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Healthcare & Medical · head to head

Epic MyChart vs Forest

E

Epic MyChart

Healthcare & Medical

Patient portal for accessing health records and communicating with providers

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Forest logo

Forest

All industries

Stay focused, be present

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Forest has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Epic MyChart myChart is not a direct-to-consumer product; Epic markets it as a tool that healthcare organizations license and configure to engage their own patients, so access depends entirely on a patient's provider having deployed Epic.; Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions
  • They diverge on capability: Epic MyChart covers View Medical Records, Forest covers Focus timer.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Epic MyChart and Forest actually diverge.

Attributes where Epic MyChart and Forest differ
AttributeEpic MyChartForest
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, MobileiOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox
CategoryHealthcare & MedicalAll industries
Founded19792014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Epic MyChart

  • View Medical Records
  • Secure Messaging
  • Appointment Scheduling
  • Prescription Management
  • Bill Pay
  • Medical History
  • Epic EHR
  • Lab Systems

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.

Epic MyChart

  • Patient Carenot Forest
  • Medical Recordsnot Forest
  • Practice Managementnot Forest
  • Telehealthnot Forest

Forest

  • Study sessionsnot Epic MyChart
  • Work focus timenot Epic MyChart
  • Digital detoxnot Epic MyChart
  • Pomodoro techniquenot Epic MyChart
  • Phone addiction managementnot Epic MyChart

Where each one falls short

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

Epic MyChart

  • MyChart is not a direct-to-consumer product; Epic markets it as a tool that healthcare organizations license and configure to engage their own patients, so access depends entirely on a patient's provider having deployed Epic.

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

Epic MyChart

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Epic MyChart review.

Forest

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Epic MyChart if

  • You need view medical records.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want secure messaging.
Epic MyChart review

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.
Forest review

Questions people ask

Is Epic MyChart or Forest better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic MyChart starts at On request and Forest at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic MyChart or Forest?
Forest has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Epic MyChart and Free for Forest.
Does Epic MyChart or Forest run on more platforms?
Epic MyChart 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. Epic MyChart starts at On request.
What is Epic MyChart best used for?
Epic MyChart is most often used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth. Of those, patient care and medical records are not what Forest is typically brought in for.
What can Epic MyChart do that Forest cannot?
Epic MyChart covers View Medical Records, Secure Messaging, Appointment Scheduling, Prescription Management. 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.

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
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
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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