Insight Timer
Focus: meditation, mindfulness and sleep. Also in Focus and Habit Building, like Forest. Freemium (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Web. Rated 4.7 (Forest: 4.6).
Mobile AppFree planiOS, Android
4.7Visit
Mobile App
Forest
Grow a tree while you stay off your phone.
Rating
4.6 / 5
Pricing
Paid but Affordable
Difficulty
Beginner
Works on
iOS, Android, Chrome
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Forest?
Forest turns focus sessions into a small game: start a timer, a tree grows, leave the app and it dies. Simple, effective and pleasant enough to actually keep using.
Pros: what Forest does well
- Fun and effective
- Cheap one-time price
Cons: where it falls short
- Easy to ignore if unmotivated
Forest alternatives
Not sold on Forest? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
Medito
Focus: meditation, mindfulness and sleep. Also in Habit Building and Focus, like Forest. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Rated 4.7 (Forest: 4.6).
Mobile AppFreeiOS, Android
4.7Visit
one sec
Focus: screen time, app blocker and social media. Also in Distraction Blocking and Habit Building, like Forest. Freemium (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Same 4.6 rating.
Mobile AppFree planiOS, Android
4.6Visit
Smiling Mind
Focus: meditation, mindfulness and sleep. Also in Focus and Habit Building, like Forest. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Same 4.6 rating.
Mobile AppFreeiOS, Android
4.6Visit
uBlock Origin
Focus: ad blocker, content blocker and privacy. Also in Distraction Blocking and Focus, like Forest. A browser extension, not a mobile app. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Firefox. Rated 4.8 (Forest: 4.6).
Browser ExtensionFreeFirefox, Chrome
4.8Visit
AdGuard Home
Focus: ad blocker, dns and privacy. Also in Distraction Blocking and Focus, like Forest. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Linux and macOS. Rated 4.7 (Forest: 4.6).
OtherFreeLinux, macOS
4.7Visit
Free alternatives to Forest
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
Pi-hole
Focus: ad blocker, dns and privacy. Also in Distraction Blocking and Focus, like Forest. A web app, not a mobile app. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Linux and Web. Rated 4.7 (Forest: 4.6).
Web AppFreeLinux, Web
4.7Visit
SponsorBlock
Focus: youtube, skip sponsors and video. Also in Distraction Blocking and Focus, like Forest. A browser extension, not a mobile app. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Firefox and Safari. Rated 4.7 (Forest: 4.6).
Browser ExtensionFreeChrome, Firefox
4.7Visit
Unhook
Focus: youtube, distraction blocker and recommendations. Also in Distraction Blocking and Focus, like Forest. A browser extension, not a mobile app. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Firefox. Rated 4.7 (Forest: 4.6).
Browser ExtensionFreeChrome, Firefox
4.7Visit
How to Rewire Your Brain to Enjoy Discipline
Focus: discipline, habits and dopamine. Also in Habit Building and Focus, like Forest. A YouTube Video, not a mobile app. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Web. Same 4.6 rating.
YouTube VideoFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.6Visit
Stretchly
Focus: break reminder, eye strain and healthy habits. Also in Focus and Habit Building, like Forest. A desktop app, not a mobile app. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit
A Soft Murmur
Focus: ambient sounds, white noise and focus music. Also in Focus and Distraction Blocking, like Forest. A website, not a mobile app. Free (Forest: Paid but Affordable). Adds Web. Rated 4.5 (Forest: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.5Visit
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