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All industries · head to head

Forest vs Remote

Forest logo

Forest

All industries

Stay focused, be present

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Remote logo

Remote

Payroll & Benefits

The new standard for global employment

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions; Remote employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month, charged per head with no volume tier published
  • They diverge on capability: Forest covers Focus timer, Remote covers Global Payroll.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Forest and Remote actually diverge.

Attributes where Forest and Remote differ
AttributeForestRemote
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsiOS, Android, Chrome, FirefoxWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryAll industriesPayroll & Benefits
Founded20142019

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

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 Remote

  • Global Payroll
  • EOR Services
  • Contractor Management
  • Compliance
  • Benefits
  • Equity Management
  • HRIS
  • BambooHR

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 Remote
  • Work focus timenot Remote
  • Digital detoxnot Remote
  • Pomodoro techniquenot Remote
  • Phone addiction managementnot Remote

Remote

  • Employing staff in countries where you have no legal entity through an employer of recordnot Forest
  • Paying and managing international contractors with compliant agreementsnot Forest
  • Running payroll and HR records for a distributed workforcenot 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

Remote

  • Employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month, charged per head with no volume tier published
  • Global Payroll carries an implementation fee to set up entities plus a recurring payroll delivery fee on top of the $29 per employee per month rate
  • Contractor Management Plus is $99 per contractor per month against $29 for the standard tier
  • The Equity product is limited to Delaware C-Corps
  • The PEO product bills in USD only and requires a US bank account
  • Remote states it collects reserve payments in high risk circumstances, so an upfront deposit is possible

Pricing, plan by plan

Forest

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.

Remote

Free
  • Contractor Management$29/month
    • Contractor Payments
    • Compliance
    • Contracts
  • Employer of Record$599/month
    • Global Employment
    • Payroll
    • Benefits

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 Remote if

  • You need global payroll.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want eor services.
Remote review

Questions people ask

Is Forest or Remote better?
Neither clearly leads. Forest starts at Free and Remote at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Forest or Remote?
Forest starts at Free and Remote at Free.
Does Forest or Remote run on more platforms?
Forest runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox. Remote runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Remote is typically brought in for.
What can Forest do that Remote cannot?
Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking. Remote covers Global Payroll, EOR Services, Contractor Management, Compliance. 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.

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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