# Forest: Focus for Productivity — user reviews > 1,993 indexed App Store user reviews of Forest by SEEKRTECH CO., LTD., rated 4.80/5 from 49,093 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-focus-for-productivity/id866450515/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-focus-for-productivity/id866450515.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 43,292 · 4★ 4,055 · 3★ 688 · 2★ 297 · 1★ 761 ## What do users think of Forest? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 💪 Helps with focus and productivity - 🌳 Motivating to grow a virtual forest - 📊 Useful data and statistics - 🌱 Ability to plant real trees - 🎨 Cute and visually appealing design **Cons** - 🔒 Restrictive app locking can be frustrating - 💰 Expensive to unlock new trees and features - 🐛 Bugs and glitches reported - 🕰️ Lack of pause/resume functionality **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashing and freezing issues - Syncing and data loss problems - Inconsistent behavior when switching apps **Most requested features** - Ability to pause/resume timers - More customization options for the forest - Integration with other productivity apps - Easier way to earn coins for new trees ## Newest reviews (13 of 1,993) ### 4/5 — Focus challenge needs to be patched *2026-08-28, version 5.24.0* It’s a good app, but one of my gripes is the focus challenges. Lately they do not update very well after I get through a focus session. It can be really annoying to have focused for an hour + and see that the focus challenges were never counting because of some technical glitch. Also it would be nice if we could plant more than 5 trees! ### 2/5 — Helpful timer to keep track of study hours *2026-08-28, version 5.24.0* It has really nice variety of trees and plants. I really liked the timer function but seems like it’s not there anymore. I miss the old layout as it looked simpler and prettier than right now ### 3/5 — updates *2026-08-26, version 5.23.3* i have used this app for a few years now but with the updates that have been added (to make it more aesthetic…? i guess?) it just makes it sm harder to use. please remove some of these changes, it just adds so much more work and doesn’t let me restart it from my home screen anymore ### 2/5 — Edit: The new UI is SO BAD // Please. Add. More of the trees. To the COIN STORE. *2026-08-24, version 5.23.3* Edit: Users have complained about the glitch where they have to close the app to claim their coins and still Forest is acting like it's on our end with no update patch, just telling us to 'update'. That's the problem. We did. Ontop of that, the UI is apalling. They seperated everything. // I have no incentive to use this app aside from the challenges and if the month tree is something I don't want, I don't use the app. The coin store is SIGNIFICANTLY lacking ant you can tell from plus they have a TON of gorgeous trees that SHOULD be in the store. I understand the need to have plus content. But PLEASE put some more trees in the coin store. Other than that, this app is amazing!! ### 2/5 — New Update ruined everything *2026-08-22, version 5.23.3* I have had forest for about 7 years now and have reliably used it throughout high school and college. I LOVED it. So simple and easy to use, kept me motivated. I started grad school this week and when I logged in, I was booted from my account, and random data was lost. The entire past three years, special trees I bought for specific tasks, and random entries throughout are all gone. Not to mention, there are a million pop ups on start up, and the new design is pretty, but the beauty of this app was simplicity. I could actually focus on what I needed and keep track of my progress. Now that is gone, it’s become so tacky, and I am considering walking away permanently, which really stinks. They had a good thing going for some time. Too bad it’s ending this way. :/ ### 4/5 — Upset with latest update *2026-08-22, version 5.23.3* I have used this app for years. It is my favorite focus app. But the new update is glitchy. The main issue is having to close out the app entirely to redeem coins or click to any other part of the app. I don’t mind the changes to the appearance of the app features but this is a bit annoying to have to close out the app to get it to work every time. Edit: You can go to settings and return to the classic version, which I much prefer. Easily able to redeem without having to close the app and you can continue to get coins beyond the time that you set. ### 2/5 — I used to love this app until they added Plus *2026-08-21, version 5.23.3* I loved this app so much and I was drawn to it since it was a one time purchase, now they have removed some of the previous features and put them behind a paywall. Upsetting ### 4/5 — Decent app for focusing *2026-08-20, version 5.23.3* So far I have enjoyed using the app, and it’s very good for when I need to focus on something, but I’ve run into a few problems that are not any of the so far non-existent bugs. The problem is that I want to use YouTube music to listen to my own focus music, but the app is restricted for when I’m supposed to be focusing, and I’m supposed to either get plus or grow enough trees to get more time gems so I can buy the music I would like in the shop in the app. Overall it is very good, but I would suggest getting a speaker like an Alexa or a Google Nest Mini to listen to your focus music instead of buying plus (it’s not that plus is bad or anything, I’m just the only person in my family who uses the app, so we are not going to invest in it) but it might be worthwhile to automatically have the ability to choose which apps you want to have on downtime and which you don’t. Thank you for your time, HarryPotter_F4N ### 5/5 — atualização *2026-08-20* ESSA ATUALIZAÇÃO FICOU MTO RUIM… PELO AMOR DE DEUS VOLTA PRO NORMAL **Developer response:** Sentimos muito que a nova atualização tenha deixado sua experiência pior. A interface pode mudar temporariamente durante testes, mas agradecemos muito seu feedback — compartilhe mais detalhes em Menu → Configurações → FAQ&Support. Esperamos melhorar sua experiência com o Forest. Equipe Forest ### 3/5 — Been using for over a decade *2026-08-20, version 5.23.3* I used to love this app! I used it in high school. However, I’ve lost all of my data at LEAST once, however I believe it has been more. I know this is going to result in a “Go to the FAQ page” response. However, my review is not a question and if people are complaining it’s a sign to stop, think, and fix the problem rather then brushing it off so it doesn’t wind up on your to-do list. I’ve been using the app for over a decade and I’m warning anyone that is interested in downloading it that there is a paywall and they do bother you a lot to pay for stuff. They’ve also recently changed how the whole app looks and it’s a downgrade; your plants will now die at the end sometimes if you don’t go to collect them. I’m graduating Uni soon so will be putting the app to rest in another month or so. ### 2/5 — 時間超過分の報酬が受け取れない *2026-08-20* アプデで大幅にUIが変わったようですが、前のUIの方が使いやすかったです。 以前から、時間超過分の報酬が受け取れない(そもそも記録されない)不具合がありましたが、アプデによってより一層その不具合が多く発生しているように感じます。 正しく時間が記録されないのは、このアプリとして致命的な不具合だと思うので、優先的に対応していただきたいです。 また、大きくUIが変わり、画面が綺麗になっている点は良いかと思いますが、「操作手順が多い・操作が分かりにくい」ようになったと感じます。 集中タイム後の操作も、以前は1回の画面操作ですぐに休憩に切り替えていたのに、今では何回も画面操作しなければならないのが正直面倒です。 今まで「スムーズに」操作できたのでこのアプリを気に入っていましたが、今はそのスムーズさが無いため良さが消えてしまったと感じました。 集中時間を調整する機能も初見じゃ分からなかったので、分かりにくい設計になっているなとも思います。 以上、ユーザー目線で使いやすいようなアップデートをお願いします。 **Developer response:** 詳しいご意見をありがとうございます。時間超過分の記録・報酬についてご不便をおかけし申し訳ありません。時間超過はカウントダウンモードの「延長計時」をオンにすると有効で、Forestを画面上に開いたままにする必要があります。それでも記録されない場合は、設定 → FAQ&Supportから、発生時刻とスクリーンショットを添えてご連絡ください。UIについてのご意見もチームに共有します。 Forest Team ### 5/5 — Best productivity App *2026-08-20, version 5.23.3* I read about Forest in a book in hacks to improve productivity and boy oh boy, this turned out to be a great decision. The psychology behind the app is so unique and works for me. I recommend this app to anyone who struggles with phone addiction or productivity in general. I recommend everyone to get a plus version. This is not a paid review, I have recommended this app to all my team members and anyone I care about. Thank you Forest❤️ ### 4/5 — 👍🏻 *2026-08-19, version 5.23.3* Приложения разрешить можно только через подписку,не каждый хочет подписку.А так скажу,классная рисовка,со звуками природы 🫶🏻 ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Remove the stupid “Take a Break” feature! *2026-08-28, version 5.24.0* At least give us an option to DISABLE it! COMPLETELY WASTES MY TIME!!! ### 1/5 — 以前不是买断制吗 *2026-08-27, version 5.24.0* 不知道为啥除了个plus内购制，看公告里说之前购买此应用的用户可以直接恢复至pro版 找了半天找不到在哪申请😅 ### 1/5 — New version has ruined it! *2026-08-25, version 5.23.3* Used to be a great app and is now a bloated, buggy mess. Leave things as they were! ### 1/5 — New interface and design is awful *2026-08-23, version 5.23.3* I’m really disappointed with this update. I bought this app before everything became subscription based, and now after this update I had to log back in and basically create a new account. I don’t even know if my original purchase matters anymore or what I actually still have access to. The new interface is awful and whoever had the idea to change it should be fired. The old app was so much clearer, more fun, and actually made studying feel exciting. I even looked forward to studying because of the app and it didn’t feel like every other boring, repetitive dull study app. It was easy to navigate, aesthetically pleasing to the eye and everything just felt more organized. Now the entire interface is so bland, boring, and mundane. It honestly feels like they took away everything that made the app enjoyable in the first place. I understand apps need updates, but completely changing the design/ display AND moving everything toward a subscription model feels like such a downgrade, especially for people who already paid for the app before. I hope they would bring back the old interface, or at least give us the option to switch back to the old version. And I definitely think they need to be clearer about what happens to people who already purchased the app before the subscription change because that’s just theft ### 1/5 — New ui layout is terrible *2026-08-20, version 5.23.3* They made the ui so terrible. It was great and minimal. Where you can pick your tree and your timer all in one page but now it’s multiple pages that you have to next next next thru for one focus session. Fudge off Forest. ### 1/5 — Lost all of my progress *2026-08-20, version 5.23.3* Forest logged me out, and now I can’t get any of my progress back. I’ve had this app since 2018 now, and all of it’s gone. ### 1/5 — What kind of app makes you pay for the app and it makes you pay to get rid of the ads in the app *2026-08-20, version 5.23.3* And then also having ads in your app is fine I guess but being able to not exit out of the ad after the app told you if you watch this ad you get double the points but I had to literally close out the whole entire app because it didn’t give me any type of button to close out the ad after I was done watching it horrible horrible horrible I’m gonna spend my time this week and rebuilding this app using Cursor of course. ### 1/5 — Terrible interface after recent update *2026-08-19, version 5.23.3* Harder to use and regularly freezes since the recent update. The whole point is that I should not have to focus on what I’m doing - not think about the app & deal with it crashing. Counterproductive. ### 1/5 — Terrible new UX *2026-08-18, version 5.23.3* I’ve been a Forest user for many years now and have always enjoyed the cute trees and the incentive to put my phone down. The new UX that was just rolled out has so many pop-ups and distractions, and is flooding the app with monetization and pushes to pay a premium subscription for an app that I ALREADY PAID FOR. The value of Forest was in part the cost up front for an ad-free, push-free experience. The new UX makes this so much worse by making you go through multiple layers of pop-ups and questions to do a basic function. It has moved the obvious controls to unintuitive locations. Very disappointed to have an app that has been useful (and that I paid for!) ruined like this. ### 1/5 — Update renders this unusable *2026-08-18, version 5.23.3* Don’t know what happened but ever since the latest update, the challenge takes forever to load. Also, I don’t like that the challenge starts at noon ET. I hope they’ll change so users can pick the time when they want to start the daily challenge. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Awesome *2026-08-30, version 5.24.0* This app has helped me focus so much! ### 5/5 — Good for focus *2026-08-29, version 5.24.0* This app is good for focusing, bugs are either fixed or just not shown up recently. ### 5/5 — يخبل *2026-08-28, version 5.24.0* امتياز ### 5/5 — A great app for me and my students *2026-08-27, version 5.24.0* I use this to help me both focus and then have a break when doing my teaching prep time. I love that I can plant real trees too. I also recommend it to my students. ### 5/5 — Really good *2026-08-26, version 5.24.0* It helps me stay focused and the amibisncr is wonderful ### 5/5 — This app is amazing!!! *2026-08-26, version 5.23.3* Thank you to everyone who helped design this app, and kept the subscription cost low! This has really helped me stay focused and helped me keep up with practicing my instruments and even gardening! Thank you, and I would highly recommend this!! ### 5/5 — I brought this app many years ago when it was a paid app and I still love using this app !! *2026-08-24, version 5.23.3* As a pro user (due to retaining the benefits from buying it from the AppStore with a one-time payment), I can confidently say that I absolutely adore this app!! Keeps me focused and it’s amazing I can track my productivity throughout the years. I love building my forest with different plants and trees! I love the spring and summer events to get the limited grass options! And I love that you can plant real trees as well! I only wish that there were more trees available to buy with coins as I have most of them now. ### 5/5 — Love this app *2026-08-22, version 5.23.3* Can't lie this app, but she asked me to actually do some work for uni ### 5/5 — I love it *2026-08-21, version 5.23.3* It’s the best app in existence ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-08-21, version 5.23.3* Love how it helps me lock out of my apps and scrolling while studying --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-05.*