The short version
Pomofocus is a clean, browser-based pomodoro timer with a task list. 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. Pomofocus is a web-based pomodoro timer; NGUMU is an enforcement layer for the browser where most knowledge work — and most procrastination — actually happens.
NGUMU vs Pomofocus at a glance
| NGUMU: Screen Time Control | Pomofocus | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser focus & screen-time extension | Web-based Pomodoro timer |
| Platforms | Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave | Any browser (web app) |
| Work-break cycles | Pomodoro, 52-17, 90-20, 20-20-20, custom | Pomodoro 25/5 with configurable lengths |
| Website blocking | Blacklist, whitelist, curated presets, active only during focus | None |
| Break enforcement | Full-screen overlay + pre-break blink warning | Audible/visual prompt in the tab |
| Tab management | Limits distracting tabs during a session | Not a focus |
| Analytics | Focus minutes, sessions, daily/weekly goals, streaks | Daily/weekly report (Premium) |
| Data handling | Local storage, no personal data collected, no account | Account-based sync for saved data |
| Price | Free to install, optional Pro | Free; Premium subscription for reports and integrations |
Where Pomofocus is genuinely good
- Beautiful, distraction-free timer UI that needs no install
- Task list with estimated pomodoros per task
- Works on any device with a browser, including phones
We're not interested in strawmen. If the list above describes your bottleneck, Pomofocus is a good purchase and you should make it.
Where Pomofocus leaves a gap
- Zero blocking — nothing stops you opening a new tab mid-session
- The timer lives in a tab you have to keep open and remember to look at
- Breaks are a suggestion, not an enforced pause
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 Pomofocus if…
- You only need a timer and already have iron discipline about tabs
- You want the same timer on your phone and your laptop
Choose NGUMU if…
- Your distraction problem is the browser itself, not a missing clock
- You want the timer, the blocking and the break enforcement in one place
- You'd rather keep session data on your own machine than in an account
Can you use both?
Yes, and plenty of people should. If you love the Pomofocus interface, keep it — and let NGUMU handle blocking and break overlays underneath it.
Switching from Pomofocus 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 Any browser (web app)?
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 Pomofocus better than NGUMU?
For its own job — a clean, browser-based pomodoro timer with a task list — Pomofocus 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 Pomofocus subscription and still use NGUMU?
Yes. NGUMU doesn't conflict with other timers, trackers or blockers. Many people pair them exactly as described above.