Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Focus@Will vs Forest

Focus@Will logo

Focus@Will

Productivity

Subscription streaming of instrumental music channels intended to be worked to rather than listened to

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Forest logo

Forest

Productivity

Stay focused, be present

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Focus@Will the central claim, that this music aids concentration more than other instrumental music, rests largely on work the vendor commissioned or published itself, and a buyer has no independent way to test it before paying.; Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions
  • They diverge on capability: Focus@Will covers Channels by style, Forest covers Focus timer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Focus@Will and Forest actually diverge.

Attributes where Focus@Will and Forest differ
AttributeFocus@WillForest
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, WindowsiOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox
Founded20112014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

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 Focus@Will

  • Channels by style
  • Session timer
  • Vocal-free catalogue
  • Browser and mobile
  • Single-purpose subscription

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.

Focus@Will

  • An open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention.not Forest
  • Timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session.not Forest
  • People who find their own music library distracting precisely because they know every track too well.not Forest
  • Study and revision sessions where silence turns out to be worse than background sound.not Forest

Forest

  • Study sessionsnot Focus@Will
  • Work focus timenot Focus@Will
  • Digital detoxnot Focus@Will
  • Pomodoro techniquenot Focus@Will
  • Phone addiction managementnot Focus@Will

Where each one falls short

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

Focus@Will

  • The central claim, that this music aids concentration more than other instrumental music, rests largely on work the vendor commissioned or published itself, and a buyer has no independent way to test it before paying.
  • Everything it does has a free substitute, since instrumental playlists on any streaming service cost nothing, so the subscription is defended only by curation, which is the hardest kind of value to demonstrate.
  • It is a single-product subscription from a small vendor with no larger business underwriting it, so a service like this can change hands, change terms or stop with little notice and no obvious successor.
  • Delivery is by streaming, so weak connectivity, aeroplanes and commutes are simultaneously where you most want it and where it is least dependable.
  • Nothing accumulates in the account, which means there is no export problem but also nothing that makes renewal feel necessary, so it is among the first subscriptions cancelled whenever costs are reviewed.

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

Focus@Will

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited access to music
    • Basic 25-min timer
    • Ads
  • Basic$4.95/month
    • Unlimited music access
    • Custom timers
    • No ads
  • Pro$9.95/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support

Forest

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Focus@Will if

  • You need channels by style.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want session timer.
Focus@Will 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 Focus@Will or Forest better?
Neither clearly leads. Focus@Will starts at Free and Forest at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Focus@Will or Forest?
Focus@Will starts at Free and Forest at Free.
Does Focus@Will or Forest run on more platforms?
Focus@Will runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. Forest runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox.
Can I use Focus@Will for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Focus@Will best used for?
Focus@Will is most often used for an open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention., timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session., people who find their own music library distracting precisely because they know every track too well., study and revision sessions where silence turns out to be worse than background sound.. Of those, an open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention. and timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session. are not what Forest is typically brought in for.
What can Focus@Will do that Forest cannot?
Focus@Will covers Channels by style, Session timer, Vocal-free catalogue, Browser and mobile. Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Focus@Will: How is this different from a focus playlist?

The vendor's position is that the selection and sequencing are designed against attention research rather than assembled by taste. Whether that difference is audible to you is the whole question, and it is subjective.

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
Focus@Will: Does it work offline?

Treat it as a streaming service that needs a connection. If you work on aeroplanes or in poor coverage, check the current apps before subscribing rather than after.

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
Focus@Will: Can a team use it?

It is sold to individuals. There is no admin console or central billing of the kind an organisation would need, so a team means several personal subscriptions.

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
Focus@Will: Can I use the music in videos or streams?

No. A personal listening subscription does not grant synchronisation or broadcast rights, so it must not sit behind published content.

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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