Software · head to head
Forest App vs RescueTime
Forest App
Software
Gamified focus timer and productivity app
- From
- $1.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
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; RescueTime no free tier since 2023, making it costly for individual experimentation
- They diverge on capability: Forest App covers Focus timer with gamification, RescueTime covers Automatic time tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Forest App and RescueTime actually diverge.
| Attribute | Forest App | RescueTime |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1.99/one-time | $12/month |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox | Windows, macOS, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2014 | 2006 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 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 RescueTime
- Automatic time tracking
- Productivity scoring
- Detailed categorization
- FocusTime blocking
- Goal setting
- Alerts & notifications
- Offline time entry
- API access
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Forest App
- Productivitynot RescueTime
- Collaborationnot RescueTime
- Task managementnot RescueTime
- Organizationnot RescueTime
RescueTime
- Personal productivity trackingnot Forest App
- Time auditnot Forest App
- Focus improvementnot Forest App
- Work-life balancenot Forest App
- Team productivity analysisnot Forest App
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
RescueTime
- No free tier since 2023, making it costly for individual experimentation
- Limited iOS support compared to competitors that offer full mobile app access
- Requires integration via categories and rules rather than direct app detection on some platforms
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
RescueTime
$12/month- Standard$12/month
- Automatic time tracking
- Focus Time
- Idle time monitoring
- Team$6/month
- All Standard features
- Team analytics
- Cross-device tracking
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.
Choose RescueTime if
- You need automatic time tracking.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Android, Web.
- You also want productivity scoring.
Questions people ask
- Is Forest App or RescueTime better?
- Neither clearly leads. Forest App starts at $1.99/one-time and RescueTime at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Forest App or RescueTime?
- Forest App starts at $1.99/one-time and RescueTime at $12/month.
- Does Forest App or RescueTime run on more platforms?
- Forest App runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox. RescueTime runs on Windows, macOS, Android, Web.
- What is Forest App best used for?
- Forest App is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization. Of those, productivity and collaboration are not what RescueTime is typically brought in for.
- What can Forest App do that RescueTime cannot?
- Forest App covers Focus timer with gamification, Virtual tree growing system, Forest building and sharing, Focus statistics. RescueTime covers Automatic time tracking, Productivity scoring, Detailed categorization, FocusTime blocking.
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.
SourceRescueTime: Does RescueTime still have a free tier?
No. RescueTime discontinued its free tier in 2023. The service now requires a paid subscription starting at $12 per month or $78 per year.
SourceForest 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.
SourceRescueTime: What platforms does RescueTime support?
RescueTime supports Windows, macOS, Android, and web. iOS support is limited to passive features like calendar sync and mobile summary emails.
SourceForest 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.
SourceRescueTime: What are the key productivity features in RescueTime?
RescueTime offers automatic time tracking, Focus Time for blocking distractions, idle time monitoring, goal-setting with reminders, and in 2026 adds AI-Based Focus Sessions with real-time alerts to detect poor focus patterns.
SourceForest 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.
SourceRescueTime: Is there a team plan for RescueTime?
Yes. The team plan costs $6 per user per month when billed annually, with a minimum of 3 users required.
Source