# Forest — The #1 Focus App for Time Well Spent

> A mindful focus app where you grow a virtual tree during each focus session. The tree dies if you switch to another app mid-session. Completed sessions build into a visible forest — a living record of your focused time. Trusted by 60 million people since 2014. Built by Seekrtech. Partnered with Trees for the Future to plant over 2 million real trees on Earth.

## Quick Links

- Homepage: https://forestapp.cc/
- Features: https://forestapp.cc/#features
- Plans (Free vs Plus): https://forestapp.cc/#plans
- FAQ: https://forestapp.cc/#faq
- App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id866450515
- Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cc.forestapp
- Privacy Policy: https://forestapp.cc/privacy/
- Trees for the Future partnership: https://trees.org/sponsor/forest-app/

## What Is Forest

Forest — officially **Forest: Focus for Productivity** on the App Store and Google Play — is a mindful productivity app where focus is something you tend, not something you fight. You set a focus timer and plant a virtual tree. The tree grows in real time as you stay focused. If you switch to another app mid-session, the tree dies. Completed sessions build into a visible forest — a living record of every minute you chose depth over distraction.

Forest's purpose isn't to help you save time — it's to help you spend it well. Some people use it as a sharp focus tool (study, deep work, app blocking); others as a daily companion for intentional living. Since launching on iOS on May 10, 2014, 60 million+ people have used Forest to take back their time from distractions and feel in control.

Forest is built by **Seekrtech**, an indie studio based in Taiwan. The company exists to help people spend their time well — Forest is the flagship expression of that purpose.

## How Forest Works

Forest is a pomodoro-style focus timer with a twist: every minute of concentration grows a tree, and losing focus loses the tree.

### 1. Start focusing
Pick a focus length and a tree species. Your tree grows in real time as you focus.

### 2. Distraction kills it
Use other apps and your tree dies.

### 3. Stay focused and earn a tree
Finish the session — your tree joins your forest forever.

Over time, your focus sessions grow into a diverse, vibrant forest — a visible record of every minute you chose depth over distraction.

The mechanic taps **loss aversion** — the fear of losing something you've invested in is a stronger motivator than the promise of future rewards. You don't focus because you have to; you focus because you don't want to kill your tree.

## Use Cases

Whatever you're focusing on, Forest fits:

**Studying.** Exam crunch or long study sessions. The pomodoro timer turns hours into trees; Deep Focus blocks what's stealing your attention.

**Working.** Slack and feeds one tab away. Time Guard locks distracting apps during work hours. Mindful Space gives you real breaks — not doom-scroll detours.

**Digital detox.** Family dinners, weekend resets, time with the people in front of you. Use Forest for sustained phone-down moments without willpower fatigue.

**ADHD-friendly focus.** Visible progress feedback, immediate consequences, short structured sessions, and gamification all align with ADHD-friendly design. Many users with ADHD report Forest is the first focus app that actually stuck.

**Procrastination.** The visible-tree mechanic makes abstract goals concrete. The loss-aversion design breaks the procrastination loop where normal willpower fails.

## Core Features

### Focus Timer (free)
The foundational ritual. Choose a length and a tree species. The tree grows as you focus, dies if you switch apps, and joins your forest if you make it through. This is the heart of Forest — everything else builds around it.

### Deep Focus / App Blocker (free)
A stricter mode that blocks non-allowlisted apps during a focus session. Try to switch and Forest pulls you back; the only escape is to tap "Give Up" and let the tree die. You can't toggle Deep Focus off mid-session — the commitment is part of the point. Free on every tier (most competitors paywall this); Plus adds a customizable App Allowlist for apps you're allowed to use.

### Time Guard / Screen Time Scheduling
Set recurring windows when chosen apps shouldn't reach you — no social media 9 to 5, no feeds before bed. Time Guard holds the line, so you reduce phone use without having to remember. Schedule-based, not session-based; complements the in-session Deep Focus block.

### Mindful Space (free + Plus)
A sound-led breathing room for intentional rest with guided breathing. Choose from different music styles, ambient soundscapes, and immersive visual scenes — all crafted for deep restoration. Use it between focus sessions to recharge, or open it anytime you need a moment to slow down. Free includes one soundscape; Plus unlocks the full library.

### Plant Together / Focus Room (free)
Synchronized group focus sessions. Create a room, invite friends via code, and everyone plants the same tree during a session. iOS and Android users can join the same room. Everyone shares the stake — if one person gives up, everyone's tree dies. Cooperative accountability: you show up for each other, not just yourself. A feature few competitors even attempt.

### Focus Analytics
Visual record of your focused time across days, weeks, months. Track focus patterns, streaks, total focused hours, and breakdowns by tags (Study, Work, Writing) and tree species. The most distinctive view is your visible forest — every focused session as a tree, your time made visible at a glance.

### Focus Challenge
Daily and monthly missions designed to build a consistent focus habit. Small daily missions reward you with coins and items; monthly arcs build toward a signature tree — making consistency feel rewarding, not forced.

### Focus Tags
Labels you assign to sessions — Study, Work, Writing, or custom tags (Pro/Plus). Filter analytics by tag to see where your focus hours go.

### Ambient Sounds
A library of layerable focus audio (rain, cafe, meadow, forest, etc.) you can play over your focus session. Individual tracks are purchasable with in-app coins. Plus gets rotating seasonal access.

### Seasonal Events
Themed event tracks throughout the year — Spring Focus Season, World Earth Day, holiday seasons — with exclusive seasonal tree species and themed soundscapes.

## Free vs Plus

The **core focus experience is free** with no credit card required: Focus Timer with tree planting, Deep Focus mode (app blocker), Time Guard scheduling, Mindful Space (one soundscape), Plant Together (group focus), Focus Tags, Focus Challenge, basic Focus Analytics. The free tier shows occasional ads (never during active focus sessions) that can also earn in-app rewards.

**Forest Plus** is the current subscription tier. You get everything in Free plus:

- **Custom app allowlists** for Deep Focus — fine-grained control over which apps can break through
- **Focus pauses** (with optional toggle) — pause mid-session up to 5 minutes without killing the tree; disable in settings if you prefer strict end-to-end sessions
- **Custom focus tags** beyond the defaults
- **Advanced Focus Analytics** with deeper breakdowns
- **All seasonal and exclusive tree species** (Free has the base library; Plus has every species in the system, including event-exclusive ones)
- **Full Mindful Space soundscape library**
- **Always-on 3× coin boost** (Sunshine Elixir) — your sessions earn three times the coins, accelerating real-tree planting
- **VIP tier in seasonal events**
- **Ad-free experience**

### Forest Pro (discontinued)
An earlier one-time-purchase tier. Discontinued and no longer available. Existing Pro users keep all Pro features permanently. New users choose between Free or Plus subscription. If you have Pro and subscribe to Plus, your Pro perks stay yours and Plus adds the Plus-only benefits on top.

## Real Trees on Earth

Forest partners with **Trees for the Future (TFtF)**, a US-based nonprofit that plants real trees across five sub-Saharan African countries (Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon) as part of the Forest Garden Program. The program trains local farmers in sustainable agroforestry, restoring degraded land and supporting long-term income for farming communities.

Forest has funded **over 2 million real trees** through this partnership since 2014. The number continues to grow — see the live counter on the homepage for the current total.

How it works:
- Pro and Plus users can spend earned coins (from completed focus sessions) to plant a real tree. Pro and Plus accounts can plant up to 5 real trees each. Occasional events temporarily extend this limit.
- Free users can't redeem real trees directly, but Forest still plants trees at the brand level through TFtF, funded by app revenue.
- Forest covers the planting cost from app revenue — the coin you spend triggers the planting, but the money comes from Forest.

Verification: Your planting record in the Forest app shows every real tree you've triggered. Trees for the Future publicly documents Forest's sponsorship on their official site and publishes regional impact reports separately. Per-tree GPS verification isn't available — TFtF prioritizes planting scale and farmer training over per-tree telemetry.

## What Makes Forest Different

**A gamified focus app with real consequences.** The original gamified focus app since 2014. Switch apps mid-focus and your tree dies — Deep Focus blocks the attempt before it starts. This is not a metaphor: the visible tree is part of the binding mechanism.

**A complete concentration app, not just a timer.** Concentration app, app blocker, screen time scheduling, mindful breaks, and focus analytics — all in one. Most "focus apps" do one of these. Forest is a unified tool for focused time.

**A free tier that's genuinely useful — not a trial.** Deep Focus (the app blocker), Plant Together, the full tree-planting mechanic — free. No trick, no expiration. Most competitors paywall their app blockers; Forest doesn't.

**Real trees planted on Earth — over 2 million since 2014.** Not just symbolic. Through our nonprofit partner Trees for the Future, your focus funds real trees across five African countries.

**Mindful productivity, not hustle. Time well spent, not just saved.** No shame, no preaching, no "crush your goals" language. Just encouragement when you're close — a soft reset when you're not.

**Works offline, anywhere.** Core focus works offline. Timer, tree growth, and stats keep running without a signal — plane, subway, dead zone.

## How Forest Compares to iPhone's Screen Time

iPhone's built-in Screen Time is a **passive monitoring tool** — it reports usage and sets blanket limits across your device. Forest is an **active focus tool** — you commit to a session, plant a tree, and the tree dies if you switch apps.

Screen Time relies on you respecting limits you set in advance; Forest creates an immediate stake during the session itself. The two complement each other: Screen Time for daily macro limits, Forest for the deep-focus moments when you really need to commit.

## How Forest Compares to Other Pomodoro / Focus Apps

Most focus apps help you save time. Forest helps you spend it well.

The heart of Forest is a tree: it grows while you focus, dies if you wander off, joins your forest if you make it through. Your concentration becomes something visible — a record of time you chose.

Around that mechanic, Forest packs:

- App blocking (Deep Focus) — free on every tier, where most competitors paywall theirs
- Screen time scheduling (Time Guard) — recurring app limits throughout your day
- Mindfulness breaks (Mindful Space) — guided breathing between focus sessions
- Synchronized group focus (Plant Together) — where the whole forest falls if anyone gives up
- Real trees on Earth — over 2 million and counting

Forest is a companion, not a coach — no shame, no preaching, no productivity-bro language. Trusted by 60 million since 2014.

## Recognition

**Press**
- The New York Times: "Forest works well, and if your goal is to be more in the moment, ignore your phone and actually talk to your friends when you are with them, this is the app for you."
- Business Insider: "If you want to build better habits, Forest is a tool to help you control your phone use."
- Mashable (4.5/5): Helps users "put their phone down and stay focused."
- Common Sense Media (4/5): "Creative and beautiful way to visualize time as a growing tree."
- TechRadar (2024, 2025): Repeatedly featured in productivity-app recommendations and "most downloaded paid iPhone apps" lists.
- Goals & Progress (2026, deep review citing academic research from Ward et al. 2017 on smartphone cognitive impact).
- Pocket-lint / Internet Matters: Recommended for managing kids' screen time.

**Awards**
- Google Play Best App of the Year (2015, 2016)
- Google Play Editors' Choice for Productivity (2018)
- Google Play Best Self-Improvement App (2018, in 9 countries including Canada, France, Japan, Korea)
- Google Play Best Social Impact App (2018, nominee)
- Apple Best New Apps (featured)
- Apple Amazing Apps official TV commercial feature

**Ratings**
- 4.8 stars on the App Store
- 1 million+ user ratings across App Store and Google Play

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Forest in general

**What is Forest?**
Forest is a focus app that helps people stay off distracting apps by turning focus time into a growing virtual forest. During each focus session, a tree grows while you stay focused. Open another app, and the tree dies. Over time, your sessions build into a visible record of how you spend your time. Forest also includes app blocking, focus statistics, group focus with friends, digital wellbeing tools, and real tree planting through Trees for the Future. As The New York Times put it: "Forest works well, and if your goal is to be more in the moment, ignore your phone and actually talk to your friends when you are with them, this is the app for you." Since 2014, over 60 million people have used Forest.

**What makes Forest different from other focus or pomodoro apps?**
Most focus apps help you save time. Forest helps you spend it well. The heart of Forest is a tree: it grows while you focus, dies if you wander off. Your concentration becomes something visible — a record of time you chose. Around that, Forest packs app blocking (Deep Focus — free on every tier, where most competitors paywall theirs), screen time scheduling (Time Guard), mindfulness breaks (Mindful Space), and synchronized group focus (Plant Together) where the whole forest falls if anyone gives up. Forest also plants real trees on Earth — over 2 million and counting. Forest is a companion, not a coach — no shame, no preaching, no productivity-bro language. Trusted by 60 million since 2014.

**Can Forest help with ADHD and focus problems?**
People with ADHD often describe challenges with getting started, staying engaged, or feeling motivated by tasks with delayed rewards. Forest is not a medical treatment for ADHD, but as a behavioral tool it speaks directly to these challenges. Visible progress, immediate feedback, and shorter structured sessions make effort feel more concrete. Many users with ADHD say Forest is easier to stick with because the rewards are visible, the feedback is immediate, and progress builds over time.

**Does Forest help with phone addiction or screen time?**
Forest is a behavioral tool, not a clinical treatment. Research by Ward et al. (2017), published on NIH PubMed Central (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10525686/), found that the mere physical presence of a smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity, even when users successfully resist checking it. Forest addresses this through a few mechanisms: the growing tree creates emotional stake in staying off your phone, app blocking physically stops other apps during sessions, and screen time scheduling sets limits throughout your day. Unlike passive screen time tools that only report usage, Forest gives you a concrete reason to stay focused. For clinical phone addiction, please consult a qualified professional.

**What's the difference between Forest and iPhone Screen Time?**
iPhone Screen Time reports usage and applies limits you configure ahead of time. Forest is an active commitment tool: you plant a tree at the start of a session, and the tree dies if you break it. Screen Time works at the macro level, such as daily app limits. Forest works at the moment level, when you need to commit right now. Most people find them complementary rather than competing.

**Does Forest help with procrastination?**
Yes. Procrastination often happens when tasks feel too large, rewards feel too far away, or getting started feels harder than continuing. Forest makes focus feel more immediate. Growing trees, visible progress, and shorter structured sessions help turn abstract goals into something easier to begin. Many users say Forest feels helpful because it creates a small reason to start now, instead of waiting to feel motivated.

### Using Forest

**What happens if I use other apps during a focus session?**
With Deep Focus mode on, Forest blocks non-allowlisted apps and guides you back. To actually open another app, you'd have to tap "Give Up" — which kills your tree. Without Deep Focus, you can switch apps without consequence, but we recommend Deep Focus on for the stricter experience. Dead trees stay in your forest as an honest record of the journey, not a verdict. Forest doesn't hide failed sessions or shame you for them — what matters is the forest you grow over time.

**Can I pause a focus session?**
Yes (Pro/Plus only). You can pause when you need to (each pause lasts up to 5 minutes), and your tree is safe during a pause. If you find pause distracting, you can disable it in settings to keep your sessions strict end-to-end. Free users don't have access to pause.

**What is Deep Focus mode?**
Deep Focus is a stricter mode that blocks you from other apps or redirects you back to Forest when you try to open one. You can't toggle it off mid-session (the commitment is part of the point). Free on all tiers; Pro/Plus add a customizable App Allowlist for apps you're allowed to use.

**Can Forest block Instagram, TikTok, and other social apps?**
Yes. Forest can block Instagram, TikTok, X, Reddit, YouTube, or any other app you choose — through two complementary tools. Deep Focus blocks apps during a focus session: try to switch and Forest pulls you back, until you give up and let the tree die. Time Guard schedules recurring blocks throughout your day — no social media 9 to 5, no feeds before bed. Both are free; Plus extends them with custom App Allowlists and multi-app scheduling.

**How do I use Plant Together (Focus Room)?**
Create a room, invite friends via code, and everyone plants the same tree during a synchronized session. iOS and Android users can join the same room. Everyone shares the stake — if one person gives up, everyone's tree dies. It's cooperative accountability: you show up for each other, not just yourself.

### Mindful Space & Sounds

**What is Mindful Space?**
A sound-led breathing room for intentional rest with guided breathing. Choose from different music styles, ambient soundscapes, and immersive visual scenes — all crafted for deep restoration. Use it between focus sessions to recharge before the next one, or open it anytime you need a moment to slow down. Free includes one soundscape; Plus unlocks the full library.

**Can I listen to music during focus?**
Yes — Forest has a library of Ambient Sounds (rain, cafe, meadow, etc.) you can layer over your focus session. Individual tracks are purchasable with in-app coins. Plus gets rotating seasonal access.

### Stats, challenges, and habits

**What is Focus Challenge?**
Daily and monthly missions designed to help you build a consistent focus habit. Small daily missions reward you with coins and items; monthly arcs build toward a signature tree — making consistency feel rewarding, not forced.

**What are Focus Tags?**
Labels you assign to sessions — Study, Work, Writing, or custom tags (Pro/Plus). You can filter analytics by tag to see where your focus hours go.

**What does Forest show me about my focus?**
The most distinctive view is your visible forest — every focused session as a tree, your time made visible at a glance. Forest also shows total focus time, focus patterns by day, week, or month, streaks, and breakdowns by tags (Study, Work, Writing) and tree species. Together, these help you understand your own focus rhythm and where your hours really go.

### Real trees on Earth

**How many real trees has Forest planted?**
Forest has funded over 2 million real trees through Trees for the Future since 2014, with the number growing continuously — see the live counter on our homepage for the current total. Trees are planted across five sub-Saharan African countries (Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon) as part of the Forest Garden Program, which trains local farmers in sustainable agroforestry. Forest covers the planting cost from app revenue.

**Does Forest really plant real trees?**
Yes. Forest partners with Trees for the Future, a nonprofit, to plant real trees across five countries in Africa. Over 2 million real trees have been planted through this partnership. Pro and Plus users can spend their earned coins to trigger a real tree being planted on their behalf — Forest covers the cost from app revenue.

**Which organization plants the trees?**
Trees for the Future (TFtF) is a US-based nonprofit that plants trees as part of reforestation and sustainable agriculture programs. They train local farmers to plant diverse tree species that restore soil, provide food, and generate long-term income.

**How many real trees can I plant?**
Pro and Plus users can spend accumulated coins earned from focus sessions to plant real trees — up to 5 real trees per account. Forest covers the planting cost from app revenue; Trees for the Future handles the actual planting.

**How can I verify the trees are really planted?**
Your planting record in the Forest app shows every real tree you've triggered. Trees for the Future publicly documents Forest's sponsorship on their official site, and publishes regional impact reports separately. Individual per-tree GPS verification isn't available — TFtF prioritizes planting scale and farmer training over per-tree telemetry.

### Pricing & plans

**Is Forest free?**
Yes — the core focus experience is free — no credit card, no expiration — including the Focus Timer, tree growth, Plant Together (group focus), Deep Focus mode (app blocker), and Mindful Space. The free tier shows occasional ads (never during active focus sessions) that can also earn in-app rewards. Plus is an optional subscription for advanced features and an ad-free experience.

**Can I still buy Forest Pro as a one-time purchase?**
No. Forest Pro has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase on any platform. New users can use Forest Free (core focus experience, no subscription) or subscribe to Forest Plus for advanced features. If you previously purchased Pro, you keep all Pro features permanently.

**What's the difference between Free, Pro, and Plus?**
Free covers the core focus experience. Pro was a one-time purchase that added advanced features (now discontinued — existing users keep everything). Plus is the current subscription, adding exclusive/seasonal/early-access tree species, full soundscapes, Focus Analytics, custom allowlists, and an always-on 3× coin boost.

**How much does Plus cost?**
Plus pricing varies by region and platform. Please check the App Store or Google Play for your current local price.

**Can I try Plus first?**
Yes. You can start a free Plus trial, and only continue as a paid subscriber if you decide to. Start it from inside the Forest app — no commitment, cancel anytime.

**What happens if I cancel Plus?**
Your Forest stays yours. All past sessions, trees, and focus history are preserved. Plus features stay active until the end of your current billing period — after that, your account returns to the Free tier. You can resubscribe anytime.

**How do refunds work?**
Refunds are handled by the platform you subscribed through (Apple App Store or Google Play). Please contact them directly.

**Pro user — can I still upgrade to Plus?**
Yes — Plus is a separate subscription. Your Pro perks stay yours, and Plus adds the Plus-only benefits (multi-app Time Guard, exclusive seasonal trees, VIP event tier, unlimited Sunshine Elixir, and more).

### Privacy, platforms, and accounts

**Is my focus data private?**
Yes — your session data is stored with your account and not sold to third parties. See our Privacy Policy at https://forestapp.cc/privacy/ for full details.

**Does Forest work offline or without an internet connection?**
Yes. The core focus experience works completely offline. The timer, tree growth, and your local focus data all run without a connection. Most other features need internet: Plant Together (group focus), Focus Challenge, the Shop, seasonal events, and real-tree planting. Your session data syncs to your account once you're back online.

**Does Forest work on Apple Watch, iPad, and browser?**
Forest works across iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple Watch (watchOS 8+), and as a browser extension (Chrome and Firefox). On iPhone and iPad, you get the full Forest experience — focus timer, tree gallery, Plant Together, Mindful Space. On Apple Watch, start, pause, and complete focus sessions from your wrist with Live Activities and StandBy support. The browser extension brings Deep Focus and the timer to desktop browsing. Your account, focus history, and forest sync across all platforms.

## Who Builds Forest

Forest is built by **Seekrtech Co., Ltd.**, an indie studio based in Taiwan. The company exists to help people spend their time well — Forest is the flagship expression of that purpose. Forest launched on iOS on May 10, 2014, and has been continuously developed since.

## Platforms

- **iOS**: iPhone and iPad (full app)
- **Android**: phones and tablets (full app)
- **Apple Watch** (watchOS 8+): start, pause, complete focus sessions; Live Activities and StandBy support
- **Chrome / Firefox extensions**: Deep Focus and timer on desktop browsing
- All platforms sync the same account, focus history, and forest

## Social

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestapp.cc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forestapp.cc
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/forestapp_cc