Forest app alternatives for iPhone: what to use instead
Forest grows a virtual tree while you stay off your phone and offers app blocking, statistics and shared sessions. Good alternatives are Flora for a similar tree-growing timer, Focus To-Do for Pomodoro with tasks, iOS Focus for built-in blocking, and M6 Lock In for a plain focus block tied to one goal action.
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Which app is the best alternative to Forest?
It depends on what you like about Forest. For the same tree-growing idea, choose Flora. For classic Pomodoro cycles with a task list and reports, choose Focus To-Do. For free, built-in blocking without a separate app, set up iOS Focus. For a quiet focus block connected to a goal plan, use Lock In in M6.
Forest facts were checked on October 10, 2026 against its US App Store listing. Apps change, so verify before you pay.
Forest alternatives at a glance
| Forest | Flora | Focus To-Do | M6 Lock In | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Tree grows while you stay off the phone | Seed grows into a tree; trees die if you leave | Pomodoro timer plus task manager | Focus block on one of today's three actions |
| App blocking | Allow List and scheduled Time Guard (iOS 16+) | Blocks distracting apps in its own way | Not a blocker; prevents screen lock | No; it is a prompt, not a lock |
| Tasks | Tags for sessions | To-do list with tagged trees | Tasks, projects, recurring, priorities | Actions from a 180-day goal route |
| Social | Co-plant trees with friends | Plant trees with friends | Not a focus of its listing | Optional partner, no chat |
| Reports | Statistics, forest history, Apple Health sync | Daily, weekly and monthly statistics | Daily, weekly, monthly reports, charts | Focus minutes in the day and week review |
| US rating | 4.8 from 49,524 | 4.8 from 82,829 | 4.8 from 14,657 | TestFlight, no rating yet |
| App languages | 14 | 3 | 33 | English and Russian |
| Price model | Free; Forest Plus subscription | Free | Free | Days 1 to 7 free; Pro planned, payments not connected |
Forest: what is it good at?
Forest turns staying off your phone into a game. A tree grows during a session and withers if you leave. The listing adds Allow Lists to block distracting apps (iOS 16 or later), Time Guard schedules, tags and statistics, a visual forest history, Apple Health sync and co-planting with friends. It also partners with Trees for the Future to plant real trees. It is available on iPhone and iPad.
The reason to leave it is usually personal: you may not want a game layer, the subscription for extras or an account for sync. The alternatives below make different trade-offs.
Flora: the closest in spirit
Flora uses the same seed-to-tree idea. Its listing describes growing trees while you work, losing a tree if you leave the app, planting with friends and a to-do list where trees can be tagged to tasks. It adds a habit tracker view and statistics, and opt-in services to plant real trees. It lists 3 languages, so check if yours is covered.
Focus To-Do: Pomodoro with tasks
Focus To-Do combines the Pomodoro Technique with a task list. The listing mentions customizable work and break lengths, short and long breaks, continuous mode, estimated pomodoros per task, sub-tasks and priorities, reports with trend charts and syncing across iPhone, Mac, iPad and Apple Watch. It has no game layer. Our Pomodoro guide explains the method.
iOS Focus: the built-in option
iPhone has a Focus feature that filters notifications by person and app and can be scheduled. It does not give you a timer or a score, but it costs nothing and needs no new app. Apple documents it in the iPhone User Guide. Many people pair it with a plain timer or one of the apps above.
M6 Lock In: a focus block tied to a goal
Lock In in M6 is a bare screen for one action from today's three. You choose 25, 30, 45 or 60 minutes or a custom length, and the screen reads "Stay here." You can pause, resume or end early, and the minutes you did are kept and shown in the day summary and the weekly review.
It is honest about its limits. It does not block other apps, has no automatic break timer and no sound. If you need enforcement, use iOS Focus or Forest. If you want the minutes to land next to the goal you are working on, use Lock In.
Which one should I pick?
- Pick Forest or Flora if a growing tree motivates you.
- Pick Focus To-Do for Pomodoro cycles, tasks and reports.
- Pick iOS Focus if you only need to silence notifications.
- Pick M6 if the focus block should serve one six-month goal.
- Combine: iOS Focus to silence the phone, a timer for the block, and a planner for the goal.
Sources, checked October 10, 2026: Forest, Flora and Focus To-Do on the App Store.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to Forest?
iOS Focus is built in and free. Flora and Focus To-Do are free to download in the US store, with limits described in their listings.
Is there an app like Forest without the game?
Focus To-Do is a Pomodoro timer with tasks and no game. A plain Clock timer also works.
Does M6 block distracting apps?
No. Lock In shows one action and a message. Use iOS Focus or Screen Time if you need blocking.
Can I use M6 and Forest together?
Yes. Plan the day in M6 and use Forest for blocking if you want the extra enforcement.
Which alternative is best for studying?
Focus To-Do suits studying thanks to Pomodoro cycles, tasks and reports. See the focus guide for more tips.