Chain
A focus timer for Windows that rewards showing up.
Most focus tools on Windows either block things or count minutes. Chain gives you a reason to sit down again tomorrow.
Chain is a free focus timer for Windows 10 and 11, available on the Microsoft Store, with an Android version coming to Google Play. Twenty minutes of focus a day adds a link to your chain. Every focused hour earns XP, levels, titles and rewards that stay yours, even if you miss a day. No ads, nothing to buy, and no account needed.
How it works
- Start a session and name what you're working on.
- Focus for at least 20 minutes. That secures today's link.
- Bank the session. Longer, cleaner focus earns more XP toward a hundred levels.
- Come back tomorrow and the chain grows. Miss a day and the streak resets, but your levels, hours and rewards stay.
Around that loop: goals that grow into castles as you put hours into a project, session plans that split one session into timed blocks, a quiet Reading Room with rain, a journal of every session, and an optional Guild where friends can see who is focusing right now.
Chain compared with other Windows focus tools
| Chain | Windows Clock focus sessions | Focus To-Do | Freedom / Cold Turkey | Forest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Focus timer with streaks, levels and rewards | Built-in timer with breaks | Pomodoro timer plus task list | Website and app blockers | Grow a tree while you stay off your phone |
| Windows app | Yes | Yes, built in | Yes | Yes | No, browser extension only |
| Android | Pre-registration on Google Play, syncs with Windows | No | Yes | Freedom: yes | Yes |
| Blocks sites | No | No | Premium strict mode | Yes, that's the point | Browser extension |
| Progress that lasts | XP, 100 levels, hour ranks, medals, cosmetics | Daily goal and streak | Statistics | Usage reports | A forest of trees |
| Cost | Free during beta, no ads | Free | Free, paid premium | Paid | Paid or in-app purchases |
Checked October 2026. Other apps change; see each developer's own pages for current details.
When something else fits better
If websites are what pull you away, a blocker like Freedom or Cold Turkey does a job Chain doesn't. They work well together: the blocker removes the exit, and Chain gives you the reason to stay. If you just want a timer and nothing else, the Clock app's focus sessions are already on your PC. If you mostly focus on an iPhone, Chain isn't there yet.
Questions
Is Chain free?
Yes, during beta. There are no ads and nothing to buy in the app. Chain will have to pay for itself eventually; whatever you've already earned stays yours.
Does Chain work offline?
Yes. Your history lives in a database on your PC and no account is needed. Create one only if you want sync with Android or friends.
Can I use it like a Pomodoro timer?
Yes. Focus in short sessions with breaks in between, or plan one session as several timed blocks. Every session counts toward your day and your level.
What happens if I miss a day?
Your streak resets. Your XP, levels, hours and rewards stay.
Try Chain on Windows
Windows 10 version 2004 or later, including Windows 11.
Get it on the Microsoft Store Pre-register on Google PlayMore: Chain vs Forest · Chain as a study timer · FAQ