Software · head to head
Forest vs Gong
The short version
- Only Forest has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions; Gong pricing not published; custom quotes and high platform fees make budget forecasting difficult
- They diverge on capability: Forest covers Focus timer, Gong covers Call recording.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Forest and Gong actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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
- Focus timer
- Virtual forest building
- Real tree planting partnership
- Website/app blocking
- Statistics tracking
- Achievements & rewards
- Social features
- Custom tree species
Only in Gong
- Call recording
- AI transcription
- Deal intelligence
- Market intelligence
- Team coaching
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Zoom
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Forest
- Study sessionsnot Gong
- Work focus timenot Gong
- Digital detoxnot Gong
- Pomodoro techniquenot Gong
- Phone addiction managementnot Gong
Gong
- Call analysisnot Forest
- Deal forecastingnot Forest
- Sales coachingnot Forest
- Win/loss analysisnot Forest
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Gong
- Pricing not published; custom quotes and high platform fees make budget forecasting difficult
- Built for sales calls only; limited contact center and multi-channel conversation coverage
- Forecasting and Engage modules use keyword-based analysis with 20-30 minute processing delay, not generative AI
- Conversation analysis cannot capture internal buyer meetings or decision-making discussions
Pricing, plan by plan
Forest
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.
Gong
$1600/user-per-yearNo published plan breakdown. See the Gong review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Gong if
- You need call recording.
- You work on Web, Cloud-based SaaS.
- You also want ai transcription.
Questions people ask
- Is Forest or Gong better?
- Neither clearly leads. Forest starts at Free and Gong at $1600/user-per-year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Forest or Gong?
- Forest has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Forest and $1600/user-per-year for Gong.
- Does Forest or Gong run on more platforms?
- Forest runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox. Gong runs on Web, Cloud-based SaaS.
- Can I use Forest for free?
- Yes. Forest has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Gong starts at $1600/user-per-year.
- What is Forest best used for?
- Forest is most often used for study sessions, work focus time, digital detox, pomodoro technique. Of those, study sessions and work focus time are not what Gong is typically brought in for.
- What can Forest do that Gong cannot?
- Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking. Gong covers Call recording, AI transcription, Deal intelligence, Market intelligence. Both handle Ios support, Android support.
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.
SourceGong: How much does Gong cost?
Gong pricing starts around $1,600 per user per year, with a mandatory platform fee of $5,000-$50,000 annually. Exact pricing is custom and requires a sales consultation.
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.
SourceGong: Does Gong integrate with Salesforce?
Yes. Gong integrates with Salesforce via REST API to import account data and export conversation summaries, enabling searchable calls by CRM fields.
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.
SourceGong: What conversations can Gong capture?
Gong was built primarily for sales call analysis and captures calls through integrations with major dialer systems. Coverage for contact center and multi-channel conversations is limited.
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.
SourceGong: Does Gong have an on-premise option?
Gong is a cloud-based SaaS platform without an on-premise deployment option. All conversation analysis and storage occurs in Gong's cloud infrastructure.
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.
SourceRelated pages
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