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Productivity · head to head

Forest App vs Hubstaff

Forest App logo

Forest App

Productivity

Gamified focus timer and productivity app

From
$1.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hubstaff logo

Hubstaff

Productivity

Time tracking and team management for remote teams

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Forest App requires active user initiation to function, so it is ineffective if users forget to start a session; Hubstaff billed per seat; the pricing page's own proration example states the Team plan costs $10 per seat per month, with fees adjusted when seats are added or removed mid-cycle
  • They diverge on capability: Forest App covers Focus timer with gamification, Hubstaff covers Time tracking with timer.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Forest App and Hubstaff actually diverge.

Attributes where Forest App and Hubstaff differ
AttributeForest AppHubstaff
Starting price$1.99/one-time$5.99/month
PlatformsiOS, Android, Chrome, FirefoxWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows
Founded20142012

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Forest App

  • Focus timer with gamification
  • Virtual tree growing system
  • Forest building and sharing
  • Focus statistics
  • Real tree planting partnership
  • Distraction tracking
  • Themes and customization
  • Cloud sync

Only in Hubstaff

  • Time tracking with timer
  • Activity monitoring
  • GPS location tracking
  • Screenshots
  • Reports and analytics
  • Invoicing
  • Team management
  • Mobile apps

What people use each for

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

Forest App

  • Productivity
  • Collaboration
  • Task management
  • Organization

Hubstaff

  • Productivity
  • Collaboration
  • Task management
  • Organization

Both are used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Forest App

  • Requires active user initiation to function, so it is ineffective if users forget to start a session
  • Virtual coin awards are limited without additional in-app purchases for unlocking new content
  • Apple Watch app is very limited, allowing only viewing of the current day's forest
  • Website blocklist feature has poor discoverability

Hubstaff

  • Billed per seat; the pricing page's own proration example states the Team plan costs $10 per seat per month, with fees adjusted when seats are added or removed mid-cycle

Pricing, plan by plan

Forest App

$1.99/one-time
  • Lite$1.99/one-time
    • Basic forest building
    • Focus timer
    • Statistics
  • Pro Subscription$4.99/month
    • All Lite features
    • Advanced themes
    • Real tree planting partnership

Hubstaff

$5.99/month
  • FreeFree
    • Basic time tracking
    • Limited to 1 user
    • Basic reports
  • Starter$5.99/month
    • Time tracking
    • Team management
    • Reports
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • GPS tracking
    • Activity monitoring

Which should you pick?

Choose Forest App if

  • You need focus timer with gamification.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox.
  • You also want virtual tree growing system.
Forest App review

Choose Hubstaff if

  • You need time tracking with timer.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want activity monitoring.
Hubstaff review

Questions people ask

Is Forest App or Hubstaff better?
Neither clearly leads. Forest App starts at $1.99/one-time and Hubstaff at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Forest App or Hubstaff?
Forest App starts at $1.99/one-time and Hubstaff at $5.99/month.
Does Forest App or Hubstaff run on more platforms?
Forest App runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox. Hubstaff runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
What is Forest App best used for?
Forest App is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization.
What can Forest App do that Hubstaff cannot?
Forest App covers Focus timer with gamification, Virtual tree growing system, Forest building and sharing, Focus statistics. Hubstaff covers Time tracking with timer, Activity monitoring, GPS location tracking, Screenshots.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Forest App: Is Forest available on multiple platforms?

Yes. Forest is available on iOS, Android, Chrome browser extension, and Firefox browser extension with cross-platform account sync.

Source
Forest App: Does Forest have a free version?

Yes. Forest offers a free tier that includes the core timer, app blocking, group focus sessions, basic soundscape, and focus tracking with no credit card required.

Source
Forest App: What does Forest Plus subscription include?

Forest Plus subscription offers exclusive and seasonal tree species, full soundscape library, custom app allowlists, advanced analytics, 3x coin boost, and the ability to plant up to 5 real trees.

Source
Forest App: Can I use Forest to block distracting apps during work sessions?

Yes. Forest includes Deep Focus mode that blocks distracting apps during sessions, and Time Guard that schedules app blocks throughout the day.

Source
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Related pages

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