The short version
Focus To-Do is pomodoro timer fused with a full gtd-style task manager. NGUMU: Screen Time Control is a browser extension that combines work-break timers, intelligent website blocking, enforced full-screen breaks and local productivity analytics in a single popup.
They overlap less than the category labels suggest. Focus To-Do is a cross-platform task manager + pomodoro timer; NGUMU is an enforcement layer for the browser where most knowledge work — and most procrastination — actually happens.
NGUMU vs Focus To-Do at a glance
| NGUMU: Screen Time Control | Focus To-Do | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser focus & screen-time extension | Cross-platform task manager + Pomodoro timer |
| Platforms | Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome extension |
| Work-break cycles | Pomodoro, 52-17, 90-20, 20-20-20, custom | Pomodoro with per-task tracking |
| Website blocking | Blacklist, whitelist, curated presets, active only during focus | Limited (white noise, app reminders) |
| Break enforcement | Full-screen overlay + pre-break blink warning | Timed break prompts |
| Tab management | Limits distracting tabs during a session | Not a focus |
| Analytics | Focus minutes, sessions, daily/weekly goals, streaks | Detailed per-project and per-task time reports |
| Data handling | Local storage, no personal data collected, no account | Cloud sync across devices |
| Price | Free to install, optional Pro | Free tier; Premium unlock |
Where Focus To-Do is genuinely good
- Time tracking attached to individual tasks and projects
- Genuinely cross-device: desktop, mobile and browser
- Rich reporting if you bill or audit your time
We're not interested in strawmen. If the list above describes your bottleneck, Focus To-Do is a good purchase and you should make it.
Where Focus To-Do leaves a gap
- Task-manager weight when all you wanted was to stop opening Twitter
- Website blocking is not its job, so the web stays wide open
- Break time is tracked, not protected
The pattern behind all of these: a tool that lives outside the browser can advise, measure or motivate, but it cannot close the tab. The moment attention wobbles, the distracting site is one keystroke away.
Where NGUMU is stronger
1. Blocking that only runs when you're working
NGUMU enforces blocklists while a focus session is active and steps out of the way the rest of the day. Curated presets cover social media, video streaming and news, so setup is seconds rather than an afternoon of regex.
2. A rhythm, not just a restriction
Blocking removes the bad option; it doesn't create the good one. Pomodoro (25/5), 52-17, 90-20, 20-20-20 or a custom cycle give the session a shape and a finish line. See the full feature list for every cycle.
3. Breaks you actually take
A full-screen overlay makes returning early deliberately awkward, and a pre-break "blink warning" prompts you to rest your eyes before the screen changes — the part almost every competitor skips.
4. Honest numbers, kept local
Focus minutes, session counts, goal progress and streaks live in the NGUMU dashboard and stay in your browser's local storage. No account, no upload, no personal data collected. You can export everything to JSON or CSV whenever you like.
5. Free where it counts
Core timers, blocking, break overlays and analytics are free. Pro adds extended analytics and advanced blocking for people who want them — it isn't a paywall around the basics.
Choose Focus To-Do if…
- You want one app for projects, tasks and time reporting
- You track billable hours across devices
Choose NGUMU if…
- Your work already lives in a browser and that's where focus breaks down
- You want setup measured in seconds, not a project hierarchy
Can you use both?
Yes, and plenty of people should. Plan and log the work in Focus To-Do; run the actual focus block in NGUMU so the tabs stay shut.
Switching from Focus To-Do to NGUMU in five minutes
- Install NGUMU from the Chrome Web Store, Edge Add-ons or in Brave.
- Open the popup and pick a cycle — start with 25/5 if you're unsure.
- Apply a curated blocklist preset, then add any site that personally derails you.
- Run one session end to end, including the break. Don't skip the break.
- Check the dashboard after three days and adjust the cycle to what the data shows.
Frequently asked questions
Is NGUMU free?
Yes. Installing NGUMU and using its timers, blocking, break overlays and analytics costs nothing. An optional Pro upgrade adds deeper analytics, extended timer options and more granular blocking.
Does NGUMU work on Windows?
NGUMU runs on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Brave. Any Chromium browser that can install from the Chrome Web Store will work.
Does NGUMU collect my data?
No personal data is collected. Session history, streaks and settings are stored locally in your browser, and you can export or delete them at any time.
Is Focus To-Do better than NGUMU?
For its own job — pomodoro timer fused with a full gtd-style task manager — Focus To-Do is strong. For running disciplined work-break cycles with enforced blocking and rest inside the browser, NGUMU does more, on more browsers, for free.
Can I keep my Focus To-Do subscription and still use NGUMU?
Yes. NGUMU doesn't conflict with other timers, trackers or blockers. Many people pair them exactly as described above.