Catch the Ghost

Does the Pomodoro technique work for ADHD?

Yes, when the timer is flexible. Traditional 25-minute-only Pomodoro fails many ADHD brains because rigid intervals ignore energy state and task type. Catch the Ghost lets you switch between Deep Focus and Shallow Focus and choose from 13 moods, so the timer adapts to you instead of the other way around. See the ADHD page for details.

How is Catch the Ghost different from Forest?

Forest grows a tree that dies if you leave the app. Catch the Ghost rewards you with a historical figure, a quote, coins, and XP every time you finish a focus session. No dying tree, no blame, no onboarding that tells you you have wasted your life. If you leave mid-session the ghost escapes and a small coin cost applies, but a 60-second grace window gives you time to come back first. Our pricing is transparent: monthly, annual, or a $99.99 founding-member lifetime. See the Forest comparison for a full breakdown.

Is Catch the Ghost free?

Yes. The Free tier includes the Pomodoro timer, the ghost-catching loop, free moods, and the leaderboard. Every focus session also earns you coins you can spend in the in-app Store on themed ghost packs. Keep your streak and you earn more coins per session, so even the Store is reachable without paying. Subscribing is for convenience, not for access.

Can a focus app really help with phone addiction?

Not by blocking. Blocking apps fail because you can always uninstall them. Catch the Ghost works by giving your focus a reward loop that competes with the dopamine your phone already offers. When putting the phone down earns you something you actually want, picking it back up starts to feel like a worse trade.

What is the difference between Deep Focus and Shallow Focus?

Deep Focus is for heavy cognitive work: writing, coding, studying, any task that benefits from uninterrupted time. Shallow Focus is for admin and low-stakes work: inbox, errands, quick chores. Both modes catch ghosts and earn coins. Choosing the right mode for the task is part of the product.

Does Catch the Ghost block other apps?

No. We do not block, lock, or restrict anything on your phone. Our thesis is that reward works better than restriction. You can always put the phone down; we just give you a reason to.