Focus Mode plays music with a slow beat layer tuned to a frequency for the job: beta and alpha for work, theta for meditation, delta for sleep. There are 49 sessions across 4 modes, a timer, and 10 ambient sounds to layer on top. It's free, with no account. Scroll up, pick a mode and press play.
24 sessions · Beta and alpha (about 10–18 Hz)
Concentrated work. Deep Work rises from 10 Hz to 18 Hz over the first 25 minutes, then eases back; Creative stays in alpha for open-ended thinking.
Deep Work, Study, Creative, Sprint
10 sessions · Alpha to theta (about 6–10 Hz)
Winding down after work or a stressful stretch, with a slow downward drift.
Gentle Unwind, Breathing
5 sessions · Theta to delta (8 Hz down to 2 Hz)
Falling asleep. The beat slows in three ten-minute steps.
Drift to Sleep
10 sessions · Theta (about 4–8 Hz)
Sitting practice, journaling or quiet reflection.
Mindful, Deep Meditation
Each session mixes music with two kinds of beat. With headphones on, a binaural pair plays one tone in each ear, for example 200 Hz on the left and 210 Hz on the right; your brain hears the 10 Hz difference as a slow pulse. A second, monaural pulse is built into the sound itself, so the rhythm is still there on speakers. Most sessions follow a frequency arc rather than a single tone: Deep Work starts near 10 Hz, climbs to 18 Hz over the first 25 minutes and settles back to 14 Hz, while Drift to Sleep steps down from 8 Hz to 2 Hz.
The intensity setting (Low, Medium, High, Boost) controls how loud that beat layer is compared with the music. The research on binaural beats is mixed, so treat the frequencies as a starting point and keep whatever helps you settle. Our science page covers what the studies do and don't show.
Layer up to ten ambient sounds under the music: rain, thunder, ocean, forest, cafe, fireplace, fan, and white, pink or brown noise. Sessions run for 15, 30 or 60 minutes, or indefinitely. If you like working in sprints, the Pomodoro timer alternates focus blocks with short breaks.
Brain.fm, Endel, Focus@Will and Noisli are paid apps, and some do things we don't, such as adaptive music or wearable integration. We've written honest side-by-side comparisons: Brain.fm, Endel, Focus@Will and Noisli, or see all comparisons.
Binaural beats play a slightly different tone in each ear, for example 200 Hz on the left and 210 Hz on the right, and your brain hears the 10 Hz difference as a slow pulse. They only work with stereo headphones. Each session also has a gentle pulse built into the music itself, so it still sounds right on speakers.
Yes. Focus Mode is free to use with no account. All 4 modes (Focus, Relax, Sleep, Meditate), intensity levels and ambient overlays are included, and there will always be a free plan.
Low, Medium, High and Boost control how loud the beat layer is compared with the music. Low keeps it barely noticeable; Boost makes it clearly audible. Start on Medium and adjust to taste.
The research is mixed. Some studies report small effects on attention, mood or anxiety, others find none, and results vary a lot between people. Treat it as a tool to try: if a mode helps you settle into work, use it. Our science page covers the evidence in more detail.
Choose 15, 30 or 60 minutes, or leave it running. Thirty minutes suits most focus blocks, and the Pomodoro timer can split longer stretches into work and break intervals.
Brain.fm and Endel are paid apps with larger, adaptive music libraries. NSDR Focus Mode is free, needs no account, and sits next to our guided NSDR sessions for rest between focus blocks. The comparison pages go through the differences feature by feature.