Softwr

Software · head to head

Forest vs Resource Guru

Forest logo

Forest

Software

Stay focused, be present

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Resource Guru logo

Resource Guru

Software

The fast, simple way to schedule people and resources

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Resource Guru limited advanced reporting and analytics compared to enterprise-level solutions
  • They diverge on capability: Forest covers Focus timer, Resource Guru covers Resource scheduling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Forest and Resource Guru actually diverge.

Attributes where Forest and Resource Guru differ
AttributeForestResource Guru
Starting priceFree$5/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Chrome, FirefoxWeb
Founded20142012

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 Resource Guru

  • Resource scheduling
  • Availability management
  • Clash management
  • Forecasting
  • Leave management
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Slack

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 Resource Guru
  • Work focus timenot Resource Guru
  • Digital detoxnot Resource Guru
  • Pomodoro techniquenot Resource Guru
  • Phone addiction managementnot Resource Guru

Resource Guru

  • Schedulingnot Forest
  • Appointment bookingnot Forest
  • Time trackingnot Forest
  • Resource managementnot Forest
  • Team coordinationnot 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

Resource Guru

  • Limited advanced reporting and analytics compared to enterprise-level solutions
  • Lacks scalability for large organizations or complex project management scenarios
  • No offline mode requires constant internet connectivity
  • Limited integrations compared to competitors with broader ecosystem support
  • No native invoicing or billing features for financial management

Pricing, plan by plan

Forest

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.

Resource Guru

$5/month
  • Grasshopper$5/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited clients
    • Personalized dashboards
  • Blackbelt$8/month
    • All Grasshopper features
    • Timesheets
    • Time tracking
  • Master$12/month
    • All Blackbelt features
    • Booking approval workflow
    • SSO single sign-on

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 Resource Guru if

  • You need resource scheduling.
  • You also want availability management.
Resource Guru review

Questions people ask

Is Forest or Resource Guru better?
Neither clearly leads. Forest starts at Free and Resource Guru at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Forest or Resource Guru?
Forest has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Forest and $5/month for Resource Guru.
Does Forest or Resource Guru run on more platforms?
Forest runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox. Resource Guru runs on Web.
Can I use Forest for free?
Yes. Forest has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Resource Guru starts at $5/month.
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 Resource Guru is typically brought in for.
What can Forest do that Resource Guru cannot?
Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking. Resource Guru covers Resource scheduling, Availability management, Clash management, Forecasting. 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
Resource Guru: How is Resource Guru priced?

Resource Guru offers three per-user tiers: Grasshopper ($5/month), Blackbelt ($8/month), and Master ($12/month). Annual billing gives 2 months free. Non-human resources like meeting rooms cost $2.08-5.00 per item depending on tier. A free 30-day trial is available.

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
Resource Guru: What integrations does Resource Guru offer?

Resource Guru integrates with Jira, Asana, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Zapier, Make, Salesforce, and Gmail for seamless workflow automation.

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
Resource Guru: Does Resource Guru have time tracking?

Time tracking is included in Blackbelt and Master plans, allowing teams to monitor billable and non-billable hours. The Grasshopper plan does not include this feature.

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
Resource Guru: Can Resource Guru be used offline?

No, Resource Guru is a cloud-based platform that requires internet connectivity to access. There is no offline mode available.

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
Resource Guru: Is Resource Guru suitable for large enterprises?

Resource Guru works well for small to mid-sized teams and agencies but may face scalability limitations for large enterprises requiring advanced reporting, project financial visibility, or complex multi-team workflows.

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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Forest

More on Resource Guru

Keep looking

Other head to heads