App-solutely! Freedom vs. Flora: Which App Is Best for Improving ADHD Focus?
Comparing Focus Apps to Help You with ADHD Symptoms ⚡
Welcome to the second post of the ADHD & Me App-solutely review. Every other week, I will be reviewing and scoring new apps ability to alleviate ADHD symptoms, both for me and for you! Know anyone that will be interested in this content? Please share wider!
Review Criteria 🔍
User Interface: Is the app easy to navigate? Is the aesthetic simple, pleasing and not overwhelming? 🖥️
Effectiveness: How well does the app help in managing my ADHD, anxiety or depression symptoms? 🎯
Features: What features does the app offer? Are they unique or better than the other app? 📱
Value for money: What free or paid options are there? What is the difference and is it good value for the cost? 💰
TL;DR = Too Long, Didn’t Read
The amount of ⭐s I use to score apps is subjective. What works for me may not work for you!
The Why
For new subscribers, I am reviewing this as a 29 year old male ADHD-addled iPhone user, but it will be applicable to Android users too. The benefits for you? You’ll gain valuable insights into which apps could be your ally, and which ones you may want to pass on! Let’s dive in…
Last time out, we looked at Headspace and Calm, with no clear winner. Today, I want to hone in on the ADHD challenge of focus, something we’ve all struggled with from time to time. One of my biggest challenges is sticking to one task for an extended period of time - for example, I started cooking dinner yesterday, then answered a work email, then did some stretches, and finished it off by hoovering the living room. This sounds productive, but the problem is I only completed 20% of each task!
The What
Two apps I’m testing out to help me cook ALL of my dinner in one go are Freedom and Flora. So, which app should you download? Introducing…
Freedom.to 🚫📱
Freedom.to is your digital shield! 🛡️ This app helps you stay focused by blocking distracting websites and apps, so you can conquer tasks without temptations. It’s the ultimate productivity partner! 🚀
Flora App 🌿📱
Flora is your growth companion! 🌳🌻 Plant virtual trees as you focus, and watch your forest flourish, you can also wager cash against each focus session, which you lose if you fail. Stay on task and beat distractions with this delightful app. Your productivity will bloom! 🌼🌟
TL;DR Review (quick summary)
User Interface
Freedom: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flora: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Effectiveness
Freedom: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ + 1/2
Flora: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Features
Freedom: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Flora: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value for Money
Freedom: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flora: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐️⭐️
Overall
Freedom: 14.5/20 ⭐
Flora: 19/20 ⭐
Which app is best for my ADHD symptoms? ⚡
Focus when indoors: Flora
Focus when outdoors: Freedom
Avoiding distractions: Flora
Bonus scenarios ⭐
Writing a blog post: Flora
Educating self on how to use less social media: Freedom
Tidying up the house: Freedom
Getting a long form blog or paper done: Both
Deep Dive Review (for the details people)
User Interface
Freedom: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flora: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Freedom
Layout: Simple and easy navigation. Ability to start sessions as soon as you open
Customization: Basic with no customization options which can reduce motivation to use, although this is offset by the app effectively disabling your phone, so you won’t need to look at it anyway
Design: Lack of imagery and dynamic transitions between tabs can reduce stimulation for ADHDers
Flora
Layout: Simple UI and ability to start a session straight away
Customization: You can add an avatar and canvas background which creates a sense of personal connection to the app
Design: Nice color scheme and stimulating visuals of a tree growing the longer you stay in a focus session. The iconography and dynamic statistics that smoothly update are a key motivator for my ADHD brain
Effectiveness
Freedom: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ + 1/2
Flora: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Freedom
Staying Focused: Undoubtedly effective in session. When I started my session, I couldn’t access any of the apps I reflexively tried to open. I had to focus on something else by default. However, there are issues out of session, as it depends on the user being motivated enough to select the apps / internet they want to avoid. I selected ‘block all internet’ to ensure I don’t try cheat myself. It does not provide you with total time focused or progression stats in the free version, which I found to be a downside to carry on using it, as I thrive off reward mechanisms (keeps my ADHD 🧠 motivated).
Manage Time: Setting a time limit, as well as having future scheduling and recurring features allowed me to work within a set time frame at a regular frequency, so as to not hyper-focus or forget to go into a session. However, there’s too much freedom in time limits, as you can do up to 24 hours. Not feasible for an ADHDer / anyone!
Flora
Staying Focused: Flora kills a virtual tree if you close the app. Like Duolingo’s twisted cousin, you get a notification saying your tree has died, which is in itself quite stimulating/mortifying. However, when I assigned a £5 wager to a session, I didn’t leave the app in order to not lose my money (if you stay out the app too long, Flora get the cash - I was also able to get 200 words done in this blog😉). The paid versions are more effective because actual trees are planted when you reach a certain total amount of focus hours in the app. This is a powerful selling point and provided me with a feel good factor of saving the environment and being focused on the task! The easy access progression stats are a game-changer, as I require visual stimuli. Seeing achievements is useful before they get lost in brain fog.
Manage Time: There is more structure in setting time limits, allowing a max of 3 hours which is more than enough to focus on one thing (I can barely go 15 mins)!
Features
Freedom: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Flora: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Freedom
Basic: Freedom is lean with 3 core features; internet blocking sessions, soundscapes, and blog posts (you can access both in a session). The blog posts focus on a wide array of thought pieces and tips to improve productivity and reduce social media use. I found the list quite overwhelming, despite the content being useful e.g. ‘why can’t I stop watching YouTube?’ (at 2am)
Unique Features: Completely blocking apps is a unique selling point, which is made even more powerful by listening to 6 categories of focus sounds. I’m listening to Nature - Meadows as I’m writing this! You have options to schedule future sessions or set a recurring event (pay walled). These automations are useful for ADHDers who could easily forget to use this app daily.
Flora
Basic: Has basic hints & tips that are found in the ‘more’ section, which works better for me rather than a deluge of content. I get overwhelmed easily, and shorter form golden nuggets appeal to my ADHD desire for simplicity. For focusing, it still restricts you from looking at other things on your phone like Freedom, with some subtle differences… (below)
Unique Features: When you start a focus session, a virtual tree grows. If you fail to keep the app open, the tree dies 😟. There is a tiered paid subscription service where for every 8, 24, or 48 total focus hours achieved in the app (can be in separate sessions), a real tree is planted with the proceeds from paid subscriptions. Congrats! 🌳 If you come out of the app in a session, you get multiple warnings before your tree dies, and if you have put a £ wager on it, this will be deducted. The app notifying me was effective in making me re open so I didn’t ‘kill’ my tree.
I could still access certain apps when using Freedom, whereas Flora didn’t let you leave the app without your virtual tree dying, losing progress, or losing £ (optional). Flora has unique features in its friend collaboration, as you can invite friends to join your room when in a session, creating more accountability. There are also to-do lists you can add for the week, and stats that track your progress (which Freedom didn’t have readily available). You are able to pause in session as well for flexibility, although it subtracts from your total focus time, which means a tree will suffer. Brutal.
Value for Money
Freedom: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flora: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Freedom
Free: allows you access to most of its core functionality. Progression stats, unlimited sessions, and future or recurring internet blocking sessions are pay-walled.
Paid: To upgrade, it is £39.99 p/a or £3.30 p/m. Half a beer in London! 🍺 It’s cheaper than 2 of the Flora paid plans, but Flora’s unique features (to do lists, bitesize hints & tips, environmental impact) and cheaper basic paid option make this less value for money for me.
Flora
Free: The version allows for unlimited use, albeit the effectiveness in increasing focus is increased by subscribing to the paid version.
Paid: All subscriptions tie you to a reward system that donates revenue to grow a real tree. When you reach a certain number of hours in the apps focus session, you get notified. The tiers are; £1.99 basic (24 hours total in focus sessions = a real tree being planted 🌲), £3.99 standard (16 hours), £11.99 premium (8 hours). The basic price is under half a beer! 🍻 Flora’s cheap price combined with less distraction, improved focus, and helping the environment sets this apart from Freedom.
Overall
Freedom: 14.5/20 ⭐
Flora: 19/20 ⭐
I opt for Flora at home, given the unique blend of growing real trees, visuals, to do lists, friend collaboration, and progression stats. However, I’d use Freedom if I was out and about and needed to lock my phone, as Flora does not allow you to close your phone without being a virtual tree killer. 👇
They are both useful in different situations. 🙂
Which app is best for ADHD symptoms? ⚡
Focus indoors: Flora (the £ wagers and subscriptions are a game changer in motivation)
Focus outdoors: Freedom (can lock my phone without ‘losing’)
Avoiding distractions: Flora (no chance of using your phone for anything else)
Bonus scenarios ⭐
Writing a blog post: Flora (cannot leave the app without killing the planet)
Educating self on how to use less social media: Freedom (more in depth content library)
Tidying up the house: Freedom (I need to be able to come out of the app to listen to music!)
Getting a long form blog or paper done: Both (no room for distraction with Flora, but sometimes I need focus music which Freedom allows you)
And that brings us to the end. Have you had a different experience? Anything I’ve missed? What apps / criteria do you want me to review next time? Do you want me to do something differently? Leave a comment or reply via email!
Stay tuned for the next App-solutely! review in October! 📆
*Disclaimer: this review is based on my own personal experience as someone who has had ADHD, anxiety & depression for 15 years. Please make your own judgement on how well these apps work for you, as I am not a professional, but a 29 year-old man who wants to make sense of his muddled mind!*
I think this was one of the most interesting things I never knew I wanted to read lol.
Are these apps specifically for ADHD or are they just focus/productivity apps in general?
After reading your comparison I think Flora appeals more to me. The gamification of it, such as killing a virtual tree or the ability to wager actual money, is kind of cool. It's a new level of accountability.