pomodoro and Deep Work sessions tied to tasks and time spent against estimates. Rize adds distraction blocking, which FocusNow doesn't have.
Price
Rize is a subscription with a 7-day trial. FocusNow's core tracking, focus sessions and Productivity views are free, and client tools are free during early access. We plan a paid Pro plan for client tools later and will share the terms before anything changes.
If you're thinking about switching
There's no import from Rize. FocusNow starts recording on the day you install it, so the simplest test is to run both for a week of real work. Export anything you need from Rize first, then keep the tool whose week you'd rather read.
Common questions
Is there a free version of Rize?
On September 26, 2026, Rize's pricing page listed a 7-day free trial with full access and paid plans from $9.99 a month billed annually. We didn't see a permanent free plan.
Can FocusNow block distracting sites like Rize?
No. FocusNow shows where your time went but doesn't block anything. If blocking matters most to you, Rize fits that need better.
Does FocusNow assign time to clients automatically?
No. You choose which tracked records go on a timecard and which project they belong to. Rize lists AI project assignment as a feature.
Start with today.
Install FocusNow, work as usual, and open it this evening to see your day.
Get FocusNow FreeMac and Windows. From download to tracking in under two minutes.
