Comparison

Forest vs HyperFlo

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

HyperFlo

Features
Read full description

ADHD makes long, 25-minute focus sessions feel impossible — you stall before you even start. HyperFlo flips that. It uses short 15-minute sessions designed for how ADHD brains actually work: low friction to begin, satisfying rewards when you finish, and nothing on screen to pull you away. Start in one tap. No setup, no accounts, no guilt. WHY HYPERFLO WORKS FOR ADHD BRAINS • Short by default — 15 minutes is long enough to get something done and short enough to actually start. • One thing at a time — during a session the whole screen becomes the timer. No menus, no notifications, no distractions. • Dopamine rewards — every completed session ends with a satisfying haptic and a quick reward animation, plus a streak you'll want to keep alive. • Gentle nudges — subtle haptic taps mark your progress so you stay aware of time without breaking flow. • Zero friction — tap anywhere to pause, tap to resume. That's the whole interface. BUILT THE RIGHT WAY • No login and no account required. • Works completely offline. • No ads, ever. • Privacy-first: your sessions stay on your device. We don't collect personal data. PREMIUM (OPTIONAL) Upgrade to HyperFlo Premium for unlimited daily sessions, ambient focus sounds (brown noise, white noise, rain), advanced statistics, and a Lock Screen timer. Available as a monthly, annual, or one-time lifetime purchase. The free version gives you everything you need to build the habit. Whether you're studying, working, or just trying to start the one task you've been avoiding all day, HyperFlo helps you begin — and finish. Focus for 15 minutes. That's it. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://hyperflo.itismy.app/privacy

Screenshots

Forest4 screens
HyperFlo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Forest at every 9 days against HyperFlo's monthly. Forest also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 HyperFlo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Forest ships an update every 9 days, HyperFlo monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Forest versus HyperFlo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterForestHyperFlo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (49K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings49K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size845 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSEEKRTECH CO., LTD.Arkadiusz Zembrowski

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

HyperFlo

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
3 purchases

HyperFlo

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$4.991 Month
  • Annual Premium$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$14.99

Questions

Is Forest free?
Forest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HyperFlo free?
HyperFlo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Forest or HyperFlo have ads?
Neither Forest nor HyperFlo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Forest or HyperFlo?
Forest ships an update every 9 days, and HyperFlo monthly. Most recently, Forest was updated on September 25, 2026 and HyperFlo on September 4, 2026.

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