To say that we’ve covered a few Pomorodo timers over the years would be a dramatic understatement, but some of the ideas are flexible enough to be implemented in a variety of ways. Productivity is flexible, after all, and what works for one person may not work for everyone.

With that in mind, here’s another Pomodoro timer: Pure Focus, a Mac app that pauses Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube when it’s time for a break. The app, created by indie developer Julian Lacroix, offers a free version that can pause your music when your timer runs out, which is what most people want. The paid version, which costs $1 per month or $15 as a one-time purchase, adds a floating window with your timer, the ability to automatically switch between breaks and work sessions, and a hotkey for starting sessions.

I tested the app with Spotify and it worked as expected, starting my current playlist or music when the session starts and pausing when the time is up. There is also an optional "meditation" sound that plays when your work starts, which I like.

Do you prefer YouTube for your focus sounds? This application also supports using any YouTube video as a “moment”. The idea here seems to be to use certain music compilations found on the video site for background music, all without having to keep a browser window open. The video itself is largely hidden, visible only as a small thumbnail when you open the menu bar icon.