Forest vs Freedom
Forest
forestapp.cc
Freedom
freedom.toSide by side
| Figure | Forest | Freedom |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3/mo | $3.33/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 4 |
| Spec score · Focus Tools | 8.8 (#2) | 8.9 (#1) |
| App blocking | Deep Focus blocks or redirects attempts to open other apps during a session, and is available on the free tier. | Freedom can block desktop apps on Mac and Windows as well as apps on mobile platforms. |
| Company legal name | The Google Play developer field identifies the maker as 時刻科技股份有限公司, commonly rendered Seekrtech Co., Ltd. | The provider identifies itself in its terms as Eighty Percent Solutions Corporation DBA Freedom.to, a Delaware business corporation. |
| Cross-device sync | The maker describes account and focus-history sync across iPhone, iPad, Android and browser extension versions. | Users can sync blocking sessions across supported devices and choose which devices participate in a session. |
| Privacy | Forest says session data is stored with the account and is not sold to third parties. | The company says desktop and mobile blocking runs locally and that browsing or app activity is not logged or transmitted by the blockers. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | 4.8 out of 5 from 50K ratings | 4.4 out of 5 from 6K ratings. |
| Rating on Chrome Web Store | 3.8 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings | 3.2 out of 5 from 103 ratings. |
| Rating on Google Play | 4.3 out of 5 from 813K reviews | 4.6 out of 5 from 8.22K reviews. |
| Rating on Trustpilot | 3.8 out of 5 from 2 reviews | 2.8 out of 5 from 30 reviews. |
| Support | Forest provides a Help Center with advice articles and lists [email protected] as its Google Play support contact. | Users can contact support through the account messenger or email, and the help page describes an automated first response with an option to request a human agent. |
Plans
Forest
- FreeFree
- FreeFree
- Monthly (Early Bird)$5.99 a month
- Annual (Early Bird)$35.99 a year
- PlusPrice not published
- Pro (existing users only)Price not published
Freedom
- FreeFree
- Premium (monthly)$8.99 a month
- Premium (yearly)$40 a year
- Forever$99.50, paid once
In their own words
Forest
Forest is a focus timer that makes a virtual tree grow during a session and die if the user leaves or breaks the session. Deep Focus can block or redirect attempts to open other apps, including on the free tier. Time Guard schedules recurring app or site blocks; Free covers one app or site, while Plus supports multiple. Plant Together synchronizes a session among friends, and the group’s trees die if anyone gives up. Mindful Space offers guided breathing and soundscapes, and Focus Analytics reports focus patterns and hours by day, week, or month. Plus adds analytics and custom tags. Forest says focus-earned coins can fund real trees through its partnership with Trees for the Future, up to five per account on eligible plans. The timer, tree growth, and local focus data work offline, but group focus, challenges, the shop, seasonal events, and real-tree planting require internet. Forest works on iPhone, iPad, Android, and as a Chrome or Firefox extension; account and focus history can sync across platforms. Forest describes it as a behavioral tool, not an ADHD medical treatment.
Freedom
Freedom blocks distracting apps, websites or internet access to help people focus. It supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows, with blocking sessions and schedules that sync across supported devices, including Chromebook. Users can set sessions in advance or have them recur automatically; Locked Mode prevents ending a session early. Website Exceptions let Mac and Windows users allow selected sites while blocking others, but are not supported on iOS, Android or Chromebook. Freedom also offers focus music and ambient sounds, including tracks from Brain.fm. The free plan includes blocking, multi-device sync, custom blocklists and limited features. Premium adds scheduling, advance and recurring sessions, Locked Mode, unlimited sessions and partner perks. Premium costs $3.33 per year when billed yearly or $8.99 per month; a Forever option is $99.50 as a one-time payment. A 7-day trial is listed. Freedom says it does not track browsing, app usage or personal activity.