Forest alternatives in 2026, including ones for your desktop

We make Yappie, one of the alternatives below, so we list it last; weigh our view with that in mind. Forest makes leaving your phone cost you a tree, and its app blocker is free. People look elsewhere for three reasons: they want the same idea on a computer, they want a stricter or a gentler guard than a tree, or they want a different reward. Work out which of those is yours and the right alternative is usually obvious. Every price and plan below is as each app's own website listed it on 3 October 2026.

Here are all the alternatives in one table, in the order this post covers them; each is explained further below.

The alternatives in this post, as listed on their own sites in October 2026.

App	Kind of tool	Instead of Forest, you get	Where it runs	Free way in
Forest extensions	Blocker and timer	Forest's blocker and timer in a desktop browser	Chrome, Firefox	Free
Focus To-Do	Timer and task list	A timer with your tasks beside it	Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Chrome	Not stated on its site
Pomofocus	Timer	A timer with nothing to install	Any browser, plus desktop downloads	Free with ads
Session	Timer	A short review after each session	Mac, iPhone, iPad	Free plan
Cold Turkey Blocker	Blocker	A computer block you cannot undo	Windows, Mac	Free website blocking
Freedom	Blocker	One block across every device	Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, Chromebook	Free plan, sessions up to two hours
Opal	Blocker	A phone lock with no way out on Pro	iPhone, Android, Mac	Free plan with one rule
one sec	Pause	A pause instead of a penalty	iPhone, Android, Mac, browser extension	Free for one app
LeechBlock NG	Time limits	Limits per group of sites	Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Chromium browsers	Free
Flora	Tree timer	A tree, with a gentler group rule	iPhone, Android	Free
Focus Dog	Pet timer	A dog fed by focused minutes	iPhone, Android	Free, Pro optional
Focus Friend	Character timer	A focus timer with a bean character	iPhone, Android	Not stated; Pro price not listed
Finch	Self-care pet	A pet bird you care for through self-care goals	iPhone, Android	Free core
Yappie	Help starting, plus company	Small steps, a pet and people beside the timer, rest that keeps your streak	Windows, Mac, web; phone apps not in stores yet	Free plan includes all of it

Forest in brief

Forest plants a virtual tree when you start a timer; the tree grows while you stay focused and, in Forest's own words, "If you switch to another app mid-session, the tree dies." (forestapp.cc). As of October 2026 the timer, the tree, the Deep Focus app blocker and Plant Together rooms for friends are free, with occasional ads that Forest says never appear during a focus session. Forest Plus removes the ads, at a price that varies by region and platform. Full apps run on iPhone, iPad and Android.

The same idea on your computer

Before switching, check whether Forest's own Chrome and Firefox extensions cover you: they bring the Deep Focus blocker and the timer to desktop browsing, synced to the same account (forestapp.cc). What they do not bring is the full app, and there is no Forest app for Windows or Mac as of October 2026.

Focus To-Do pairs a Pomodoro timer with a task list (subtasks, due dates, reminders) and runs on Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and more, all syncing (focustodo.cn). As of October 2026 its site does not say what is free or publish a price. Where it fits: the same timer on your phone and your desktop, with the tasks beside it.

Pomofocus runs in any browser with nothing to install, and offers downloads for Mac, Windows and Linux (pomofocus.io). As of October 2026 the free version, which carries ads, covers tasks, custom session lengths and reports; Premium removes the ads. Where it fits: a timer on any computer in seconds.

Session is a Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone and iPad, and after each session it asks what you learned and whether you got distracted (stayinsession.com). As of October 2026 it is free for unlimited sessions with two days of analytics; Pro, at $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year (slightly different by region, it notes), adds website and app blocking on the Mac. Where it fits: a Mac user who wants blocking on the computer, plus a moment of reflection.

A stricter guard

Forest's tree is a deterrent rather than a lock: even with Deep Focus on, you can tap Give Up and let the tree die. If that is the problem, these lock harder.

Cold Turkey Blocker is for Windows and Mac, and a locked block cannot be switched off or uninstalled until its condition is met: a timer, a schedule, a restart, a delay of up to 40 days, or typing out a block of random text (getcoldturkey.com). As of October 2026 the free version blocks websites for a set time; Pro, a one-time purchase whose price its pricing page shows for your region, adds app blocking and the locks. Where it fits: a computer you cannot talk yourself back onto.

Freedom blocks apps, websites or the whole internet, and one session covers all your devices at once (freedom.to). As of October 2026 its free plan handles sessions you start now of up to two hours; Premium, at $8.99 a month or $3.33 a month on the yearly plan, adds a Locked Mode that stops you ending a session early. Where it fits: a lock that follows you from phone to computer.

Opal blocks chosen apps on your phone, and its Pro Hard Mode is described as "No way out. You can't turn Opal off." (opalapp.com). As of October 2026 the free plan covers one blocking rule; Pro starts at $99.99 a year. Where it fits: your phone is the problem, and you want a lock rather than a deterrent.

A gentler nudge

If a dying tree makes you anxious rather than focused, these slow you down instead of punishing you.

one sec puts a short pause, such as a breathing prompt, in front of the app or website you reach for (one-sec.app). It can also block an app outright, but the pause is its core. As of October 2026 it is free for one app, with no ads; pro is listed at €3.99 a month or €14.99 a year, and prices differ by region. Where it fits: reaching for an app less often, without a penalty.

LeechBlock NG is, as of October 2026, a free browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Edge and other Chromium browsers (proginosko.com). You set up to 30 groups of sites, each with its own hours or a time allowance such as ten minutes in every hour. Where it fits: free, flexible limits on a computer, if you do not need your phone covered.

A different reward than a tree

Flora is the closest to Forest: you grow a tree while you stay off your phone, and it dies if you leave (flora.appfinca.com). As of October 2026 it is free, with no paid version, and you can plant with friends, where only a host who gives up kills everyone's tree. Flora says it does not store your stats on its servers, so reinstalling loses them. Where it fits: Forest's game, free, with a gentler group rule.

Focus Dog turns each focused minute into a donut for a virtual dog, and closing the app makes that session's donuts vanish (focusdog.app). As of October 2026 it is free, with a Pro upgrade it does not price on its site. Where it fits: a pet to feed, with weekly leagues of 40 people for some competition.

Focus Friend calls itself "a cozy, gamified focus timer app"; it has a bean character you can dress in different skins, and a Deep Focus Mode that blocks apps while you focus (yourfocusfriend.com). As of October 2026 it has a Pro subscription whose price is not listed on its site. Where it fits: a character instead of a tree, with blocking built in.

Finch is less about focus sessions and more about small self-care goals: completing them sends a pet bird on adventures (finchcare.com). As of October 2026 its core is free, and Finch Plus is $9.99 a month or $69.99 a year. Where it fits: self-care habits more than work sessions.

How to choose

• Is the gap your computer? Try Forest's own extension first. If you want a full app on the desktop, look at Focus To-Do, Pomofocus or Session.
• Do you give up on the tree? Choose a lock you cannot undo: Cold Turkey on a computer, Freedom's Locked Mode across devices, Opal's Hard Mode on a phone.
• Does the penalty stress you? Try a pause (one sec) or a time allowance (LeechBlock NG) instead.
• Do you like the game but not the tree? Flora keeps the tree with a gentler group rule; Focus Dog and Focus Friend swap it for a character.
• Keep what works. You can keep Forest for the phone and add one tool for the computer.
• Check the price page yourself. Prices change, and several vary by region.

Yappie, which we make

Yappie puts a virtual pet beside your timer, like the companions above, but it guards nothing: it does not block apps or websites, so Forest or a blocker above can sit alongside it. It is built around three other things. Starting: tasks break into small steps, by hand or with optional AI help. Company: besides the pet, the free plan includes friends, 1-on-1 co-focus, study groups, and focus with a stranger, which puts you in a quiet room with whoever is waiting, "two pets, two timers, nothing to say" (myyappie.app/focus-with-a-stranger). Nobody is on camera in any of it: a stranger sees only your pet, a name on it and your country. Rest, which it treats as part of the work: set days off and your streak holds (myyappie.app/pricing).

All of that is free, with no trial clock, no card and no account needed for solo use; Lite and Super (€2.99 and €5.99 a month) add cosmetics, content and larger AI allowances. Of the companion apps here, it is the one built for the desktop, with apps for Windows and macOS and a web version, and focus with a stranger works in a browser too (myyappie.app/focus-with-a-stranger). The catch for a Forest user is the phone: Yappie's phone apps are built but not yet in any app store (myyappie.app/download). We set it against Forest in detail in Yappie or Forest?. Where it fits: you want a companion on your computer, built around starting and company rather than guarding your phone.

References

1. Forest, official site and published feature description: forestapp.cc, forestapp.cc/llms-full.txt. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
2. Focus To-Do, official site: focustodo.cn. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
3. Pomofocus, official site: pomofocus.io. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
4. Session, home and pricing: stayinsession.com, stayinsession.com/pricing. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
5. Cold Turkey Blocker, pricing and features: getcoldturkey.com/pricing, getcoldturkey.com/features. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
6. Freedom, pricing and help centre: freedom.to/pricing, support.freedom.to. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
7. Opal, home and pricing: opalapp.com, opalapp.com/pricing. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
8. one sec, home and FAQ: one-sec.app, one-sec.app/faq. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
9. LeechBlock NG, official site: proginosko.com/leechblock. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
10. Flora, official site and FAQ: flora.appfinca.com, flora.appfinca.com/faq. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
11. Focus Dog, official site and help: focusdog.app, focusdog.app/help. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
12. Focus Friend, official site and FAQ: yourfocusfriend.com, yourfocusfriend.com/faq. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
13. Finch, official site and help centre: finchcare.com, finchcare.com/about-finch. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
14. Yappie, focus with a stranger: myyappie.app/focus-with-a-stranger. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
15. Yappie, plans and pricing: myyappie.app/pricing. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩
16. Yappie, downloads and platforms: myyappie.app/download. Accessed 3 October 2026.↩