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Software · head to head

ADP Workforce Now vs Forest

ADP Workforce Now logo

ADP Workforce Now

Software

All-in-one HR, payroll, talent, and benefits

From
$23/employee per month
Rated
-
Forest logo

Forest

Software

Stay focused, be present

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Forest has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ADP Workforce Now pricing not publicly available, making budget comparison difficult; Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions
  • They diverge on capability: ADP Workforce Now covers Payroll Processing, Forest covers Focus timer.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ADP Workforce Now and Forest actually diverge.

Attributes where ADP Workforce Now and Forest differ
AttributeADP Workforce NowForest
Starting price$23/employee per monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, MobileiOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox
Founded19492014

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ADP Workforce Now

  • Payroll Processing
  • Tax Administration
  • HR Management
  • Benefits Administration
  • Time and Attendance
  • Talent Management
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero

Only in Forest

  • Focus timer
  • Virtual forest building
  • Real tree planting partnership
  • Website/app blocking
  • Statistics tracking
  • Achievements & rewards
  • Social features
  • Custom tree species

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ADP Workforce Now

No use cases recorded yet. See the ADP Workforce Now review.

Forest

  • Study sessionsnot ADP Workforce Now
  • Work focus timenot ADP Workforce Now
  • Digital detoxnot ADP Workforce Now
  • Pomodoro techniquenot ADP Workforce Now
  • Phone addiction managementnot ADP Workforce Now

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ADP Workforce Now

  • Pricing not publicly available, making budget comparison difficult
  • Additional modules increase per-employee cost significantly
  • Requires minimum 50 employees, not suitable for small businesses
  • Setup fees of $2,000 or more for additional modules

Forest

  • No standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions
  • Mobile app pricing varies by platform; iOS one-time purchase vs. Android different model
  • Forest Plus features required for advanced analytics and custom tag tracking

Pricing, plan by plan

ADP Workforce Now

$23/employee per month

No published plan breakdown. See the ADP Workforce Now review.

Forest

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ADP Workforce Now if

  • You need payroll processing.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want tax administration.

Choose Forest if

  • You need focus timer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox.
  • You also want virtual forest building.

Questions people ask

Is ADP Workforce Now or Forest better?
Neither clearly leads. ADP Workforce Now starts at $23/employee per month and Forest at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ADP Workforce Now or Forest?
Forest has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $23/employee per month for ADP Workforce Now and Free for Forest.
Does ADP Workforce Now or Forest run on more platforms?
ADP Workforce Now runs on Web, Mobile. Forest runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox.
Can I use Forest for free?
Yes. Forest has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ADP Workforce Now starts at $23/employee per month.
What can ADP Workforce Now do that Forest cannot?
ADP Workforce Now covers Payroll Processing, Tax Administration, HR Management, Benefits Administration. Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ADP Workforce Now: How much does ADP Workforce Now cost?

ADP Workforce Now pricing starts around $23 to $30 per employee per month as base cost. Additional modules like recruiting cost extra, typically $3 per employee per month plus $2,000 setup fee.

Source
Forest: How much does Forest cost?

Forest has a free version with core features (timer, app blocking, group focus). Forest Plus subscription costs $3.33/month when billed annually at $39.99, with pricing varying by region and platform.

Source
ADP Workforce Now: What payroll features does ADP Workforce Now include?

ADP Workforce Now includes payroll processing, benefits administration, time and attendance tracking, compliance management, and AI-powered anomaly detection that flags potential payroll errors before processing.

Source
Forest: What platforms does Forest support?

Forest is available on iOS (one-time purchase $3.99), Android (free with ads, or $1.99 one-time for ad-free), and as a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox.

Source
ADP Workforce Now: Does ADP Workforce Now integrate with other systems?

Yes, ADP Workforce Now integrates with Workday through Flexspring connectors for near-real-time data sharing. Employee benefits, new hire data, and payroll information sync automatically between systems.

Source
Forest: What is Forest's tree planting program?

Forest has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant real trees. Users can spend earned focus coins to fund tree planting in Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cameroon. Over 2.1 million real trees have been planted.

Source
ADP Workforce Now: Who is ADP Workforce Now suitable for?

ADP Workforce Now is built for organizations with 50 or more employees seeking comprehensive payroll and HR management with enterprise-grade features.

Source
Forest: Does Forest work offline?

Yes. Forest's core focus experience including the timer, tree growth, and stats works completely offline. This allows use on airplanes, subways, and areas without internet connectivity.

Source
Forest: Is there a Forest desktop app?

No. Forest does not have an official standalone desktop application. Desktop access is available through browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox only. Some users run the mobile app via emulators like BlueStacks.

Source
Forest: What features are in Forest Plus?

Forest Plus includes all Mindful Space soundscapes, custom app allowlists, advanced analytics with custom tags, exclusive tree species, 3x coin boost, and the ability to plant up to 5 real trees annually.

Source

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