Short answer: Goblin Tools is the better choice if you just need one stuck task broken into steps: it is free on the web, needs no account and takes seconds. FOCO is for when you have the steps but still can’t begin, with time per step, a focus timer and a companion, with a 7-day free trial on the yearly plan.
- Pick Goblin Tools if you want a free breakdown right now with zero setup, on any browser.
- Pick Goblin Tools if you also want its other helpers, like rewriting the tone of an email.
- Pick FOCO if lists have never been the problem and starting step one is, and you want a calendar to hold the task.
How do FOCO and Goblin Tools compare at a glance?
Both start at the same moment, a task that feels too big to begin. Here is the side-by-side, with prices and ratings checked on October 9, 2026.
| Checked Oct 9, 2026 |  Goblin ToolsFree on the web |  FOCO$9/mo or $59/yr |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A fast breakdown of one stuck task | Getting from the steps to actually starting |
| Free version | Yes Full website, no account needed | No Paid (7-day trial on yearly) |
| Paid | Mobile apps: one-time purchase ($1.99 on the US App Store). Optional Pro for advanced features | $9 a month or $59 a year |
| Free trial | Not needed, the web version is free | 7 days, yearly plan only |
| AI task breakdown | Yes Magic ToDo, adjustable step size | Yes With a time estimate per step |
| Focus timer | No Taskmaster keeps one task on screen | Yes Calm music and an on-screen companion |
| Calendar and reminders | No | Yes Morning, afternoon, anytime |
| Other tools | Yes 9 tools, including Formalizer and Judge | Voice capture, photo of a handwritten list |
| Platforms | Web, iPhone, iPad, Android | iPhone and Android (no web app) |
| App Store rating | ★ 4.8 3,029 ratings | ★ 5.0 15 ratings (new app) |
| Setup before first use | None Open and type | Install the app and start the trial |
What happened when we gave Goblin Tools a real task?
We typed “Clean the kitchen” into Magic ToDo on goblin.tools and pressed the breakdown button. No account, no setup, and the steps appeared in a few seconds.
The six steps were sensible and concrete. You can break any step down again, and the “spiciness” control sets how small the steps get.
Honestly, for a lot of people that is enough. If seeing “clear countertops” as step one gets you off the couch, you are done, and it cost nothing.
What the list does not tell you is how long each step takes, and it does not stay with you once you start. Magic ToDo has been the core of the site for a while, as this earlier screenshot shows.
What does FOCO do with the same kind of task?
FOCO also breaks a stuck task into small steps with AI, but each step gets a time estimate. Here is a real task from the app, “Finish my presentation.”
The first step is small on purpose, three minutes. From there the task opens into a focus session with one step on screen, a soundscape and the companion.
Which is better when you can’t start a task?
It depends on where you get stuck. If the task feels like a fog with no edges, Goblin Tools clears it fastest; if you can see the steps and still freeze, FOCO is built for that second gap.
Task initiation is the gap between knowing what to do and doing it. Psychologist Russell Barkley describes ADHD as a problem of self-regulation rather than knowledge (Barkley, executive function fact sheet), so lowering the effort to begin can matter more than adding features.
Goblin Tools wins on that effort: one box, one button, no install. FOCO asks you to install an app first, which is a real cost if setup is the thing you avoid.
Where FOCO earns that cost is after the list exists. A tiny first step with a time on it, plus something on screen while you do it, is aimed at the freeze our guide to task initiation deficit describes.
Which is better for planning your day?
FOCO, because Goblin Tools has no calendar. Goblin Tools is a set of single-purpose helpers, and planning the day is not one of its jobs.
In FOCO, tasks land in a built-in calendar sorted into morning, afternoon or anytime, with reminders. Missed tasks move on to the next day instead of piling into a red overdue wall.
You can also add tasks by voice or photograph a handwritten list. If your plans live on sticky notes, that skips the retyping step.
Goblin Tools does let you keep lists: an optional account syncs them across devices, according to its About page. That is list storage, not a day plan, and for many people that is plenty.
What does each one cost?
Goblin Tools: the website is free, and its makers say existing features will never move behind a paywall. The phone apps are a one-time purchase ($1.99 on the US App Store, Android price varies), and a new optional Pro subscription covers only advanced features that are costly to run.
FOCO: $59 a year with a 7-day free trial, or $9 a month. There is no free tier.
If cost decides it, Goblin Tools wins outright. Prices change, so check the store or the official site before you pay.
Who should pick which?
Choose Goblin Tools if:
- You need a breakdown in the next minute and nothing else.
- You don’t want another subscription, or you want to use it in a browser on any computer.
- You have quit other apps during setup.
- You would also use its other tools, like Formalizer for email tone or Estimator for time guesses.
Choose FOCO if:
- Breaking the task down is not the problem; starting step one is.
- You want a time on every step and a focus timer with a companion while you work.
- You want tasks in a calendar with reminders, added by voice or photo.
- You are fine with a paid app ($59 a year with a 7-day free trial, or $9 a month), on iPhone or Android.
Comparing more options? See Goblin Tools alternatives, Goblin Tools vs Tiimo, FOCO vs Tiimo, or the full ADHD app directory.
FAQ
Is Goblin Tools still free?
Yes, the website is free and needs no account. The phone apps cost a small one-time fee, and an optional Pro subscription adds advanced features only.
Is FOCO free?
No. FOCO costs $59 a year with a 7-day free trial, or $9 a month.
Does Goblin Tools save my lists?
Yes, if you want it to. An optional account syncs your lists across devices.
Does Goblin Tools have a focus timer?
No countdown timer. Its Taskmaster tool keeps one task on screen, which helps some people focus.
Can I use FOCO and Goblin Tools together?
Yes. You can use Goblin Tools for a quick free breakdown, then move a bigger task into FOCO when you want a timer and a plan.
Is there a Goblin Tools app for iPhone?
Yes. It is a one-time purchase, $1.99 on the US App Store as of October 9, 2026.
How did we compare them?
We tested Goblin Tools on goblin.tools on October 9, 2026, with the task shown above. Pricing and features come from the goblin.tools About page and its App Store listing, checked the same day.
Ratings are from the US App Store, October 9, 2026, and the Goblin Tools Google Play listing showed 4.5. FOCO’s screenshots are from our own app.
Disclosure: we make FOCO, so read our side with that in mind. We tried to say plainly where Goblin Tools is the better pick, and we date-stamp every price.
For background on ADHD itself, see the National Institute of Mental Health and CHADD. This page is not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- Goblin Tools breaks one stuck task into small steps in seconds, free on the web, with no account and no setup.
- Goblin Tools has nine tools but no timer and no calendar; its phone apps are a one-time $1.99 on the US App Store.
- If a list gets you moving, Goblin Tools is the better and cheaper choice.
- If you have the steps and still can’t start, FOCO times each step, adds a focus timer and companion, and plans your day, with a 7-day free trial on the yearly plan.
Adi Ben Elyahu is the founder of FOCO and RemindHer – apps focused on reducing mental overload and helping overwhelmed minds start more easily.
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