Comparison

Forest vs Echo Focus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Forest

This app uses a gamified timer to help users stay focused and reduce phone distractions. Users plant virtual trees that grow while they concentrate, but wither if they leave the app. It encourages productivity and offers features like personalized allow lists and real tree planting.

Highlights
  • Gamified focus timer
  • Virtual tree planting
  • Personalized allow lists
  • Unlockable tree species and white noises
  • Real tree planting initiative
  • Detailed time statistics
  • Cross-device synchronization
Features
Read full description

**Stay off your phone and a tree grows. Leave early and it withers. That's Forest, the focus timer used by 60 million people worldwide.** Top productivity app in 136 countries. Recommended by The New York Times and Business Insider. "Forest works well, and if your goal is to be more in the moment, ignore your phone and actually talk to your friends when you are with them, this is the app for you." — The New York Times Together, our community has planted over 2 million real trees on Earth through our partnership with Trees for the Future. --- STAY FOCUSED Forest helps you overcome phone addiction, reduce distractions, and build deep work habits. Whether you are studying for exams, working from home, or simply trying to be more present, Forest gives you a reason to stay on task. - A gamified focus timer that turns screen-free time into a growing virtual forest - Create personalized Allow Lists to block distracting apps during focus sessions (iOS 16 or above) - Track your daily phone usage and screen time GET MOTIVATED - Unlock tree species and soundscapes as you reach focus milestones - Co-plant trees with friends and family during shared focus sessions - Compete with users around the world and share your forest - Unlock achievements and earn extra rewards - Plant real trees on Earth through our partnership with Trees for the Future TIME GUARD: BLOCK DISTRACTIONS ON SCHEDULE Time Guard helps you set phone-free windows throughout your day. Block distracting apps on a schedule, limit when you can access them, and track how much time you spend on your phone. MINDFUL SPACE: RESET YOUR MIND Mindful Space combines calming soundscapes, breathing exercises, and gentle animations to help you decompress between focus sessions. STATISTICS & INSIGHTS - Create custom tags and view detailed statistics of how you spend your focused time - Review your weekly, monthly, and yearly focus history as a visual forest - Revisit your focus journey with Forest Timeline - Sync your focused time with Apple Health It is never too late to build better habits. --- FOREST PLUS Love Forest? Try Forest Plus. - 3x coin rewards and unlock new trees faster - Exclusive Plus-only tree species and early access to seasonal new trees - Turn your focus into a real tree on Earth Start your free trial today, cancel anytime. --- NOTICE Forest is available on iPhone and iPad. Sign in with the same account to sync your data and access Forest Plus across all platforms. The Allow List feature requires iOS/iPadOS 16 or above. Forest is the original app. Similar apps on the App Store are not developed by the Forest team. --- Follow us on Instagram or visit forestapp.cc to learn more. Browser extensions also available. --- Privacy Policy: https://www.forestapp.cc/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://forest-subscription.seekrtech.com/terms/

About

Echo Focus

This app helps you focus by tracking your sessions and sharing your progress with friends. Instead of blocking apps, it provides awareness of your distraction patterns and fosters mutual accountability within a trusted circle. It's designed for real-world work habits and offers long-term productivity insights.

Highlights
  • Live focus sessions with real-time tracking
  • Distraction alerts and session summaries
  • Long-term productivity analytics
  • Friend circles and shared accountability
  • Live Activities and Lock Screen support
  • Voice input for fast task capture
Features
Read full description

Echo is the only accountability app you'll ever need. Most focus apps lock you out of your phone. Echo doesn't. Instead, Echo makes you aware of how often you actually reach for it, then gives your circle of friends to see when you're locked in and when you're slipping. It's accountability, not punishment. And it actually works. WHY ECHO IS DIFFERENT Echo doesn't block apps. It tracks your focus sessions, surfaces your distraction patterns, and lets the people who care about you in on the journey. Real progress comes from awareness and accountability not another wall between you and your screen. TRACK YOUR FOCUS SESSIONS Start a work session whenever you sit down to focus. Echo runs in the background and logs how long you stay locked in, and how often distractions sneak in. No nagging. No lockouts. Just an honest mirror. LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY STATS See how your focus changes across days, weeks, and months. Spot your best hours, your worst days, and the trends behind your real productivity — not just today's streak. YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY CIRCLE Invite friends to your circle and hold each other accountable. See when your people are locked in. Cheer them on. Know someone's watching when you're tempted to scroll. Studying solo just got a lot less lonely. BUILT FOR THE WAY YOU ACTUALLY WORK Whether you're a student grinding through finals, an entrepreneur building something real, an office worker fighting context switches, or someone with ADHD who needs a system that finally gets it, Echo meets you where you are. PAIRS WITH ECHO FOR MAC Most of your distractions happen at your laptop, and that's where Echo for Mac shines, it tracks every app and website you visit during a focus session, down to the minute. Sync the iPhone app with your Mac to make the most of the Echo ecosystem. FEATURES • Live focus sessions with real-time tracking • Distraction alerts and session summaries • Long-term productivity analytics • Friend circles and shared accountability • Live Activities and Lock Screen support • Voice input for fast task capture • Calendar and task management • 100% free Ready to actually focus? Build your circle and start your first session today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Forest4 screens
Echo Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Forest at 4.8 against Echo Focus's 3.0. Forest also leads on ratings volume (50K vs 2) and review sentiment (58% vs 50%). Echo Focus's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Forest sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Echo Focus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Forest holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Forest has 50K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Forest's written reviews are positive against 50% of Echo Focus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Forest ships an update every 9 days, Echo Focus every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Forest versus Echo Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterForestEcho Focus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (50K ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews58.5% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings50K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size826 MB137 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSEEKRTECH CO., LTD.Alexander Luca

Customer experience

Forest

All ratings49,540 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews2,278 reviews
Positive58.5%
Neutral6.9%
Negative34.6%

Echo Focus

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Forest

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashing and freezing issues
  • Syncing and data loss problems
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching apps

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to pause/resume timers
  • More customization options for the forest
  • Integration with other productivity apps
  • Easier way to earn coins for new trees

Echo Focus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

19 purchases

Forest

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly (Early Bird)7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Monthly (Early Bird)$5.991 Month
  • Annual (Early Bird)7 Days trial$32.491 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual (Early Bird)7 Days trial$35.991 Year
One-time15
  • Bottle of Sunshine Elixir$0.99
  • Shovelful of Crystal$0.99
  • Starter Bonus Pack$1.49
Show 12 more
  • Box of Sunshine Elixir$1.99
  • Select Pack$2.99
  • Advanced Package$2.99
  • Small pot of Crystal$4.99
  • Supreme Package$4.99
  • Advanced Bonus Pack$6.99
  • Elite Package$9.99
  • Large bag of Crystal$10.99
  • Select Pack$12.99
  • Supreme Bonus Pack$14.99
  • Deluxe Pack$18.99
  • Cartful of Crystal$21.99
2 purchases

Echo Focus

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Plan3 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Echo Yearly7 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is Forest free?
Forest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Echo Focus free?
Echo Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Forest or Echo Focus?
Forest is rated higher. Forest averages 4.8 out of 5 from 50K ratings, while Echo Focus averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Forest or Echo Focus have ads?
Neither Forest nor Echo Focus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Forest or Echo Focus?
Forest ships an update every 9 days, and Echo Focus every 5 days. Most recently, Forest was updated on October 18, 2026 and Echo Focus on October 15, 2026.

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