Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Forest vs SignWell

Forest logo

Forest

Productivity

Stay focused, be present

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SignWell logo

SignWell

Productivity

Electronic signature service priced per sender, with unlimited documents on paid plans

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions; SignWell the free plan stops at three documents a month, which makes it a trial rather than a tier, so any genuine use converts to a paid seat within weeks.
  • They diverge on capability: Forest covers Focus timer, SignWell covers Per-sender pricing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Forest and SignWell actually diverge.

Attributes where Forest and SignWell differ
AttributeForestSignWell
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, Chrome, FirefoxWeb
Founded2014Unknown

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

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 SignWell

  • Per-sender pricing
  • Free signers
  • Free plan
  • Templates
  • Audit trail
  • Automatic reminders
  • In-person signing
  • Bulk send and template links

What people use each for

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

Forest

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

SignWell

  • A small business sending a steady flow of contracts from one or two people, where per-envelope pricing elsewhere adds up faster than a seat would.not Forest
  • Replacing print, sign and scan for client agreements, offers of employment and consent forms.not Forest
  • Embedding signing into your own product through the API without committing to enterprise pricing first.not Forest
  • Repeated onboarding paperwork sent from a template with automatic chasing rather than manual reminders.not 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

SignWell

  • The free plan stops at three documents a month, which makes it a trial rather than a tier, so any genuine use converts to a paid seat within weeks.
  • Pricing is per sender, so an organisation where many people occasionally need to send something either buys seats for staff who send a handful of documents a year or funnels everything through one person and creates a bottleneck.
  • Templates are rationed by tier, at one on free and five per sender on the entry plan, and templates are what makes the tool worth using at all, so the practical entry point is a tier above the headline price.
  • It is a smaller vendor in a category where signed agreements must be retrievable years later, so the safe practice is downloading every signed document and its audit certificate into your own storage rather than relying on the account still existing.
  • It provides standard electronic signatures rather than acting as a qualified trust service provider, so any transaction requiring a qualified electronic signature under European rules needs a different supplier alongside it.

Pricing, plan by plan

Forest

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.

SignWell

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 sender
    • 1 template
    • 3 documents per month
  • Light$10/month
    • Annual pricing: $10/month (monthly: $12/month)
    • 1 sender
    • 5 templates per sender
  • Business$30/month
    • Annual pricing: $30/month (monthly: $36/month)
    • 3 senders
    • Unlimited templates and documents
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom pricing for teams of 50+
    • High volume support
    • Advanced compliance needs

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 SignWell if

  • You need per-sender pricing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want free signers.
SignWell review

Questions people ask

Is Forest or SignWell better?
Neither clearly leads. Forest starts at Free and SignWell at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Forest or SignWell?
Forest starts at Free and SignWell at Free.
Does Forest or SignWell run on more platforms?
Forest runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox. SignWell 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 SignWell is typically brought in for.
What can Forest do that SignWell cannot?
Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking. SignWell covers Per-sender pricing, Free signers, Free plan, Templates.

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
SignWell: Do signers need an account or a licence?

No. Recipients open a link, sign and are done, with no account and no cost. You pay only for the people who send documents.

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
SignWell: What does the free plan actually allow?

Three documents a month, one sender and one template, along with a small monthly allowance of API documents. It does not include custom branding or bulk send.

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
SignWell: Is an electronic signature legally binding?

Electronic signatures are recognised for most commercial agreements under the relevant American and European frameworks, and SignWell records an audit trail. Certain instruments are excluded by statute, and anything requiring a qualified signature needs a qualified provider.

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
SignWell: How hard is it to leave?

The signed documents are ordinary PDFs you can download with their certificates, so the records move easily. Your templates and the workflows built around them do not.

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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