13 Best Productivity Tools for ADHD (Tested by ADHD Professionals)
From task paralysis to overwhelm, these ADHD-friendly apps reduce friction and support follow-through
Your ADHD brain isn’t broken. It’s just different. But traditional productivity tools were designed for neurotypical brains that work in straight lines, follow rigid schedules, and remember things without external systems. No wonder they don’t work for you.
You’ve tried the apps everyone recommends. You’ve downloaded the planners. You’ve set up the systems. And within a week, you’ve abandoned them. Not because you’re lazy or undisciplined, but because they fundamentally misunderstand how your brain works.
People with ADHD need external working memory. Visual cues instead of text walls. Dopamine-friendly interfaces that make task completion satisfying. Low-friction capture so you can dump thoughts before they evaporate. Flexible systems that adapt when (not if) your day goes sideways.
This isn’t another listicle telling you to “try harder” with apps designed for everyone else. These are tools built by and for people who understand ADHD—tools that accommodate executive dysfunction, time blindness, hyperfocus, and energy variability instead of pretending they don’t exist.
What Makes Productivity Tools Actually Work for ADHD
Before diving into specific apps, let’s talk about what separates ADHD-friendly tools from everything else.
Low friction for task capture. The “ADHD tax” is real—if capturing a task requires more than a few seconds, it won’t happen. You need voice input, quick-add buttons, and automatic extraction from where tasks actually hide (emails, Slack, meeting notes).
Visual and timeline views. Time blindness makes abstract task lists useless. You need to see your day: what’s happening when, how long things take, when you’ll actually be done. Icons, colors, and timelines aren’t cute—they’re accessibility features.
Flexible, forgiving systems. Rigid schedules don’t work when executive dysfunction makes starting tasks unpredictable. The best tools adapt when you run late, get distracted, or need to bail on the plan entirely.
Dopamine-friendly design. ADHD brains crave immediate feedback. Gamification, satisfying animations, progress bars, and visible accomplishment aren’t frivolous—they’re what makes you actually want to open the app.
External working memory. Your brain can’t be trusted to remember things (no judgment—that’s literally the executive dysfunction). Good tools become your external brain: capturing everything automatically, surfacing what matters, and never letting things fall through the cracks.
Body doubling or accountability. Working alone is hard. Tools that simulate having someone working alongside you—or actually connect you with real people—dramatically improve task initiation and follow-through.
Gentle reminders, not nagging. Aggressive notifications trigger shame and avoidance. ADHD-friendly tools use calm, supportive reminders that feel like a friend nudging you, not an app yelling at you.
Accommodates hyperfocus and crashes. ADHD isn’t just about distraction—it’s also about hyperfocusing for hours and then crashing completely. Tools that respect both extremes work better than ones demanding consistent energy all day.
Quick Comparison: Best Productivity Tools for ADHD
rivva
Llama Life
Goblin Tools
Amazing Marvin
Structured
Saner.ai
Focusmate
Sunsama
Brain Focus
Tiimo
Todoist
Forest
Otter.ai
1. rivva – Energy-Aware Scheduling for ADHD Brains
ADHD brains have unpredictable energy. rivva is the only tool that schedules work around it.
Why It Works for ADHD
People with ADHD experience dramatic energy variability that most productivity tools completely ignore. You’re not consistently productive 9-5. Some mornings you wake up ready to conquer the world. Other afternoons, executive dysfunction makes opening your email feel impossible.
rivva understands this. It’s the first productivity tool that schedules your work around your actual energy patterns—not just your calendar availability.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Energy-based scheduling: Uses sleep and wearable data to schedule demanding work during your peak hours, easy tasks when you’re running low
Automatic task extraction: Captures tasks from emails automatically—meeting summaries, GitHub issues, Notion comments, any notification that arrives in your inbox. Connect multiple email accounts.
AI assistant handles the executive function: Your AI assistant (Nia) does the planning, prioritizing, and rescheduling so you don’t have to
Visual daily timeline: See your entire day at a glance—combats time blindness with clear visual representation
Automatic adaptation: When you inevitably run late or get distracted, Nia reschedules everything else automatically
Best For
Adults with ADHD who experience significant energy crashes, struggle with executive function (planning/prioritizing), and need ultra-low friction for task capture. Especially powerful for people with wearables who want energy forecasting.
Pricing
Monthly: $13.99/month
Quarterly: $31.50/quarter ($10.50/month)
7-day free trial
Pros for ADHD
Removes the “what should I work on?” decision fatigue that paralyzes ADHD brains
Two-way calendar sync with timeblocking. Ttasks appear on your Google Calendar so people don’t book over your work time. Connect multiple calendars (personal, work, side projects)
Energy forecasting prevents scheduling strategy work during post-lunch crashes
Ultra-low friction—tasks get captured automatically from everywhere
Nia adapts your entire day when meetings run over (which they always do)
Respects hyperfocus windows—won’t interrupt during high-energy work
Clean interface that doesn’t overwhelm
Two-way calendar sync means nothing gets lost
Cons for ADHD
No Android app yet (iOS & web available—you can sign up and use the web app)
Requires wearable for full energy features (works without, but less powerful)
2. Llama Life – The Calm, Dopamine-Friendly Timer
Timeboxing without the stress. Llama Life makes getting things done feel peaceful.
Why It Works for ADHD
ADHD brains struggle with time blindness—you have no idea if a task will take 10 minutes or 3 hours. Llama Life uses timeboxing (assigning time to each task) with countdown timers that make time visible and concrete.
But unlike harsh Pomodoro timers that feel punishing, Llama Life is gentle: soothing sounds, cute llama mascot, calming design. It’s the anti-hustle-culture productivity tool.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Visual countdown timers: Watch time pass for each task—makes abstract time concrete
Estimated end time: Shows exactly when you’ll finish your list (huge for time blindness)
Break-it-down AI: Overwhelmed by a big task? AI splits it into manageable steps
Preset templates: Save recurring routines (morning routine, work shutdown) for one-click planning
Gentle chimes: Calm alerts instead of aggressive alarms
Best For
ADHD adults who get overwhelmed by traditional Pomodoro timers, struggle with estimating task duration, and need a calming (not stressful) approach to productivity.
Pricing
Monthly: ~$1.49/month
Annual: $12.99/year
Lifetime: $29.99 one-time
7-day free trial
Pros for ADHD
Exceptionally calming interface reduces anxiety around productivity
Timeboxing makes time blindness visible and manageable
Single-task focus prevents overwhelm from seeing entire to-do list
Todoist integration pulls tasks in automatically
Dopamine-friendly—satisfying animations when tasks complete
Works on web, iOS, and Android
Cons for ADHD
Requires internet connection (no offline mode)
Limited project management features
Mobile app still catching up to web version
Can feel too simple if you need advanced features
3. Goblin Tools – AI for Executive Dysfunction
When a task feels impossible, Goblin Tools makes it possible.
Why It Works for ADHD
Executive dysfunction makes starting tasks feel insurmountable. “Clean the house” is so overwhelming your brain just...shuts down. Goblin Tools uses AI to break any task into bite-sized steps instantly.
Type “clean the house” and get: (1) Put dishes in dishwasher, (2) Wipe down kitchen counter, (3) Take out trash, (4) Vacuum living room. Suddenly doable.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Magic ToDo: AI breaks down any task into sub-tasks with estimated time
Formalizer: Rewrites your scattered thoughts into proper emails/messages
Judge: Analyzes tone of messages when you can’t read social cues
Estimator: Predicts how long tasks will take (time blindness helper)
Compiler: Turns brain dumps into organized action lists
Chef: Suggests recipes from whatever’s in your fridge
Best For
ADHD adults who freeze when tasks feel too big, struggle with starting tasks, need help with social communication, and want free tools.
Pricing
Web version: Completely free
Mobile apps: Subscription-based (pricing varies by third-party app versions)
Pros for ADHD
Completely free on web (no paywall)
Instantly breaks down overwhelming tasks
Multiple tools for different executive function challenges
Simple, no-frills interface
Created specifically for neurodivergent people
Formalizer helps with RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria) around communication
Cons for ADHD
Official mobile apps require subscription
Limited task management beyond breakdown
Doesn’t integrate with calendars or other tools
Multiple third-party apps claiming to be “Goblin Tools” (use goblin.tools website)
4. Amazing Marvin – Hyper-Customizable for Your Exact Brain
Every ADHD brain is different. Marvin adapts to yours.
Why It Works for ADHD
Most productivity tools force you into their system. Amazing Marvin is the opposite—it has 50+ strategies and features you can turn on/off until it matches exactly how your brain works.
Want Pomodoro timers? Enable it. Need gamification? Turn it on. Prefer Eisenhower Matrix? It’s there. When you get bored (ADHD always gets bored), change your entire setup and it feels like a new app.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
50+ customizable strategies: Pomodoro, time-blocking, Eisenhower Matrix, Eat the Frog, rewards system—mix and match
Procrastination Wizard: AI identifies why you’re stuck and suggests strategies
Dopamine-driven gamification: Points, levels, rewards for task completion
Visual customization: Change colors, themes, layouts to keep things fresh
Anti-boredom features: Completely transform your workflow when you need novelty
Best For
ADHD adults who’ve tried everything and nothing quite fits, need high customization, and are willing to invest time in setup for a perfect-fit system.
Pricing
Monthly: $12/month
Annual: $8/month ($96/year)
Lifetime: $300 one-time (discounted to $200 occasionally)
14-day free trial (no credit card required)
Pros for ADHD
Infinitely customizable—adapts to your exact needs
When you get bored, transform the entire interface and system
Procrastination Wizard actually helps when you’re stuck
Built specifically with ADHD/executive dysfunction in mind
Amazing support team helps with setup
One-time lifetime option available
Cons for ADHD
Overwhelming at first—too many options can cause decision paralysis
Steep learning curve requires patience
Mobile apps less robust than web/desktop
Can become another hyperfocus rabbit hole (ironic)
5. Structured – Visual Timeline for Time Blindness
See your day. Actually see it.
Why It Works for ADHD
Time blindness makes traditional to-do lists useless—you have no idea when things happen or how they fit together. Structured shows your entire day as a visual timeline with icons and colors.
You can literally see: “After this 30-minute meeting, I have 45 minutes for deep work, then lunch, then emails.” Game-changer for ADHD brains.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Visual timeline: See your entire day laid out with time blocks
Drag-and-drop planning: Rearrange your day visually when it goes sideways
Structured AI: Tell it your plans, it creates your schedule automatically
Icons and colors: Visual cues make tasks instantly recognizable
Pomodoro timer built-in: Focus timer with Live Activities on iPhone
Best For
ADHD adults with severe time blindness, visual thinkers who need to see their day, and iPhone/Mac users (iOS-only).
Pricing
Free: Basic features
Pro: $19.99/year or $49.99 lifetime
7-day free trial
Pros for ADHD
Visual timeline solves time blindness beautifully
Drag-and-drop is satisfying and intuitive
AI drafts your day from voice or text input
Clean, gorgeous design
Apple Watch integration for quick glances
Recurring tasks and routines for consistency
Cons for ADHD
iOS/Mac only (no Android or Windows)
Limited integration with other tools
Calendar import but not full two-way sync
Basic features locked behind paid tier
6. Saner.ai – AI Personal Assistant for ADHD Chaos
Your brain dumps everything. Saner organizes it automatically.
Why It Works for ADHD
ADHD means information chaos: notes scattered across apps, tasks buried in emails, ideas lost in Slack threads. Saner.ai is an AI personal assistant that captures everything in one place and organizes it automatically.
Brain dump a rambling voice note. Saner extracts tasks, sets reminders, tags it appropriately, and surfaces it when needed. No manual organization required.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
AI auto-organization: Automatically tags, categorizes, and organizes your notes and tasks
Chat with Skai (AI assistant): Ask questions about your notes—it finds and explains things
Task extraction from chaos: Dump thoughts, AI pulls out actionable tasks
Email and calendar integration: Centralizes everything in one searchable place
Smart reminders: AI sends personalized nudges at the right time
Best For
ADHD adults drowning in information across multiple apps, people who forget where they saved things, and knowledge workers with scattered thoughts.
Pricing
Free: Basic features
Pro: ~$10-15/month (pricing varies)
Free trial available
Pros for ADHD
Captures chaotic thoughts without requiring organization
AI does the executive function work (categorizing, prioritizing)
Searchable across all your scattered information
Reduces app-switching (everything in one place)
Works with voice notes (low friction capture)
Cons for ADHD
Relatively new tool (smaller user base)
Pricing structure not fully transparent
Some features still in development
Learning curve to trust AI organization
7. Focusmate – Virtual Body Doubling That Actually Works
Working alone is hard. Focusmate gives you a work buddy.
Why It Works for ADHD
Body doubling—working alongside someone else—dramatically improves ADHD task initiation and focus. Focusmate pairs you with a stranger on video for 25-75 minute work sessions. You share goals, work in parallel, check in at the end. That’s it.
The gentle accountability and social presence make starting tasks infinitely easier.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
1-on-1 virtual coworking: Paired with another person for accountability
Flexible session lengths: 25, 50, or 75 minutes to match your attention span
Available 24/7: Someone’s always available to work with you
No conversation required: Brief check-in, then quiet parallel work
Calendar integration: Sessions appear on your calendar automatically
Best For
ADHD adults who procrastinate alone but work well with others present, struggle with task initiation, and need gentle external accountability.
Pricing
Free: 3 sessions per week
Plus: $9.99/month or $6.99/month (annual)—unlimited sessions
Pros for ADHD
Body doubling effect is powerful for ADHD task initiation
Free tier is actually useful (3 sessions/week)
Available 24/7 in all time zones
No awkward small talk—just accountability
Builds community feeling without social overwhelm
Financial aid available on request
Cons for ADHD
Requires scheduled time (can’t impulsively “just start”)
Camera requirement may feel uncomfortable
Strangers every time (unless you favorite partners)
Free tier limited to 3 sessions (may need more)
8. Sunsama – Intentional Daily Planning to Prevent Burnout
ADHD brains chronically overcommit. Sunsama forces realism.
Why It Works for ADHD
You think you can do 12 hours of work in 4 hours. You schedule back-to-back meetings with no breaks. You say yes to everything. Sunsama’s daily planning ritual makes you physically drag tasks onto your calendar—and when you’re out of time, you’re out.
This visual accountability prevents ADHD overcommitment.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Guided daily planning ritual: 10-15 minute morning routine for realistic planning
Visual time-blocking: Drag tasks onto calendar, see your actual capacity
Task integration: Pulls from Todoist, Asana, Trello, Gmail, Slack, GitHub, Jira
Daily shutdown ritual: End-of-day review prevents guilt spiral
Workload warnings: Visual indicators when you’re overcommitting
Best For
ADHD adults who chronically overcommit, need structured planning rituals, and want mindful productivity (not hustle culture).
Pricing
Monthly: $20/month
Annual: $16/month ($192/year)
14-day free trial (no credit card)
Pros for ADHD
Forces realistic planning (huge for ADHD)
Visual capacity indicators prevent overcommitment
Daily rituals create healthy boundaries
Integration pulls tasks automatically (low friction)
Shutdown ritual helps with work-life balance
Cons for ADHD
Premium pricing
Daily ritual takes 10-15 minutes (feels like overhead)
Can feel too slow for rapid task capture
Mobile app limited compared to desktop
9. Brain Focus Productivity Timer – Customizable Pomodoro for ADHD
The Pomodoro Technique, adapted for ADHD brains.
Why It Works for ADHD
Standard 25-minute Pomodoro doesn’t work for everyone with ADHD. Some need 10-minute sprints. Others need 90-minute deep work blocks. Brain Focus lets you customize everything: work duration, break length, number of cycles.
It’s Pomodoro that respects ADHD attention variability.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Fully customizable intervals: Set any work/break duration that fits your brain
Multiple timer types: Pomodoro, 52/17, or completely custom
Session tracking: See your productive time accumulate (dopamine!)
Minimal interface: No distractions, just timer
Offline support: Works without internet
Best For
ADHD adults who need structured focus time but find standard Pomodoro too rigid, and Android users wanting a free timer.
Pricing
Completely free on Android
Pros for ADHD
Totally free (no ads, no in-app purchases)
Customizable to your exact attention span
Simple, distraction-free interface
Helps with time blindness through structured intervals
Good for building focus stamina gradually
Cons for ADHD
Android only (no iOS)
Very basic features (just a timer)
No task integration or planning features
No gamification or visual rewards
10. Tiimo – Neurodivergent-Designed Visual Planner
Built by and for neurodivergent brains. It shows.
Why It Works for ADHD
Tiimo was co-created with ADHD and autistic communities from day one. It’s not a productivity tool adapted for ADHD—it’s designed ground-up for neurodivergent executive function.
Visual timeline, gentle reminders, mood tracking, and recently won iPhone App of the Year 2025.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Visual timeline planner: See your day with colors, icons, and time blocks
AI planning assistant: Tell it your tasks, it builds your schedule
Focus timer with countdown: Watch time pass visually
Mood tracking: Reflect on patterns between mood and productivity
Gentle, customizable reminders: Not nagging, just supportive nudges
Best For
ADHD and autistic adults who need visual planning, struggle with transitions, and want tools built specifically for neurodivergent brains.
Pricing
Free: Basic features
Pro: $10/month, $54/year ($4.50/month), or $42/year (web pricing)
7-day free trial (yearly sub only)
Pros for ADHD
Genuinely designed for ADHD/autism (not retrofitted)
Visual timeline perfect for time blindness
Won iPhone App of the Year 2025
Mood tracking helps identify patterns
Web app + mobile sync
Clean, calm interface
Cons for ADHD
No Android app (iOS and web only as of 2025)
Free version quite limited
Premium pricing ($120-144/year)
Prompts to rate app can be annoying
11. Todoist – Simple, Friction-Free Task Capture
When you just need to get tasks out of your head. Fast.
Why It Works for ADHD
Sometimes you don’t need complexity. You need to capture “email Sarah about contract” while walking between meetings before the thought evaporates. Todoist excels at ultra-low-friction task capture.
Natural language processing, quick-add everywhere, dead simple. Tasks out of your head in 3 seconds.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Natural language input: Type “Meeting prep Monday 9am” and it handles the rest
Quick capture everywhere: Mobile, desktop, browser extension, email
Simple organization: Projects and labels without overwhelming complexity
Karma gamification: Points and streaks for task completion (dopamine!)
Offline mode: Capture tasks without internet, sync later
Best For
ADHD adults who need rapid task capture, prefer simplicity over features, and want reliable basics done well.
Pricing
Free: Basic task management (very limited)
Pro: $6/month (annual)—includes AI features
Business: $8/month per user
Pros for ADHD
Incredibly affordable at $72/year
Fastest task capture available
Natural language processing works perfectly
Works offline (no excuses)
Mobile apps rock-solid reliable
Simple enough to use immediately
Cons for ADHD
Free plan very limited (no reminders or labels)
AI features basic compared to rivva/Motion
No built-in time-blocking or calendar view
Project management quite basic
12. Forest – Gamified Focus Timer with Real Rewards
Don’t kill the tree. Seriously, don’t.
Why It Works for ADHD
ADHD brains crave immediate feedback and dopamine hits. Forest gamifies focus: plant a virtual tree, stay focused, tree grows. Leave the app, tree dies. Over time you build a forest representing your productive hours.
The emotional connection to not killing your tree is surprisingly powerful for ADHD motivation.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Gamified focus sessions: Grow virtual trees for completed focus time
Real-world impact: Use coins to plant actual trees via Trees for the Future
Visual progress: See your forest grow over time (dopamine!)
Customizable timers: 10 minutes to 2 hours, fits any attention span
Social accountability: Plant forests with friends
Best For
ADHD adults who respond to gamification, struggle with phone addiction, and need visual/tangible progress rewards.
Pricing
iOS: $3.99 one-time purchase
Android: Free with ads, or $1.99 to remove ads
Browser extension: Free (requires mobile app)
Pros for ADHD
One-time purchase (no subscription!)
Gamification genuinely motivating for ADHD
Real tree planting adds meaningful purpose
Visual forest representation of productivity
Prevents phone checking during focus
Multiple timer options for flexibility
Cons for ADHD
Effectiveness depends on not cheating (you can kill tree and move on)
Limited features beyond timer
No task management or planning
Separate purchase for browser extension + mobile sync
13. Otter.ai – Auto Meeting Notes Reduce Working Memory Load
Stop trying to remember what was said. Let Otter remember.
Why It Works for ADHD
ADHD working memory is terrible. Taking notes in meetings means you’re not fully present. Not taking notes means you forget everything. Otter.ai solves this: it joins meetings, transcribes everything, generates summaries, and extracts action items automatically.
Your working memory is free to actually listen.
Key ADHD-Friendly Features
Real-time transcription: Live captions appear as people speak
AI summaries: Key points, decisions, and action items extracted automatically
Searchable transcripts: Find any conversation instantly without remembering
Speaker identification: Knows who said what
100+ language support: Works globally
Best For
ADHD adults in lots of meetings, people who forget what was discussed, and anyone whose working memory can’t handle note-taking + listening simultaneously.
Pricing
Free: 300 minutes/month, 30 minutes per conversation
Pro: $16.99/month ($8.33/month annual)—1,200 minutes/month
Business: $30/month ($20/month annual)—6,000 minutes/month
Pros for ADHD
Completely removes working memory burden
Be fully present in meetings without notes
Search transcripts instead of remembering
Action items captured automatically
Works across Zoom, Meet, Teams, in-person
Cons for ADHD
Free plan very limited (30-minute conversations)
Bot joining can feel awkward
Some people uncomfortable being recorded
Transcription accuracy lower with accents/jargon
How to Actually Use ADHD Productivity Tools (Without Abandoning Them)
You’ve downloaded productivity apps before. You’ve been excited. And within a week, you stopped using them. Here’s how to make these tools actually stick:
Start with ONE Tool
ADHD loves novelty and shiny new things. You’ll want to try all 13 tools at once. Don’t. Pick the one that solves your biggest pain point:
Energy crashes ruining your day? → rivva
Time blindness making everything take forever? → Structured or Tiimo
Can’t start tasks alone? → Focusmate
Overwhelmed by big tasks? → Goblin Tools
Phone addiction destroying focus? → Forest
Reduce ADHD Tax During Setup
Setup friction kills ADHD adoption. Reduce it:
Set up during a hyperfocus window (when you have energy)
Use AI features to auto-populate (don’t manually enter 50 tasks)
Start minimal (don’t enable every feature on day one)
Set ONE reminder to use it tomorrow
Build External Accountability
ADHD struggles with self-accountability. Create external systems:
Tell someone you’re trying the tool (social pressure helps)
Join the tool’s community (Reddit, Discord)
Use Focusmate to do setup sessions
Set a calendar reminder to check in after 1 week
Expect Imperfection
You will forget to use it. You will abandon the system for a few days. This is normal ADHD behavior—not failure.
The tool that works is the one you come back to after abandoning it. Give yourself grace.
When to Switch Tools
ADHD gets bored. Sometimes you need to switch tools not because they don’t work, but because you need novelty. That’s okay.
Signs you need a new tool:
You haven’t opened it in 2+ weeks despite reminders
Using it feels like punishment instead of help
Your needs changed (job change, med adjustment, life shift)
You’ve outgrown its features
ADHD Productivity Tool FAQs
What makes a productivity tool ADHD-friendly?
ADHD-friendly tools have low friction for task capture (voice input, quick-add), visual representations of time and tasks, flexible systems that adapt when plans change, dopamine-friendly interfaces with rewards, and external working memory so nothing lives only in your head.
Do productivity tools actually work for ADHD?
Yes, when they’re designed for ADHD brains. Tools that accommodate executive dysfunction, time blindness, and energy variability work significantly better than generic productivity apps. The key is matching the tool to your specific ADHD challenges.
Should I use one tool or multiple tools for ADHD?
Start with one tool that solves your biggest problem. Once it’s habitual, you can add complementary tools (like pairing rivva for scheduling with Focusmate for accountability). Too many tools at once creates overwhelm and abandonment.
How do I stop abandoning productivity tools after a week?
Reduce setup friction, build external accountability (tell someone, join communities), start minimal (don’t enable everything), and expect imperfection—coming back after abandoning is normal ADHD behavior, not failure.
Are there free ADHD productivity tools?
Yes. Goblin Tools is completely free on web, Focusmate offers 3 free sessions weekly, Todoist has a limited free plan, Forest is free on Android, and Brain Focus is free on Android. Many paid tools offer meaningful free trials.
Can productivity tools help with executive dysfunction?
Absolutely. Tools like rivva, Goblin Tools, and Saner.ai specifically target executive dysfunction by handling planning, prioritization, and task breakdown automatically. They act as external executive function when yours isn’t working.
What’s the difference between ADHD tools and regular productivity apps?
ADHD tools accommodate time blindness (visual timelines), executive dysfunction (AI planning), energy variability (flexible scheduling), working memory issues (automatic capture), and dopamine needs (gamification). Regular apps assume neurotypical executive function and consistent energy.
The Bottom Line: Your Tools Should Work With Your Brain, Not Against It
Your ADHD brain isn’t the problem. It’s creative, thinks in connections, hyperfocuses on interesting things, and notices details others miss. The productivity tools you’ve been using? Those are the problem.
They were designed for brains that work in straight lines, remember things without external systems, maintain consistent energy, and have reliable executive function. That’s not your brain—and that’s okay.
The right ADHD productivity tools don’t try to “fix” you. They accommodate how your brain actually works. They provide external working memory when yours fails. They make time visible when time blindness strikes. They remove friction when executive dysfunction makes starting impossible. They adapt when (not if) your day goes sideways.
rivva understands this better than any tool we tested. It’s the only productivity app that schedules work around your actual energy patterns—not just your calendar availability. It treats you like an athlete optimizing performance, not a machine expected to output consistently.
When your tools respect your ADHD brain instead of fighting it, productivity stops feeling like punishment. It starts feeling sustainable. And that’s what actually matters—not doing more, but doing what matters when you actually have the capacity to do it well.
Your brain is different. Your tools should be too.
*Last updated: January 2026. Pricing and features subject to change. Always verify