The best alternative to FocusMe is Hyud

Introduction

Hyud and FocusMe are both productivity apps designed to help users stay focused by blocking distractions. Each comes with its own set of features and target audiences. Hyud is a macOS application that not only blocks websites/apps but also helps with healthy work habits (posture and breaks). FocusMe is a tool available across multiple platforms, primarily known for its extensive focus-blocking and scheduling capabilities. In this comparison, we'll examine how they stack up in key areas, from features and pricing to platform support, to help Mac professionals decide which suits their needs better.

Features Comparison

Website & App Blocking

Both Hyud and FocusMe allow you to block distracting websites and applications. Hyud lets you configure lists of websites or pick from predefined categories to block. Hyud blocks websites and applications both at the application level and system level. It means that even when the app is killed or closed, the blocking stay effective. Once a focus session is started you cannot access those sites/apps until the session ends, even if you force quit the application. This system level blocking means users can't easily cheat the block. FocusMe likewise enables blocking of any website or application and will detect and automatically shut them down if you try to access one on your block list. However, FocusMe's blocking works at the software level (it usually requires the app to be running).

Focus Sessions & Scheduling

Hyud is built around the concept of deep work sessions. You can configure a work session with a fixed duration and settings (e.g. block social media sites, enable posture monitoring, etc.), and optionally include a break at the end. This approach is straightforward: you start a session and Hyud keeps you distraction-free until time is up. FocusMe, on the other hand, allows creation of multiple focus plans that can activate on schedules you define (specific times of day or days of the week). For example, you could block news sites every morning and allow them in the evening, or set a plan that runs during work hours on weekdays only. In essence, FocusMe acts like a calendar for your productivity, with an automatic scheduler to enforce focus periods around your optimal work times. Both applications also include a form of the Pomodoro technique: FocusMe has a built-in Pomodoro timer you can customize for work/break intervals, and Hyud similarly encourages working in cycles by ending sessions with a break period. The difference is that FocusMe gives you control to set multiple complex schedules and even time limits on usage (e.g. "at most 1 hour of YouTube per day" or "only 2 launches of game X per day"), whereas Hyud focuses on a simpler session-based routine that's easy to start and manage on the fly.

Break Reminders & Wellness Features

One area where Hyud really stands out is its emphasis on healthy work habits. Hyud not only reminds you to take breaks, it can enforce them. At the end of a focus session (or at set intervals), it can trigger a break and even take over your screen to ensure you step away from work. Uniquely, Hyud offers break modes like AFK mode (the break timer won't count down until the camera sees you've actually left your desk), Eye Reliever (your screen goes dark for a few minutes so you rest your eyes), and Exercise mode (it locks the screen and prompts you to do brief exercises or stretches). These guided breaks help prevent the common problem of skipping or "fake" breaks. FocusMe's approach to breaks is more basic. You can schedule in break times or use Pomodoro cycles to include breaks, but FocusMe doesn't actively verify that you're resting. It's up to the user to step away during a FocusMe break period. Additionally, Hyud can even enforce digital curfews by automatically shutting down your Mac at specified times, a drastic but effective way to make sure you disconnect after work hours. FocusMe can similarly block usage at night or outside set hours (for instance, you could schedule a plan that blocks all apps and sites at midnight), but it doesn't shut down the system, it just blocks software access. For a professional concerned with burnout or eye strain, Hyud's break features provide a more hands-on solution to staying fresh and healthy.

Posture Monitoring

A major differentiator in Hyud's feature set is posture monitoring. Using your Mac's camera, Hyud can detect when you start slouching or sitting in a poor posture. Depending on the mode, it will either alert you to straighten up or even lock your screen until you correct your posture. This helps you build awareness of your posture and reduce back/neck pain over time. That's an invaluable benefit for those of us who sit at a desk for long hours. You can run the posture monitor during focus sessions or even as a standalone feature throughout your day. FocusMe does not have any posture or ergonomic monitoring features. It's purely focused on digital distractions. So, if maintaining good posture and overall health while working is a priority, Hyud offers an integrated solution that goes beyond what typical focus apps (including FocusMe) do.

Time Tracking and Productivity Insights

FocusMe keeps statistics on how you spend your time on the computer. For example, how many hours you spent on work applications vs. social media or other distractions. It can presents these in charts and reports. This can be very useful for identifying productivity killers and tracking improvement. FocusMe's activity logs and graphs can show, for instance, that you spent 3 hours on Reddit this week, prompting you to adjust your blocking plan. Hyud currently does not emphasize detailed time analytics in its feature list. Its philosophy is more about enforcing good habits in real time (blocking, breaks, posture) rather than logging and analyzing past activity. So, if you want a tool that not only blocks distractions but also gives you reports on your digital behavior, FocusMe has the edge in that department.

Customization & Advanced Settings

With FocusMe, you can fine-tune a lot of thing: block or allow specific subdomains or pages, set daily quotas for certain apps, create complex schedules, require a randomly generated password to quit a plan (to discourage giving up impulsively), and more. It even has multi-tier protection settings, from gentle reminders up to an option where you cannot alter a plan once it starts. This makes FocusMe powerful for users with serious self-control issues or very specific needs. The flip side is that it can be overwhelming for a new user to configure all these options optimally. Hyud takes a more streamlined approach: its settings cover the essentials without delving into too many niche options. You can block selected websites/apps (or all websites with one click), schedule sessions, and toggle the health features, but you won't be micromanaging dozens of parameters. This makes Hyud very easy to set up (you get started focusing quickly) and its defaults are sensible for most people. In short, FocusMe is great for power users who need that level of control, whereas Hyud is a sleek, focused tool that combines the most important features in a user-friendly way. Many professionals may prefer Hyud's "less is more" philosophy, since it reduces the time spent configuring and maintaining the app itself.

Pricing Comparison

Hyud

Hyud is sold as a one-time purchase software but also has a subscription for those who don't want to buy a license. The lifetime license costs $99, much cheaper than FocusMe, which includes all future updates for life. This is quite appealing for long-term use, as you make a single investment. If you have multiple Macs, you would need additional licenses as Hyud's license is per device. Hyud provides a free trial as well, so you can test it out before buying. Overall, for a professional using Hyud on a single Mac, $99 is a reasonable one-time cost that could easily pay for itself in saved time if the app boosts your productivity. The $9 subscription allows to use Hyud on multiple Macs. Hyud comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

FocusMe

FocusMe uses a subscription-based model (with an optional lifetime purchase) and is more expensive than Hyud. An annual plan is $120 per year, or you can pay monthly at $12.95 per month. They also offer a 2-year plan and a at $166 and a lifetime license at $359. FocusMe comes with a 14-day free trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee. In terms of long-term cost, if you only work on one Mac and don't need the cross-device usage, FocusMe's $120/year already overtakes the cost of Hyud's lifetime license. The lifetime FocusMe option at $359 is more than three times the price of Hyud's lifetime license, which is worth considering if budget is a major factor. In summary, Hyud is a better deal for single-Mac users who prefer a one-time purchase, while FocusMe's pricing can be worthwhile for those needing its cross-platform support or who don't mind a subscription model.

Platform Compatibility

Hyud

The Hyud application is exclusive to macOS for now. It's built for Mac and takes advantage of Mac-specific capabilities (for example, using the Mac's camera for posture detection and employing macOS's system-level blocking frameworks). Currently, there is no Windows or Linux version, and no mobile version of Hyud. An effort to port Hyud to Windows and iOS have started but no release date has been communicated yet. If your entire workflow is on a Mac, this single-platform focus can be a plus.

FocusMe

FocusMe is cross-platform. It supports macOS, Windows, and Linux for desktop, and also has an Android app. You can sync your focus plans across devices, for example, the websites you block on your Mac can automatically be blocked on your Windows PC as well. This is useful if you regularly work across multiple machines or want to enforce distraction-free time on both your computer and your Android phone. One notable omission is iOS: FocusMe does not have an iPhone/iPad version (due to Apple's restrictions, as they explain). They suggest using Apple's built-in tools for iOS, which is a workaround. For a team or household with different devices, FocusMe's broad compatibility is a strong advantage. But if you're firmly in the Mac camp (and perhaps using an iPhone, which FocusMe doesn't directly support), the cross-platform aspect might not matter much. In that case, both apps are on equal footing for your macOS device, and Hyud's Mac-centric design might actually feel more at home on your system.

User Experience and Interface

Hyud

As a modern app created specifically for Mac, Hyud offers a clean, macOS-native interface that feels current. The design is polished and minimal. For instance, Hyud features a Dynamic Island style timer for Mac (on supported models) to subtly show your remaining session time, which is an innovative touch borrowed from Apple's design language. The focus is on being an "elegant" solution. Because Hyud bundles a lot of functions (focus, breaks, posture) in one, you don't have to juggle multiple tools, and yet the interface keeps these features organized and accessible. In short, the user experience is straightforward: even if you're not tech-savvy, you can quickly configure Hyud and let it run in the background improving your work habits.

FocusMe

FocusMe's interface is more utilitarian. It gets the job done, but it may not win any design awards on macOS. The UI is largely the same across Windows/Mac, which means it doesn't fully adopt Mac-specific design conventions. There is a bit of a learning curve to navigate all the options in FocusMe. For example, creating and managing multiple plans with different rules can feel like setting up a complex workflow (because, in fairness, you can do a lot with it). That said, the software has improved over the years and is reasonably user-friendly considering its complexity. It has tooltips and an online documentation to help new users get started. But compared to Hyud, FocusMe might feel "older" or more complicated to a first-time user. Think of it as a highly configurable dashboard versus Hyud's more simplified, modern control panel. Professionals who enjoy fine-tuning settings might not mind FocusMe's interface at all, whereas those who prefer a minimalistic, Mac-like experience could gravitate towards Hyud.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Both Hyud and FocusMe are effective at what they set out to do: keep you focused by blocking out digital distractions. The best choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and work habits, but given that our context is professional users working on macOS, Hyud comes out as the more tailored and modern solution in many cases.

FocusMe is an app with a decade of refinements, and it's ideal if you need its extreme flexibility or cross-platform support. If you frequently switch between a Mac at work, a Windows PC at home, and an Android phone, and you want all of them synced and protected by distraction-blocking plans, FocusMe offers that unified solution. It also provides in-depth features like time usage reports and highly customizable rules that certain users (for example, those with serious procrastination issues or very specific scheduling needs) will appreciate. For such scenarios, FocusMe is worth a look. It's like the all-inclusive toolkit for productivity, with a subscription cost that covers multiple devices.

However, if you primarily use a Mac for your work, Hyud leverages that platform to give you a smoother, more integrated experience. In everyday use, Hyud feels like a part of the macOS environment, which means it's easy to trust it running in the background managing your focus and health habits without fuss. The addition of posture monitoring and enforced break routines addresses aspects of productivity that most software tools overlook, and this can be a game-changer for professionals who want to not only get more work done but also avoid burnout and physical strain. Essentially, Hyud combines the core productivity benefits (website/app blocking, focus sessions) with wellness features (posture alerts, exercise breaks) in one app, which saves you from having to use multiple separate apps or methods to achieve the same results.

In terms of value, Hyud's one-time pricing is very appealing for individuals. You pay once and own the tool, which in the long run is economical compared to recurring subscriptions. Many professionals prefer this model, as it aligns with the "buy it and forget it" simplicity. FocusMe's subscription is still reasonably priced, but over a few years a dedicated Mac user will likely have spent more on FocusMe than the cost of Hyud.

Recommendation: For Mac users seeking a focused work routine and a healthier workday, we recommend Hyud as the top choice. It's straightforward, encompassing (with its blend of focus and health features), and designed with the modern macOS user in mind. Hyud will actively help you work better and take care of yourself (by preventing those sneaky Reddit detours and reminding you to stretch out when needed). FocusMe is a good alternative if you require its special capabilities, for example, if you absolutely need to track your time statistics, or if you work across different operating systems. But if those aren't deal-breakers, Hyud's user experience and unique features give it an edge as the more innovative and professional-focused solution in 2025. Ultimately, both can do the core job of blocking distractions well. Hyud does it in a more modern and Mac-friendly way.