I’ve been testing Satu on my M2 MacBook Air, and it’s refreshingly different from the overwhelming productivity apps that promise to manage your entire life. This Indonesian-developed gem does exactly one thing: helps you focus on a single task at a time, right from your menu bar.
Like many remote workers juggling multiple projects, I often find myself scattered across different tasks, checking email, then jumping to code, then back to a design review. Satu addresses this specific problem with remarkable simplicity - it keeps your current focus visible in the menu bar and gently reminds you when you’ve wandered off track.
The app’s interface feels deliberately calming. You can start a focus session either by specifying a task (“Create UI design for client 1.0”) or simply begin an unnamed session when you need to buckle down. What I appreciate most is the built-in Lofi music player that streams from YouTube - no need for a separate app or browser tab eating up resources. The music integration feels seamless and adds to the cozy productivity vibe the developer clearly intended.
Satu tracks three types of time: active work, rest periods, and idle time. The notifications are genuinely gentle - no aggressive pings that jar you out of deep work. Instead, you get subtle reminders that respect your flow state while keeping you accountable. I’ve found this approach much more sustainable than harsh Pomodoro timers that feel punitive.
The app runs incredibly light on system resources - barely registering in Activity Monitor with minimal CPU usage and around 50MB of memory. It requires macOS 13.5 or newer and works perfectly on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. At free pricing, there’s honestly no reason not to try it if you struggle with task-switching.
The developer has been actively updating the app (version 1.1.5 as of July 2025) and maintains a clean privacy policy with no data collection. This indie approach aligns with my preference for supporting smaller developers who focus on solving specific problems rather than building productivity empires.
Satu won’t replace your project management tools or replace complex time-tracking systems. But if you need help maintaining single-task focus without the complexity of feature-heavy productivity apps, it’s exactly what you’re looking for. The combination of visual focus cues, gentle accountability, and ambient music creates a surprisingly effective environment for deep work.
