AI focus apps for Mac, compared
Several Mac apps now use AI to tell work from distraction, including Meoz, Fomi, Focen, iPromise, Attention and FocusNod. They differ most on price (subscription or one-time), on what they read (your screen, or just window titles), and on setup (built-in AI or your own API key). The table compares them.
Last updated 25 September 2026
| App | Price | AI setup | What it reads | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FocusNod | $19 once (1 Mac), $29 (2 Macs); $13 founder price before launch | Built in, no key | App name and window title; never screen content | Mac (macOS 14+); launching October 2026 |
| Meoz | Free with your own AI key; Pro $5/mo or $40/yr | Your own key on the free plan; built in with Pro | Current tab or app; says “zero screen capture” | Mac (macOS 14+) |
| Fomi | $2.99/week, $7.99/mo or $69.99/yr | Built in | On-screen context; says screen content isn’t stored | Mac (macOS 14+) |
| Focen | $19.99/mo or $149.99/yr | Built in (Google Gemini) | Domain, URL path and page title; never page content | Mac, Windows, iPhone |
| iPromise | $14.99/yr after a 14-day trial | Your own key (OpenAI, OpenRouter, or local models) | Screenshots, sent to the AI provider you choose | Mac (macOS 14.2+) |
| Attention | Not published | Built in, as far as the site shows | “On-screen activity” (not specified further) | Mac (macOS 13+) |
Where the others win
- Meoz: a commitment lock: no pausing or changing settings until midnight.
- Fomi: session reports on your distraction patterns.
- Focen: one subscription across Mac, Windows and iPhone.
- iPromise: cheap, and can run fully on your Mac with a local model.
- Attention: learns your exceptions, such as a site you use for work.
How to choose
- You don’t want another subscription: FocusNod is $19 once. iPromise is the cheapest subscription, but needs your own AI key.
- You won’t let an app see your screen: FocusNod reads window titles, Focen reads addresses and titles, and Meoz says it does no screen capture. Fomi and iPromise work from your screen.
- You want to be locked in, not asked: Meoz has a commitment lock and Attention blocks when you drift. FocusNod only asks.
- You also use Windows or an iPhone: Focen covers all three. The rest are Mac only.
How we checked
Every price, platform and data claim comes from the app’s own site or Mac App Store listing, checked on 25 September 2026; each name in the table links to the page we used. Where a vendor doesn’t say (Attention’s price, for one), we say so rather than guess. Found something out of date? Email [email protected] and we’ll fix it.
Launching October 2026
Try the nudge instead of the wall.
FocusNod reads window titles, never your screen, and costs $19 once. Reserve a founder license for $13 (refundable until launch), or get one email when it’s ready.