Software · head to head
BambooHR vs Forest
The short version
- Only Forest has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: BambooHR organisations of 25 or fewer employees pay a flat rate starting at $250 a month, so a very small team pays far more per head than the listed per-employee price; Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions
- They diverge on capability: BambooHR covers Employee database, Forest covers Focus timer.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BambooHR and Forest actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 BambooHR
- Employee database
- Time-off management
- Benefits tracking
- Performance reviews
- Onboarding
- Reporting & analytics
- Mobile access
- Document management
Only in Forest
- Focus timer
- Virtual forest building
- Real tree planting partnership
- Website/app blocking
- Statistics tracking
- Achievements & rewards
- Social features
- Custom tree species
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
BambooHR
- HR system of record with employee data and documentsnot Forest
- Time off tracking and approvalsnot Forest
- Applicant tracking and onboardingnot Forest
- Performance reviews and 1:1s on the Pro tiernot Forest
- Compensation planning and benchmarking on Elitenot Forest
Forest
- Study sessionsnot BambooHR
- Work focus timenot BambooHR
- Digital detoxnot BambooHR
- Pomodoro techniquenot BambooHR
- Phone addiction managementnot BambooHR
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
BambooHR
- Organisations of 25 or fewer employees pay a flat rate starting at $250 a month, so a very small team pays far more per head than the listed per-employee price
- Per-employee pricing starts at 26 employees, from $10 on Core
- Performance management, 360 reviews and recognition all require Pro at $17 per employee per month
- Compensation management, salary benchmarking and advanced analytics are Elite only at $25 per employee per month
- Compliance training is rationed by tier, at 1 course on Core against 300 on Elite
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
BambooHR
$10/month per employeeNo published plan breakdown. See the BambooHR review.
Forest
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.
Which should you pick?
Choose BambooHR if
- You need employee database.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want time-off management.
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 BambooHR or Forest better?
- Neither clearly leads. BambooHR starts at $10/month per employee and Forest at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BambooHR or Forest?
- Forest has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10/month per employee for BambooHR and Free for Forest.
- Does BambooHR or Forest run on more platforms?
- BambooHR runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. 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. BambooHR starts at $10/month per employee.
- What is BambooHR best used for?
- BambooHR is most often used for hr system of record with employee data and documents, time off tracking and approvals, applicant tracking and onboarding, performance reviews and 1:1s on the pro tier. Of those, hr system of record with employee data and documents and time off tracking and approvals are not what Forest is typically brought in for.
- What can BambooHR do that Forest cannot?
- BambooHR covers Employee database, Time-off management, Benefits tracking, Performance reviews. Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceForest: 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.
SourceForest: 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.
SourceForest: 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.
SourceForest: 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.
SourceForest: 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