Omix vs Focus@Will
Both apps promise better focus through music, but they take fundamentally different approaches. Focus@Will plays curated playlists based on a quiz. Omix watches how you work and adapts in real-time.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adaptation Method | Real-time workflow monitoring | Quiz-based playlist matching |
| Music Source | Dynamic stem layering | Pre-composed curated tracks |
| Personalization | Automatic (learns from your activity) | Manual (one-time quiz) |
| Genres | Deep house, lofi, jazz, post-rock | EDM, classical, ambient, 50+ channels |
| Productivity Analytics | Focus patterns & app insights | Session timer only |
| Privacy | 100% local processing | Cloud-based streaming |
| Platform | Mac + Windows native | Web, iOS, Android |
| Monthly Price | $7.99/mo+ Lifetime option | ~$5.83/mobilled yearly at $70 |
How They Work Differently
Real-Time Workflow Adaptation
Monitors your actual keyboard activity and app usage to build music layers dynamically
Silent Monitoring
Runs quietly in your menu bar, tracking typing speed and app switches
Dynamic Building
Starts ambient, adds instruments as focus deepens: bass, drums, keys, guitar
Contextual Intelligence
Different music response for different apps, learns your patterns over time
Quiz-Based Playlist Curation
Takes a personality quiz to match you with a music channel, then streams tracks from that channel
Personality Quiz
Answer questions about work style, music preferences, coffee intake, age
Channel Assignment
Get matched to one of 50+ music channels based on quiz results
Playlist Streaming
Plays curated tracks from your assigned channel in sequence
The Core Difference
Focus@Will gives you a playlist. Omix gives you a composer.
Focus@Will's approach is essentially: take a quiz, get assigned a music channel, listen to pre-made tracks from that channel. The tracks are curated by neuroscience-informed producers, but once selected, they play the same way regardless of what you're doing. Your Monday morning deep-coding session gets the same music as your Friday afternoon email cleanup.
Omix takes the opposite approach. Instead of asking you what you think works, it observes what actually works. It monitors your typing speed, app switches, and activity patterns, then builds music in real-time using layered stems. The result: your music is always in sync with your actual energy level, not your self-reported preferences from a quiz you took once.
When to Choose Each App
Choose Omix if you:
- Want music that genuinely reacts to your work in real-time
- Don't trust a quiz to know what music helps you focus
- Want productivity analytics beyond just a timer
- Have ADHD and need stimulation that matches your energy
- Prefer a native desktop experience
- Want a lifetime purchase option ($119 once)
Choose Focus@Will if you:
- Want the widest variety of pre-made music channels (50+)
- Prefer mobile/web access across all devices
- Like choosing your own music channel manually
- Want the cheapest annual option (~$70/year)
- Prefer a more traditional streaming experience
- Need sleep/relaxation modes too
Pricing Comparison
Omix
Focus@Will
The Bottom Line
Choose Omix for True Real-Time Adaptation
If you want focus music that actually knows when you're in flow vs. when you're distracted, and adjusts accordingly without any manual input, Omix is the more advanced approach. It's the difference between self-reported data and actual behavioral data.
Choose Focus@Will for Music Variety
If you want the widest selection of pre-curated focus music channels and don't mind that the music doesn't react to your workflow, Focus@Will offers solid variety at a competitive price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Omix different from Focus@Will?
Focus@Will uses a personality quiz to match you with pre-curated music playlists. Omix monitors your actual work patterns (keyboard activity, app switches, focus duration) and builds music dynamically in real-time. The music literally changes based on what you're doing, not what a quiz predicted.
Does Focus@Will adapt to your workflow?
Not in real-time. Focus@Will assigns you a music channel based on a one-time personality quiz. The tracks within that channel play in sequence regardless of your current activity.Omix, by contrast, adjusts every second based on your actual behavior.
Which is better for ADHD, Omix or Focus@Will?
Both apps are used by people with ADHD. Focus@Will claims a 2-4x increase in focus time for active users. Omix's advantage for ADHD is its adaptive approach: the music automatically increases stimulation when you're active and decreases when you're pausing, which matches how ADHD brains need varying levels of stimulation throughout a work session.
Is Focus@Will cheaper than Omix?
Focus@Will's annual plan (~$70/year) is slightly more expensive than Omix's annual plan ($59/year). However, Omix also offers a lifetime purchase at $119, which has no equivalent at Focus@Will. Both offer free trials.
Compare Omix to Other Tools
See how Omix stacks up against other productivity and focus solutions.
Ready to try real-time adaptive focus music?
Try Omix free for 7 days and experience the difference between a quiz-based playlist and music that actually watches how you work. No credit card required.