Softwr

All industries · head to head

Forest vs Loom

Forest logo

Forest

All industries

Stay focused, be present

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Loom logo

Loom

All industries

Record instantly, share anywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions; Loom free tier capped at 25 total videos with 5-minute maximum recording length per video
  • They diverge on capability: Forest covers Focus timer, Loom covers Screen & camera recording.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Forest and Loom actually diverge.

Attributes where Forest and Loom differ
AttributeForestLoom
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, Chrome, FirefoxWeb
Founded20142015

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

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 Loom

  • Screen & camera recording
  • Instant sharing
  • Video editing
  • Viewer analytics
  • Comments & reactions
  • Transcription
  • Custom CTAs
  • Drawing tools

What people use each for

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

Forest

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

Loom

  • Asynchronous video communication and screen recordingnot Forest
  • Product demonstrations and tutorialsnot Forest
  • Meeting transcription and documentationnot Forest
  • Team communication and knowledge sharingnot 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

Loom

  • Free tier capped at 25 total videos with 5-minute maximum recording length per video
  • Free tier limited to 50 workspace members
  • AI features (auto-meeting recaps, auto-notes, auto-editing) only available on paid Business+AI and Enterprise tiers
  • Video branding (Loom logo) appears on free and Business plan videos; only removed on Business+AI tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Forest

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.

Loom

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Loom 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.
Forest review

Choose Loom if

  • You need screen & camera recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want instant sharing.
Loom review

Questions people ask

Is Forest or Loom better?
Neither clearly leads. Forest starts at Free and Loom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Forest or Loom?
Forest starts at Free and Loom at Free.
Does Forest or Loom run on more platforms?
Forest runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox. Loom runs on Web.
Can I use Forest for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Loom is typically brought in for.
What can Forest do that Loom cannot?
Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking. Loom covers Screen & camera recording, Instant sharing, Video editing, Viewer analytics.

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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