Software Alternatives & Startups

Standard Notes VS FocusMe

Compare Standard Notes VS FocusMe and see what are their differences

Standard Notes

A safe place for your notes, thoughts, and life's work

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
FocusMe

The website blocker you can't cheat, on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.

Rating
5.0 · 4 reviews
Pricing
Paid Free trial $17.95 / Monthly ($17.95 a month, $119.40 a year or $449 once; 14-day free trial)
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Standard Notes seems to be a lot more popular than FocusMe. While we know about 131 links to Standard Notes, we've tracked only 11 mentions of FocusMe.

social mentions
131 vs 11
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Standard Notes
FocusMe
Website standardnotes.com focusme.com
Pricing
Open source Official pricing
Paid Free trial $17.95 / Monthly ($17.95 a month, $119.40 a year or $449 once; 14-day free trial) Official pricing
Company Startup from the United States Startup from the United Kingdom · 50 - 99 employees
Listed in

About Standard Notes and FocusMe

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Standard Notes
FocusMe

No description of Standard Notes yet.

FocusMe is a website and app blocker for Windows, Mac and Linux, with Android and iPhone apps that sync to it. Build plans that block sites and apps on a schedule, cap the time you spend on them each day, or start a focus session whenever you need one. Enforced Mode stops you switching a block...

Read more about FocusMe

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Standard Notes 4 features
FocusMe 5 features
  • End-to-End Encryption
    Standard Notes ensures that all your data is encrypted before it leaves your device. This means only you have access to your notes, offering a high level of security and privacy.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Standard Notes is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. This ensures that you can access your notes from virtually any device.
  • Open Source
    The source code for Standard Notes is publicly available, which means it can be audited by anyone for security and reliability. This transparency builds trust within the community.
  • Extended Features via Subscription
    While the basic version is free, subscribing to Standard Notes unlocks extended features such as editors, encrypted file storage, and automatic backups.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of Standard Notes is quite basic, offering only plain text notes. Advanced features like rich text editors, themes, and file attachments require a subscription.
  • Subscription Costs
    To access the extended features, users need to commit to a subscription plan, which may not be affordable or worthwhile for everyone.
  • Advanced Configuration Required
    While the app is designed to be simple, making full use of its advanced features can require a bit of a learning curve, especially for users who aren't tech-savvy.
  • Limited Built-In Collaboration Features
    Unlike some other note-taking apps, Standard Notes does not support real-time collaboration or sharing, which can be a downside for users looking to collaborate easily with others.
  • Enforced Mode
    the strongest bypass protection of any website blocker
  • Flexible Scheduling
    Users can schedule focused work sessions and breaks with advanced customization options, which helps in maintaining a balanced work routine.
  • Pomodoro Time
    built-in work/break cycles with floating timer window
  • User Metrics and Reports
    FocusMe provides detailed reports and statistics on user activity, helping users to analyze and improve their productivity patterns.
  • Strong Security
    The software includes features like forced mode and password protection to prevent users from bypassing restrictions easily.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Standard Notes
FocusMe

No analysis of Standard Notes yet.

Overall verdict

  • FocusMe is generally considered a good tool for those who need assistance with self-discipline and concentration. Its comprehensive feature set and flexible options make it a strong contender in the productivity software market.

Why this product is good

  • FocusMe is designed to enhance productivity by blocking distracting websites and apps, helping users maintain focus on their tasks. It offers features like scheduling, time tracking, and breaks management, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals struggling with maintaining concentration in the digital age.

Recommended for

  • Students looking to minimize online distractions while studying.
  • Remote workers needing to enhance their focus during work hours.
  • Individuals seeking to manage their screen time effectively.
  • Professionals aiming to increase productivity by structuring their work time.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Standard Notes 2 videos + Add
FocusMe 2 videos + Add

Standard Notes: Full Review, Pricing & Thoughts

More videos

  • - Standard Notes: Premium Review

Focusme Review

More videos

  • - Hands On Review of the Distraction-Blocking Software FocusMe

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Standard Notes
FocusMe
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Standard Notes and FocusMe. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Standard Notes no reviews yet
FocusMe 5.0 · 4 reviews

View more

  • Started using FocusMe six years ago. I rely on it heavily.
    SaaSHub review
    · Apr 2023

    I have been using FocusMe software on all my PCs and phones for over six years. I have a paid license. I would really like to commend the developers of FocusMe. As someone who spends more than 8 hours a day at a...

  • The Best Application for Managing Digital Distractions
    SaaSHub review
    · Mar 2023

    Wow! Where should I start? I've been constantly searching in these two years for finding a complete solution that could really help me manage my digital distractions and focus on my daily life routines, most...

  • FocusMe review
    SaaSHub review
    · Jan 2023

    It just all works properly unlike other softwares. I am very happy because if I have minor troubles, customer support is there the same day to help me fix it. A lot of good locking systems that so far I haven't been...

View more

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Standard Notes 131 mentions
FocusMe 11 mentions

View more

  • WFH Developers how do you fight major procrastination?
    I would probably be homeless if it wasn't for FocusMe. I use it to block all sites except sites I need for work. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Build/compile/package restore times KILL my productivity
    It's called FocusMe (https://focusme.com/). I came across some years ago when it was still a simple little app. You had to manually set it to block a site and enter in a time period. I had my daily working schedule that I use now set... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Software for permanent blocking websites
    How about Forest - https://www.forestapp.cc/ or FocusMe - https://focusme.com/. Source: almost 4 years ago

View more

Alternatives to Standard Notes and FocusMe

When comparing Standard Notes and FocusMe, you can also consider the following products.

  • Joplin

    Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

    Compare Joplin to Standard Notes or FocusMe:

  • Cold Turkey

    Cold Turkey is a free productivity program that you can use to temporarily block distractions so that you can get your work done!

    Compare Cold Turkey to Standard Notes or FocusMe:

  • Evernote

    Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

    Compare Evernote to Standard Notes or FocusMe:

  • Freedom.to

    Freedom is a productivity hack that lets you block apps, websites or the entire Internet on iPhones, iPads, Windows and Mac computers.

    Compare Freedom.to to Standard Notes or FocusMe:

  • OneNote

    Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.

    Compare OneNote to Standard Notes or FocusMe:

  • SelfControl

    V2 updates! - Custom time interval for distraction free mode - Ability to turn off ' always on' mode - Improved UI -- Self Control -- A simple app to keep you focused online by blocking sites that you spend way too much time on.

    Compare SelfControl to Standard Notes or FocusMe: