The concept is the same, but the execution is different. As a rule of thumb, Focusmate may work well for light, occasional procrastinators, while WorkMode is tailored to the needs of lifelong procrastinators.
I'm going to mention some disadvantages of using Focusmate, but please note that I'm not criticizing their platform. If Focusmate works for you - great, continue using it. However, if you find yourself scrolling through Hacker News instead of working, you might want to consider using WorkMode.
So, here are some differences between WorkMode and Focusmate:
On Focusmate, you're connected to another procrastinator who is there for their own benefit and usually doesn't care about your productivity. On WorkMode, it's different—you work with our employee whose only job is to ensure that you're working on your tasks.
On WorkMode, there's no such thing as a "no-show." I'm a hedonistic procrastinator, and even one missed session can result in skipping work for multiple days. This can be catastrophic if you charge by the hour (e.g., many freelancers and consultants). When I started body doubling, my income rose by 2-3x, and my disposable income increased even more.
We call you every day 30 minutes before your scheduled session to remind you about the meeting. We can also email or text you, but in our experience, these methods are less effective. It's sometimes convenient to "miss" an email or a text, but it's not easy to ignore a phone call from your Productivity Partner.
On WorkMode, you always work with the same Productivity Partner. People with social anxiety appreciate this consistency. It also helps build a relationship with them. They get to know you, understand when, why, and how you procrastinate, recognize potential triggers, and help you avoid them.
On Focusmate, you're responsible for showing up and scheduling your sessions. For many, this becomes just another to-do item on their list—one they may fail to complete because, well, they procrastinate. On WorkMode, you just need to connect with us the first time, and we'll take that responsibility from you. We'll ensure that another session is scheduled, remind you about it, and call you before it starts.
Screen sharing is much safer on WorkMode. Just make sure you don't break any NDAs.
I'm going to mention some disadvantages of using Focusmate, but please note that I'm not criticizing their platform. If Focusmate works for you - great, continue using it. However, if you find yourself scrolling through Hacker News instead of working, you might want to consider using WorkMode.
So, here are some differences between WorkMode and Focusmate:
On Focusmate, you're connected to another procrastinator who is there for their own benefit and usually doesn't care about your productivity. On WorkMode, it's different—you work with our employee whose only job is to ensure that you're working on your tasks.
On WorkMode, there's no such thing as a "no-show." I'm a hedonistic procrastinator, and even one missed session can result in skipping work for multiple days. This can be catastrophic if you charge by the hour (e.g., many freelancers and consultants). When I started body doubling, my income rose by 2-3x, and my disposable income increased even more.
We call you every day 30 minutes before your scheduled session to remind you about the meeting. We can also email or text you, but in our experience, these methods are less effective. It's sometimes convenient to "miss" an email or a text, but it's not easy to ignore a phone call from your Productivity Partner.
On WorkMode, you always work with the same Productivity Partner. People with social anxiety appreciate this consistency. It also helps build a relationship with them. They get to know you, understand when, why, and how you procrastinate, recognize potential triggers, and help you avoid them.
On Focusmate, you're responsible for showing up and scheduling your sessions. For many, this becomes just another to-do item on their list—one they may fail to complete because, well, they procrastinate. On WorkMode, you just need to connect with us the first time, and we'll take that responsibility from you. We'll ensure that another session is scheduled, remind you about it, and call you before it starts.
Screen sharing is much safer on WorkMode. Just make sure you don't break any NDAs.