Cofocus vs Kaizen

Cofocus is a web app that connects two people for a 50-minute video session focused on mutual accountability. Users book a time in a calendar and are matched with a partner. They greet each other, share goals, work, then discuss how the session went; a bell and notification mark the end. The maker lists reading, writing, studying, PhD research, side hustles, administration, planning, freelance work and meditation as possible uses. Bookings can synchronize with Google Calendar, with events created for sessions and removed if they are canceled. Cofocus requests permission to view and edit calendar events and stores access and refresh tokens in its database. Its pricing page says subscriptions fund the service, which does not sell data or show ads. Starter costs nothing and allows three sessions a week; Premium costs $4.99 a month for unlimited sessions. The app also lists live coworking rooms, video presence, a focus timer and accountability tools, with two users per room. A free trial is available. Users must be at least 17, or older where local law requires.

Kaizen is a focus and study app built around a Pomodoro timer, task and habit tracking, and camera-free Focus Rooms. The timer has presets, custom sessions from 5 to 180 minutes, and stopwatch mode. Rooms hold 2 to 50 people; users can join public rooms or private rooms with a code. There is no video or microphone, and members see one another’s status and focus tag. Tasks include an Inbox, subtasks, priorities, due dates, estimates and automatic time tracking. The free plan allows up to 7 active tasks, 5 habits, blocking for 3 apps, and statistics covering the last 30 days. App blocking is available on iOS and Android, not web or Windows. Kaizen runs on web, iOS, Android and Windows, with account data syncing across platforms. The free plan is free. Premium costs €3.99 a month or €39.99 a year; both include unlimited tasks, habits and app blocking, room creation, the full music and background library, and all-time statistics.