Plan
Lay out the day. Tasks, time estimates, productive breaks. Built around how your brain actually plans.
Focus
Run sessions with a live timer that sticks on the Lock Screen. One task at a time.
Review
See what got done. No streaks, no shame, no punishment for losing focus. Tomorrow starts fresh.
How do I plan my day in Ebbi?
You write the day the way you would on paper. Tasks, time estimates, breaks. Ebbi schedules them into your real day with the gaps that actually exist.
- Type tasks the way you think about them. No required tags, no priority dropdowns.
- Estimate how long each one will take. The schedule lays itself out from there.
- Save the day as a template you can load tomorrow. Repeated routines stop being daily work.
- If reality changes, the schedule adjusts. You do not start over.
What happens when I run a focus session?
You see one task at a time. A live timer counts down. Soundscapes play if you want them. The session pins to your Lock Screen so you can put the phone face down and still see where you are.
- Live Activity on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Glance, do not unlock.
- 13 calming soundscapes (3 free, 10 with Pro). Brown noise, rain, lo-fi, more.
- Productive breaks built in, not bolted on. Your brain needs them. The plan accounts for them.
- Pause for phone calls (Beta). Your session waits when a call comes in.
How do I review what got done?
You see the day as it actually happened. Estimated time versus real time. Sessions completed, sessions skipped. No streaks to protect, no counters resetting to zero.
- Today's view shows what you actually did. Free for everyone.
- Weekly and monthly views with Pro. Patterns you can act on.
- Estimate accuracy: see how your time estimates compare to reality, get better at planning.
- Auto-forgive at the day boundary. Yesterday does not weigh on today.
What can I customize?
Notifications, soundscapes, the small things that turn a tool into a habit. Custom reminders with Pro, basic morning and evening nudges for everyone.
- Morning and evening focus nudges out of the box.
- Fully customizable reminders with Pro.
- Pick the soundscape that holds your attention.
- iCloud sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Built on peer-reviewed neuroscience
Every core mechanic in Ebbi traces to published research on attention, executive function, and how planning actually works in the brain.
Time-boxing
Pre-committing tasks to specific time blocks reduces decision fatigue and improves follow-through.
See the researchSingle-tasking
Working on one task at a time produces higher output than multi-tasking, even when multi-tasking feels faster.
See the researchRetrospective review
Reviewing what got done (without judgment) builds the meta-skill of accurate self-assessment.
See the researchFrequently asked
Does Ebbi work without an internet connection?
Yes. Ebbi runs entirely on your iPhone. Your plans, focus sessions, and progress never leave the device unless you opt in to iCloud sync.
What makes Ebbi different from a regular timer app?
A timer counts down. Ebbi plans the whole day, runs the session with a live timer, and shows you what got done after. The timer is one part of a system designed to fit how your brain actually plans.
Why no streaks?
Streak-based apps drive 28 percent higher abandonment after the first missed day (UCL goal research). Streaks make you ashamed of bad days instead of helping you recover from them. Ebbi auto-forgives at the day boundary because that is what the research supports.
How much does Ebbi cost?
Ebbi Pro is $4.99 per month or $47.99 per year. Apple gives you a 14-day free trial. Cancel anytime in your Apple account.
Who built Ebbi?
Paul Fernkopf, US Army veteran and founder of Forge Hut LLC in Auburn, Kansas. He spent 15 years refining the planning method on paper before turning it into an app. Read the story.
Is the research real?
Yes. The methodology and all citations are on the research methodology page. Every core feature traces to a peer-reviewed source.
