Forest: Focus for Productivity Reviews

by Angelacast387

I was 1 coin away from having 900 coins, enough to buy a new tree and I was very excited. I planted a bush for 10 minutes and now I’m at 867?? You can only imagine my disappointment. Is it charging me to plant trees? If so, then it’s a dumb feature and just makes me want to stop using Forest . If it was a bug on your part, then I want my coins back 😡 I worked hard for those. They’re not easy to accumulate.

But overall, I’m giving Forest 4 stars (5 if I get my coins back). When I was referred by a friend I thought it was silly but it’s literally the only thing that keeps from using my phone when studying. You’d think planting fake trees (you can also save up to plant a real tree) wouldn’t be motivation enough but it is!!! If you convince your friends to buy Forest, you can create a room and study together and hold each other accountable! My friends and I compare the trees we have and are always eager to expand our this app. Great app! Just give me coins back 😫.

A suggestion: bushes SHOULD NOT cost the same as trees. That’s ridiculous, especially when the price increases with every buy.

by Nouveau_Riche

So far I’m actively using it and having fun with it. I do feel more rewarded and accomplished when I finish a task which makes studying more fun and working from home less of a chore. It was definitely worth the $2! I think a reading feature would help though, especially for studying. It operates strictly on a timer, but say you need to read two chapters before tomorrow. It’s really hard to tell how long that will take. If you take to the material easily, it won’t take nearly as long as you expected to finish but if you stop the timer early you don’t get rewarded. So a checklist or task feature that maybe worked it conjunction with the timer would be better, something where you could mark a task as completed without being pinged because you got it done quicker than you thought. This could also work well if you’re trying to get chores done without getting distracted. Right now, this is better for work or sleep when you know you’re only going to be doing it for a set amount of time.

by Ejshcs

To be honest, I really like Forest. I think it’s super helpful, and super beautiful. I really like the grid layout and all of that. My only complaint is that I think that although the developers know this already, it is silly that there’s a limit on how many real tress you can plant through Forest . my biggest complaint however is not necessarily with just Forest but also similar apps that reward you for focusing which is that they don’t really get of a full Pomodoro experience, i.e. letting you set up multiple cycles of 25 minutes of focus and 5 minutes of break. Instead, you have to open up Forest every time you finish your focus session and click to set a timer for the break and go back to Forest after the break to start the focus timer again. Of course, this isn’t a dealbreaker on Forest for me, it just means after that five minute break I will often get distracted and forget to come back to Forest . Other than that I think it’s a great app and adding the classic Pomodoro experience would push Forest to five stars for me.

by Aye.en.dee.why

Forest is great for what it does. It’s not too complex, but just has enough fun functionality to keep you motivated and involved. You might not like these kinds of gamified time trackers if the game part isn’t attractive to you (aka you don’t like growing trees or raising an RPG character), but for everyone else they should like this.

There is only one very very annoying flaw. There is no landscape mode, at least not on tablets. People have been asking for this for a while now and it still hasn’t happened. I understand why they’d hold off on making it initially but with the release of the Magic Keyboard (which is now gen 2) that puts iPads in landscape, they should have developed this by now. Essentially it’s their way of saying only use Forest on your phone. Also it’s not a bad web plugin but I don’t really find it that useful. Maybe if your workflow lived entirely in a browser, it’d be more helpful.

This isn’t to be a downer though. It’s a very good app, it just has some flaws that are puzzling at best and keep it from being really great

by Mollielarue

I’ve never reviewed an app before, but I love Forest so much. I downloaded it after my previous pomodoro timer app, tide, stopped timing correctly, which was literally all it had to do. The timer on Forest works, with reliable notifications, and the “gamification” of being focused may seem silly, but it adds a cute and fun element to using a pomodoro timer. Also, the ability to tag how I spend my time (ex: work vs all other things) is an easy way to stay balanced. For instance, I can see if I’m falling behind on daily meditating even if it’s something I’m not conscious of. I can also see someone using Forest not necessarily to boost concentration but as a way to literally bar yourself from using your phone for periods of time when you need to be present (ex: during a meeting or with a friend). One more thing I love: I just finished a project that took two months, and I went back and looked at my little forests for that time. Each lil tree helped me get that project done. It’s such a beautiful reminder that everything big happens with many tiny steps!

by Jram1157

I have just the absolute worst habit of procrastination, and I have no idea what else to do to help me stop being such a sleaze-bag and stop sleazing around and shirking my homework and studying. I needed something to take my Sleaze level way down from Super Saiyan Sleaze God to, like, just a regular Super Saiyan Sleaze.

One day, during my procrastination addiction, I was looking though some apps and I saw it: this app-Stay Focused. I immediately felt drawn. “I’ll just keep procrastinating and sleazing it up while I check out Forest,” I thought. Unbeknownst to my Sleazy Habits, Forest would soon become the death them. I use it all the time and have gone from not studying or doing homework at all, to working on homework and studying for over 3 solid hours a day (and growing! As is my this app!). Forest is awesome, and I can actually feel my Super Saiyan Sleaze Power leave me. Best $2 I ever spent.

If you think about it, I’m only giving up like, a snickers bar and like, one or two 4-packs of Wrigley’s gum. Also, I can’t wait to unlock mushrooms and start sleazing it up with them.

by Disarray Human Being

Honestly, I’m the type of person who just suddenly goes on my phone or laptop in the middle of doing homework, projects, etc. It’s especially been a problem since this new school year started. Forest has helped me quite a lot, though sometimes I forget to plant a tree before I begin completing assignments. It’s helped with decreasing the amount of time I spend on schoolwork, and makes me feel like I’m doing so much more. Whenever I do reach over to my phone and am about to do something besides studying, like scrolling through Instagram, I’d open it and see the tree on my screen. Then, I’d ask myself, “Do I really want the tree to die?” I’d say no. In the beginning of using Forest, I was always close to using my phone while the tree is growing. I began to develop a mentality after a few days that I should finish my homework before going on my phone and do other things. Of course, I sometimes still do it when I don’t use this app, but I feel as if I’ve lessened the amount. This is the first productivity app I’ve used, and I’ve always seen people recommend it. It’s definitely an app worth the money. You can use it on your laptop or computer as well, as a Chrome extension (which is what I started out with). It’s simple to use, and has a minimalistic aesthetic that I really enjoy. Overall, it’s a great app.

by Ellerooful

Forest is the best for those who need a little visual stimulation and extra incentive to stay productive. I truly hate exiting Forest during a work session (thus killing my little sapling), and I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing my daily this app grow. Forest has kept me from getting distracted by calls, texts, and web-browsing on many occasions.

A couple of requests: I would love more kinds of ambient sounds to be added to the "store." Also, please create a version for Mac desktop to keep us chronic procrastinators from using distracting apps and websites there! I know that a basic version of this app exists as a Chrome extension, but it lacks a lot of my favorite features from Forest , and doesn't currently block distracting desktop apps. I'm not such a fan of Chrome, anyway (I prefer Safari). In any case, keep up the fantastic work! Oh! And go check out the SleepTown app by the same developer. It uses the same concept to help people develop better sleep habits, and I can verify that it helps with getting a good night's sleep!

by Mutant K

I’ve only been using Forest for around a week, but it’s already cut down on the amount of time I absent-mindedly use my phone. Initially I got it mostly for how cute the little forests look, I’ll admit, and for the fact that earning enough in-game currency lets you plant a REAL tree! Now, it even helps me keep my phone away when going to bed (a big hurdle for me), since I set it to the longest break setting (2 hr) as I’m laying down.

Obviously, how people use their phone-free time will vary. For me, it’s allowed (forced?) me to eat my meals uninterrupted by scrolling, and I’ve begun creating art more frequently again (as I would always get stuck in the loop of “looking for inspiration” on my phone and then never actually getting to the art).

Honestly this is the best app I’ve ever paid money for (and one of the very few I shelled out cash for period), and it’s been completely worth it. If you spend upwards of 4 hours a day on your phone (like I was doing), I highly recommend taking Forest into consideration!

by SCASM

Hello,

First off, I love this idea and Forest is well designed and visually appealing, great job on that! If you could add the option to have an unlimited timer, and the ability to pause that timer, Forest would be exceptional. I guess not so much a timer, and more of a stopwatch since it would be counting time forward. It would be really cool to have multiple trees grow in a day, maybe one tree every two hours or something. I like keeping track of how much time I spend studying, but I can't pause Forest 's timer if, for example, I want to grab a quick bite or use the bathroom. Maybe an option to not kill the tree if you exit Forest would be nice, too. I understand that the point of Forest is to get people to not use their phone and be productive, but some of us have note card apps on our phones (ex. Anki) that we use, and so I would want the time spent doing note cards on my phone to also count towards growing trees!

So basically I'm asking for a stopwatch feature to Forest , that would be amazing!

by Nessesque

Hey this app team. I rarely ever post reviews, but I feel after this many years Forest deserves my effort. I’ve been using this to help me focus since 2016 and have literally logged hundreds and hundreds of hours using this. It’s helped me with highschool, college, technical programs, and other courses. I’ve even used it to track my meditation and personal reading. I just want to say thank you. I have a ridiculously difficult time focusing thanks to a myriad of mental health issues that are quite literally out of my control. Forest has been a game changer for me and I hope other people can have the same experience.

I also just wanted to voice some issues that I’ve had with Forest (not very many at al but I know your development team is strong and actually takes reviews seriously). One issue is with the friends feature. I’ve tried to get many people to join Forest and plant trees with me but I feel like each time it’s pretty difficult. That process could maybe be a bit more streamlined? One more thing is I think that I’ve noticed Forest slow down as I’ve been using it. Maybe it’s because how much data I have logged in it? Not sure. It doesn’t affect the functionality too much but just something I’ve noticed.

All in all, hands down the best app I’ve had the pleasure of using. Again, thank you. If I could give more the 5 stars I would.

by LanthanaTitanium

The cute little trees are just so adorable that I start wanting to put down my phone so I can unlock new ones! I am eagerly awaiting new trees to be added. The user interface is very simple and aesthetic. All in all it’s a great app; the only problem is that sometimes I run into situations where I plant a tree but then end up needing to use my phone for something (like if my mom calls or I have to look up something for homework) and can’t wait for the tree to finish. There is a feature where you can have Forest continue counting time after the tree finshes growing, so you can work around the problem by planting a short-time tree and then just continuing to not disturb it. But it would be really great if there was some sort of pause feature, maybe with some limitation like not earning coins if you pause it so that people don’t take advantage of it to ‘cheat’ on their time. Or maybe something where you can erase or reset the time, so you don’t have to feel bad about killing a cute little tree when you actually legitimately needed to use your phone for a minute.

by TotumReviews

I have ADHD so I tend to getting easily distracted by my brain. I’ve been using the free chrome extension which helped, but then I would just go on my phone instead. I was hesitant to buy Forest but it was really worth it. You feel kinda guilty if you end up going off task and kill a tree, which sounds bad but it really helps keep you on track. Once your in the groove of whatever you’re doing you don’t even notice that the time you set aside has been up already! If you’re a student that procrastinates, this is great for you! You can set the time and use it for more than just studying: breaks, cleaning, drawing, writing. Some of my only complaints are the price. Even though is pretty cheap, there is a desktop Chrome extension of this that’s 100% free. You’re only limited to only one tree and a bush which gets boring after continuous use; and if you want a different tree it’s only in the mobile, which is rather annoying. Other than that, it’s very versatile and user-friendly no matter the age. Very well done. 👍🏼

by Katencheyenne

As someone with ADHD who struggles infinitely with focus and maintaining my attention on one thing, especially with a phone within my grasp, Forest has been an absolute life-saver. Before I started using this I would zone out, mindlessly pick up my phone, get lost on social media or some app, and completely forget I had been working or doing school work to begin with. As soon as I unlock my phone and see the this app app open, I’m reminded of the task I was originally trying to focus on and it prevents those rabbit holes I would get lost in.

Getting to see the physical manifestation of your focus and hard work is priceless. Not only do you get to see your this app and know that each individual tree represents 2 hours of focus, but you can look at each day, week, month, year to see the exact amount of hours you spent. I was really down on myself and felt like I wasn’t spending enough time studying. Forest made me realize I’m actually spending a full 40 hour work week on homework, studying, tests, etc. It was a confidence boost that I am actually putting in the work.

by Alired22

If you are on the fence about buying Forest, take this as a sign to purchase and download it. Forest is so fun and motivating. I have tried other methods like the Pomodoro technique, but it doesn’t seem to work. However, as someone who sometimes has trouble staying focused and getting things done, Forest is helpful than one may realize. I love plants so Forest is definitely for me. I get excited once I have planted things in my this app and sometimes don’t even feel like I am working because I am motivated to make my plants and this app grow. And I am disappointed when one of my plants die. Maybe it is just me but I also love how I am encouraged by receiving coins, which I can use to buy different types of other beautiful plants of my choice (which just motivates me even more). I love the aesthetic of Forest and don’t know where I would be without Forest. I spend A LOT of time on my phone, so the Deep Focus setting that kills my plant if I exit the this app app is amazing. Because I hate seeing my plants die. I hold my this app in my heart and love watching it get bigger and bigger. Forest is the best. It helps me get my work done while keep it stress free, light and fun.

by Ijustgetbored

I downloaded Forest for work productivity, but it’s made me hyper-aware of how often I actually pick up my phone. For any task, just having the reminder that my phone is not currently available to me is extremely helpful. I’m realizing that I waste a ton of time that stems from, say, just looking at a text that could wait until later. Moral: don’t think Forest isn’t useful because you’re not at a desk all day. It has countless uses.

I agree with what other users have said about gamification being a good motivator, and the user interface is very appealing. Creating and naming tags produces helpful data. For instance, if you’re concerned about work-life balance, you can see a colorful pie chart with a few simple clicks.

One thing: I’m fine with how the trees become more “expensive” as time passes. However, it can take a long, long time to gain sufficient coins after awhile. I’m not asking for instant and easy gratification, because that’s contrary to the spirit of Forest . I think adding more achievement bonuses (that don’t depend on having friends that use Forest or on leaderboard performance) would be great. Unlocking achievements is also rewarding and something to strive for, so I’d love to see more!

by Peace4KT

I love this that it helps me stay focused and I can get enough of it you get trees and depending on how long your focus for depends how many coins you get because every 20 minutes you get seven points but anything like 25 minutes or how are you hat you can plant a tree anything lower than 25 minutes is a bush and any cool events you get cool trees the best part is is that you can’t buy anything but you can’t pay for coins you can’t cheat so the only way to get coins is you have to play Forest for a while and it’s not technically a gameTechnically it’s not a game but such a cool thing to have if you’re having trouble staying focused like me I would totally recommend Forest but anyone who is looking for a game to play don’t take this up but if your having a little bit of trouble I suggest taking a try at it it will be deafly worth the while of two box rather than going for the cheaper version the free one which was Flor at no offense but the only way you can login is my Facebook but this one is much more accurate and definitely the more original version I would’ve definitely done this if this was definitely free but it still worth two dollars you pay at the very beginning I would totally go for Forest if you are really need some help focusing.

by Boedinator

I have been slacking off and pushing off a lot of responsibilities lately and recently I heard a student in one of my classes mention Forest and how you can grow little trees and a this app and I thought that was amazing, the second I got home I checked out Forest and decided to buy it, one of the best $2 I have ever spent, I’m staying way more productive lately and I love seeing the little trees get planted, it has great graphics and design and is really simple to use. When I saw there was also an option in Forest to plant real trees to help the environment I thought that was absolutely amazing and made me feel really happy for getting Forest and supporting the developers. I have also just recently purchased the other app by the same developers called SleepTown and it is also amazing, it has been helping me have better sleeping habits and I have been way more productive and active during the day and just feel over all happier and healthier and feel like I’m getting my life back on track. I would recommend both of these apps to everyone, I have been telling my family and friends about it a lot and how it’s helped me and they love it too. Over all 10/10 great apps, I hope to see more from the developers in the future and love what they have done to help others 😎👍 🌲🌳🌴🌵🌱🎋🎄🍀 😴👍🌖🏠🏡🏘🏰🏕🏛🏫🏤

by AmyR1101

This is Forest that’s got me through middle school and two years of high school. I don’t have a diagnosed focusing disorder, but I get writing blocks and procrastinate a lot. Like, a LOT. Forest has helped me so, so much. It’s really got everything you could ask for. An amazing user interface, currency that you get from focusing, fake (and real) trees that you can plant to make a beautiful this app out of focusing, tags so you know where you’re spending time focusing, and really cool analysis tools that show you what days and what times you focus the most. This is the one of the only apps that I would say is completely worth your money. The tech team is really amazing, I reached out to them about an issue I had and within a day they responded and within a week had fixed the issue. I’ve also for years been pushing for a stopwatch feature in their feedback survey(as a student I don’t always know how long homework will take) and they listened! The only things I guess I would say could be better would be the leaderboard, since it’s worldwide and there are some people who use Forest to just get away from their phone, so they can have seriously high hours and it’s really impossible to beat if you use this app for studying. Overall, amazing app that has literally changed my life in a positive way.

by KezOnDemand

Don’t get me wrong, my phone is a useful tool, and I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m addicted to it. However, it’s also a super easy way to waste time you don’t even realize you could be using on other things. I use this app mostly in small increments, and it keeps me from picking up my phone whenever I have a few free minutes and get bored. Since I don’t actually need or want to be on my phone, the small motivation of growing little bushes and trees is enough for me to direct my attention elsewhere- and it turns out that those few free minutes throughout the day can translate into a lot of extra productivity!

Otherwise: initial download price might seem a bit high, but considering that they plant real trees if you make enough coins to buy the option, the $2 is warranted. Coin prices in Forest are average, but payment per tree during the week is okay and you can make enough yourself with a little effort (I personally think you should make a little more per tree than they offer, but it’s not a bad amount either). The interface is simple and intuitive, the art is charming and stylistically uniform, and my favorite part- the white noise options- are incredibly helpful for studying and neither overly expensive or so complicated that they become distracting.

All in all, great app that I use frequently. $2 has never bought me so much extra productivity.

by SimplyEric1244

I usually don’t write reviews, but I knew I had to write one for Forest. At first, I had doubt. I’m they guy who constantly checks his phone for no reason and gets distracted. I planted the first tree, and magically, it just worked. I did longer trees and it helped me get off my phone for the whole night! Forest makes you plant a tree, and you can’t exit Forest for however long you set it. If you finish planting the tree, it goes in your this app. However, if you leave Forest , the tree withers and shows up on your this app as well. You can use this with friends, coop, and gain coins for ever tree planted and achievement completed. Not only that, it is a relaxing app that has a selection of calming music(beach sounds, this app, etc). I believe the reason that this work is psychology. It makes you want to finish the tree and get coins, any brag you your friends about how many trees you planted. It puts pressure on you to not give up which I think is genius. Overall, this is probably one of my best purchases ever.