Alternatives to
9 Best Forest Alternatives in 2026
The best Forest alternatives depend on whether you prioritize cost, control, or a different workflow.
- Reviewed
- Sep 2026
- Open source
- 3
- Self-hosted
- 0
What you are leaving
Forest at a glance
- Pricing model
- Free tier with core focus features; Forest Plus unlocks advanced features via app store purchase
- Deployment
- Mobile apps and browser extension
- Open source
- No - proprietary
- Self-host
- No
- Free tier
- Yes, core focus sessions with no credit card
- Category
- Focus
- App blocking
- Yes, blocked apps kill your tree
- Gamification
- Yes, growing trees and building a forest
- Real tree planting
- Yes, via Forest Plus credits
- Platforms
- iOS, Android and browser extension
Compare at a glance
Forest alternatives compared
Short facts side by side. Filter by what matters to your team, then open any row for the full decision brief.
| # | Product | Overlap | Substitutability | Free? | Starting price | Self-host | Open source | Migration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Focus To-Do | Pomodoro focus sessions | Mostly replaces | Yes | — | No | No | Easy | |
| 02 | Super Productivity | Pomodoro focus sessions and time tracking | Partial replacement | Yes | — | No | Yes | Easy | |
| 03 | Pomofocus | Pomodoro focus sessions | Partial replacement | Yes | — | No | No | Easy | |
| 04 | Session | Focus sessions with app blocking | Mostly replaces | No | — | No | No | Easy | |
| 05 | Freedom | Blocking distractions during focus | Partial replacement | No | — | No | No | Easy | |
| 06 | Cold Turkey Blocker | Blocking distracting sites and apps | Partial replacement | Yes | — | No | No | Easy | |
| 07 | Habitica | Gamified motivation | Narrow overlap | Yes | — | No | Yes | Easy | |
| 08 | Streaks | Habit streaks and motivation | Narrow overlap | No | — | No | No | Easy | |
| 09 | Loop Habit Tracker | Habit tracking and statistics | Narrow overlap | Yes | — | No | Yes | Easy |
Community signal
What switchers report
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Frequently asked
Forest alternatives FAQ
- Is Forest free?
- Forest has a free tier that is genuinely useful, covering core focus sessions with no credit card required. You can start a focus timer, grow trees and build a forest for free. Forest Plus unlocks advanced features such as additional tree species, real tree planting credits and deeper statistics, and is purchased through the app stores.
- How much does Forest cost?
- Forest is free to start with core focus features. Forest Plus unlocks advanced features and is billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play, so the price varies by region and platform. There is also a browser extension. Check Forest's site or your app store listing for current pricing in your region.
- What is the best Forest alternative?
- Focus To-Do is the closest alternative, combining a Pomodoro timer with task management and a similar gamified feel. Super Productivity is the best free open source option with time tracking and Pomodoro built in. Pomofocus is a free browser-based Pomodoro timer if you do not need app blocking. Freedom and Cold Turkey Blocker are stronger if blocking distracting sites is your main goal rather than gamification.
- Does Forest block distracting apps?
- Yes. Forest can block selected apps and websites during a focus session, and if you leave the app or use a blocked site, your tree dies. This is the core mechanic that makes Forest effective. If you need stronger, system-level blocking across your whole device, Freedom and Cold Turkey Blocker offer more aggressive controls than Forest.
- What should I check before switching away from Forest?
- Check whether the gamification is what actually keeps you focused, because that is the hardest part to replace and most alternatives do not have it. If you rely on app blocking, confirm the replacement blocks at the same level, since some Pomodoro apps only track time without blocking. Export or note your focus statistics first, as session history does not transfer between apps. Finally, test the mobile experience, because Forest is primarily a phone-based tool.
Switcher Reports
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Editorial method
Evidence before opinion.
We compare public product information and cite the sources used for each verified fact.