Focus Friend by Hank Green named Google Play’s 'Best App' of the year - Check out the full list of awards in other categories

Hank Green’s productivity tool Focus Friend has been named Google Play’s 'Best App' of the year for 2025, earning top honors for its creative approach to motivation and focus. The app blends gentle reminders, gamified tasks, and supportive messages to help users stay on track without pressure.

Google highlighted Focus Friend stating, "This year, one app helped us all to disconnect in order to reconnect. Focus Friend by Hank Green is a simple yet effective tool that helps you stay present. It’s the essential, helpful (and cute!) app we all needed this year."

The productivity app, which was launched in August, lets users block distracting phone apps while offering encouragement from a virtual companion - a small cartoon bean that knits socks and scarves. Those items can later be traded for decorations to personalize the little bean’s room, adding a playful reward system to staying focused.


The app quickly proved a hit, soaring to No. 1 on Apple’s App Store shortly after launch, reported TechCrunch. On Android, Focus Friend has already surpassed 1 million installs and has a star rating of 4.7, according to its Play Store listing.

Google also revealed a range of winners across categories including games, wearables, XR devices, and more. Trading card battler Pokémon TCG Pocket earned the award for Best Game, while photo editor Luminar was named Best Multi-Device App. The Best Multi-Device Game honor went to the racing title Disney Speedstorm.

HERE ARE THE OTHER WINNERS OF GOOGLE PLAY’S AWARDS 2025

Best Apps

• Best for Fun: Edits, an Instagram app
• Best for Personal Growth: Focus Friend by Hank Green
• Best Everyday Essential: Wiser - 15 Minute Audio Books
• Best Hidden Gem: Pingo AI Language Learning
• Best for Families: ABC mouse 2: Kids Learning Game
• Best for Watches: Sleepisol Bio: sleep, alarm
• Best for Large Screens: Goodnotes: Notes, docs, PDF
• Best for Cars: SoundCloud: The Music You Love
• Best for XR Headsets: Calm - Sleep, Meditate, Relax

Best Games

• Best Multiplayer: Dunk City Dynasty
• Best Pick Up &Play: Candy Crush Solitaire
• Best Indie: Chants of Sennaar
• Best Story: Disco Elysium
• Best Ongoing: Wuthering Waves
• Best on Play Pass: DREDGE
• Best for Google Play Games on PC: Odin: Valhalla Rising