Forest review

Forest turns each focus session into a virtual tree that grows while you stay off your phone and withers if you leave for a blocked app. Forest says more than 60 million people have used it since 2014. The free tier is generous: a countdown and stopwatch timer, Deep Focus app blocking, Time Guard for one app or site, one Mindful Space soundscape, focus tracking and Plant Together rooms where a group shares one session. Forest Plus, listed on the US App Store at $5.99 a month or $35.99 a year under Early Bird pricing, adds a custom app allowlist, Time Guard for multiple apps and sites, Focus Analytics with custom tags, all soundscapes, a 3x coin boost and exclusive tree species. The older one-time Forest Pro purchase is no longer sold to new users. The trade-off is that Forest is built around the phone, so it does less for people whose distractions are on a desktop. For students and anyone who reaches for social apps mid-task, the free blocking makes it a strong first install.

Who it is for

students who lose study time to their phone

Price

Free plan with no time limit; Forest Plus from $5.99 a month or $35.99 a year (Early Bird) on the US App Store.

Monthly (Early Bird) $5.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Focus timer with countdown and stopwatch modes that grows a tree per session
• Deep Focus mode that blocks chosen apps during a session, free on every tier
• Time Guard schedules app blocks outside focus sessions
• Plant Together group focus rooms and a friends leaderboard
• Plus adds Focus Analytics, custom tags, all Mindful Space soundscapes and a custom app allowlist

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: App blocking is free, which Forest says most competitors charge for
• Strength: Free plan has no payment requirement and no time limit
• Strength: Users can spend earned coins to fund real trees through Trees for the Future
• Weakness: Focus Analytics and custom tags need Forest Plus
• Weakness: Free Time Guard covers only 1 app or site
• Weakness: The US App Store listing notes the app contains advertising

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, no time limit
• Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android, browser extensions
• Plus price (US App Store): $5.99 a month or $35.99 a year (Early Bird)
• Real trees funded: More than 2 million, per Forest

Where it ranks

Forest is No. 2 in our Best Pomodoro Apps verdict.