Focus To-Do vs Forest
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Focus To-Do
Pomodoro timer combined with a task list and time reports
Forest
Focus timer that grows a virtual tree while you stay off apps
Where they differ
- Focus To-Do starts at $1.99 (period not shown), $3.99 / 3 months or $11.99 lifetime (US App Store). Forest starts at $5.99 / month, or from $32.49 / year (US App Store).
- Only Focus To-Do lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Focus To-Do can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Focus To-Do also covers tasks and time tracking.
- Forest also covers site & app blocker and focus music.
At a glance
| Focus To-Do | Forest | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $1.99 (period not shown), $3.99 / 3 months or $11.99 lifetime (US App Store) | $5.99 / month, or from $32.49 / year (US App Store) |
| Free plan | Free to download and use with in-app purchases for Premium. The store listings do not say which features are limited to Premium. | Focus timer, Deep Focus app blocking, Time Guard for 1 app or site, 1 Mindful Space soundscape, focus tracking and Plant Together group rooms. |
| Free trial | None listed | Free Forest Plus trial; the length is not stated |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Shenzhen Tomato Software Technology Co., Ltd. | Seekrtech Co., Ltd. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Focus To-Do
- People who want a Pomodoro timer and a to-do list in one app
- Students and workers tracking focus time per task or project
- Using the same task list on phone, tablet, watch and computer
Forest
- People who respond to a visual reward for staying off their phone
- Friends or study groups who want to focus in a shared session
- Short timed work sessions in the Pomodoro style
Worth knowing
Focus To-Do
- The store listings do not say which features need Premium, so the limits of the free version could not be confirmed.
- The Focus To-Do Premium purchase carries no billing period on the US App Store and is listed at $1.99 for iOS and $3.99 for Mac.
- Prices appear only in the app stores; the vendor's site lists downloads but has no pricing page.
- The Windows version is a direct download from the vendor's site, and no web app or Linux version is listed.
Forest
- Seekrtech does not publish Forest Plus prices on its site; it says they vary by region and platform and points to the app stores.
- No Mac or Windows app is listed; on a computer Forest runs only as a Chrome or Firefox extension.
- Custom app allowlists, focus analytics, custom tags and real-tree planting need Forest Plus.
- Forest Pro, the earlier unlock, is no longer available to new users; existing Pro holders keep it.
Key features
Focus To-Do
- Pomodoro timer
- Pomodoro and break lengths are adjustable, with short and long breaks, pause and resume, a skip-break option, a continuous mode and a warning before a session ends.
- Tasks and projects
- Tasks take due dates, recurring schedules, reminders, subtasks, color-coded priorities, notes and an estimated number of pomodoros.
- Reports
- Statistics cover total focus time, completed to-dos and time per project, with trend charts, a Gantt chart of focus time and a calendar view.
- Sync across devices
- Lists and focus records sync between phone and computer; the listings name iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android and Windows.
- White noise and alarms
- A choice of white noise can play during a session, and an alarm or vibration marks the end of each pomodoro.
- Forest and App Whitelist
- The Android listing adds a Forest view, where focused time grows a plant, and an App Whitelist that limits which apps can be used while focusing.
Forest
- Tree-growing focus timer
- A tree grows during a countdown or stopwatch session and dies if you leave to use other apps. Each finished session is added to your forest.
- Deep Focus Mode
- A stricter mode that blocks other apps or sends you back to Forest when you open one. It is free; building a custom allowlist of permitted apps needs Plus.
- Time Guard
- Scheduled windows during which chosen apps or sites are blocked. The free tier covers 1 app or site and Plus covers several.
- Plant Together
- Create a room, invite friends with a code and plant the same tree in a synchronized session. If one person gives up, the tree dies for everyone.
- Real tree planting
- Plus and legacy Pro users can spend coins earned from focus sessions to have real trees planted through Trees for the Future, up to 5 per account.
- Focus statistics and tags
- Your forest shows total focus time, patterns by day, week or month, and streaks. Focus analytics and custom tags are part of Plus.
Plans
Focus To-Do
Free$0
The app as downloaded, with or without an account. The listings do not spell out where the free version stops.
Focus To-Do Premium$1.99
billing period not shown on the US App Store listing
An in-app purchase listed with no period at $1.99 for the iPhone and iPad app and at $3.99 for the Mac app.
3 Months$3.99
per 3 months, US App Store in-app purchase
Premium for three months, listed at the same price for the iOS and Mac apps.
Lifetime$11.99
one-time purchase, US App Store in-app purchase
Premium for a single payment, listed at the same price for the iOS and Mac apps.
Forest
Free$0
Countdown and stopwatch timer, Deep Focus app blocking, Time Guard for 1 app or site, 1 soundscape and group focus rooms.
Forest Plus (monthly)$5.99
per month, US App Store in-app purchase
Custom app allowlist, Time Guard for multiple apps and sites, all soundscapes, focus analytics, custom tags and real-tree planting.
Forest Plus (annual)$32.49 or $35.99
per year, US App Store in-app purchase
The same Plus features billed yearly. The App Store lists two annual purchases and does not say which one a new subscriber pays.
Ways to pay less
Focus To-Do
- Lifetime license
Lifetime Premium for a one-time payment
The US App Store lists a Lifetime in-app purchase at $11.99 for both the iOS and Mac apps, against $3.99 for 3 months.
Forest
- Annual discount
Annual Forest Plus costs about half of monthly
The US App Store lists the monthly Forest Plus purchase at $5.99 and annual purchases at $32.49 and $35.99, so a year paid annually costs about half of twelve monthly payments.
