Forest vs Tide
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Forest
Focus timer that grows a virtual tree while you stay off apps
Tide
Nature soundscapes with a focus timer, sleep and meditation
Where they differ
- Forest starts at $5.99 / month, or from $32.49 / year (US App Store). Tide starts at $11.99 / month, or $59.99 / year (US App Store).
- Only Forest lists a browser extension.
- Only Tide lists a macOS app.
- Forest also covers site & app blocker.
At a glance
| Forest | Tide | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $5.99 / month, or from $32.49 / year (US App Store) | $11.99 / month, or $59.99 / year (US App Store) |
| Free plan | 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 to download with in-app purchases. The site's sound catalog has a Free filter, but the store listing does not spell out which features need Tide Plus. |
| Free trial | Free Forest Plus trial; the length is not stated | The App Store subscription terms mention a free trial; its length is not stated |
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Seekrtech Co., Ltd. | Guangzhou Moreless Network Technology Co., Ltd. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
Tide
- People who work or study to rain, ocean and other nature sounds
- Anyone who wants a focus timer, sleep sounds and meditation in one app
- iPhone and Apple Watch users who want sessions synced to Apple Health
Worth knowing
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.
Tide
- Tide publishes no prices on its website; the figures here come from its US App Store listing.
- The App Store also lists Tide Membership purchases at $1.99, $4.99 and $15.99 and a $9.99 monthly Plus item without explaining them.
- Neither the site nor the store listing itemizes which sounds and features are free and which need Tide Plus.
- No Windows or web version is listed, and the Chrome extension the site links to no longer has a Chrome Web Store page.
Key features
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.
Tide
- Focus timer
- A Pomodoro-style timer that plays nature sounds while it runs. Timer lengths can be customized, and an immersive mode is meant to keep you off your phone.
- Nature soundscapes
- A library of recorded scenes such as rain, ocean and thunder, filed under Nature, Urban, Melody and other categories. A music fusion mode mixes your own music with the sounds.
- Sleep and nap modes
- Sleep sounds for the night and a nap mode for daytime, with light wake-up alarms and a sleep analysis report.
- Guided meditation
- Mindfulness courses such as Breathing and Body Scan, plus single sessions on topics like falling asleep and study pressure.
- Breathing guide
- Paced breathing exercises, including balanced breathing and the 4-7-8 pattern.
- Tide Diary and Apple Health sync
- A report of your sessions with shareable cards. The iOS app syncs data to Apple Health through HealthKit and supports Siri Shortcuts.
Plans
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.
Tide
Free$0
Free download with part of the sound library. The listing does not say exactly where the free version stops.
Tide Plus (Monthly)$11.99
per month, US App Store in-app purchase
Auto-renewing subscription, one of two options named in the listing. The listing does not itemize what Plus unlocks.
Tide Plus (Annual)$59.99
per year, US App Store in-app purchase
The same subscription billed yearly. The in-app purchase list also shows an annual Tide Plus item at $54.99.
Ways to pay less
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.
Tide
- Annual discount
Annual Tide Plus costs about 58% less than monthly
The US App Store listing gives Tide Plus as $11.99 per month or $59.99 per year, so a year paid annually costs about 58% less than twelve monthly payments.
