Forest made focus sessions charming — plant a tree, protect it, maybe fund a real one. But it only sees the sessions you start; the doomscrolling between them is invisible to it, and since December 2025 it's subscription-based. Five apps people switch to, honestly compared: one is ours (bias disclosed).
Forest tracks the 25 minutes you commit to, not the two hours of scrolling scattered everywhere else.
Forest moved from a one-time purchase to a subscription (~$32-36/year) in December 2025 — long-time buyers have been vocal about it.
Plant Together is cooperative — friends share one tree. Some people are moved more by a bet they can win.
our app — bias disclosed, judge accordingly
people who want a wholesome, cozy focus timer
A cute mascot and focus timer that rewards you with room decorations while you stay off your phone.
people who like trading real habits for earned scroll time, with a cute buddy
Earn coins by doing real-world habits like walking, reading or cleaning, then spend them to unlock app time.
people who want a gentle pause and autonomy rather than hard blocking
Adds a deep-breath pause before each app opens, then asks if you still want to continue — friction, not blocking.
people who want polished, hard-to-bypass focus blocking and deep analytics
Scheduled focus sessions and Deep Focus that block chosen apps with no bypass, plus a focus score and analytics.
| Forest | Pauza | |
|---|---|---|
| Core approach | Plant a virtual tree for each focus session — leave early and it dies; completed sessions earn coins that can help fund planting real trees (Trees for the Future). | Rewards time OFF your phone: every minute away from social media becomes tokens, builds streaks, and can be staked in head-to-head bets with a friend — lowest screen time wins the pot. |
| Price | free with a Forest Plus subscription around $32-36/year (moved from a one-time purchase to subscription in Dec 2025) | free core app; optional PRO tier |
| Social layer | 'Plant Together' rooms — friends grow one shared tree, and anyone giving up kills it for everyone; cooperative, no stakes | real head-to-head stakes with friends — lowest screen time wins the pot (tokens only, no cash value) |
| When you slip | your tree dies — a guilt nudge, and the session is lost | streaks freeze instead of breaking; a lost bet costs tokens, never money |
| Privacy | records focus sessions, not your per-app screen time | per-app usage and your blocked-apps list never leave the device; friends only see an anonymous daily minute total |
| Platform | iPhone and Android | iPhone only (iOS 26+) |
Full breakdown: Pauza vs Forest
This page is written by the team behind Pauza, so read it with that in mind — we've kept every claim factual and point out where the other app is genuinely the better choice. Prices are approximate as of July 2026 and change often; always check the App Store for current pricing. All product names are trademarks of their respective owners; Pauza is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Pricing for Forest is free with a Forest Plus subscription around $32-36/year (moved from a one-time purchase to subscription in Dec 2025). Prices are approximate and change — the App Store listing is the source of truth. Pauza's core is free on iOS 26+: tracking, tokens, streaks, a daily Hard Mode block and friend challenges cost nothing. PRO is $59.99/year or $9.99/month and only lifts the caps.
Every iPhone subscription cancels the same way, Forest included: open Settings, tap your name at the top, then Subscriptions, then Forest, then Cancel Subscription. Deleting the app does not stop billing, and you keep access until the end of the period you already paid for.
What Pauza costs, in full: pricing & plans
A session timer can't see your whole day — that's a different category. Pauza tracks social media all day, rewards every minute off with tokens and streaks, and lets you bet a friend on who scrolls less (free core, iOS 26+).
Focus Friend — a cozy mascot-based focus timer that rewards sessions with room decorations. Same wholesome session mechanic, different reward.
Yes — in December 2025 Forest moved from a ~$3.99 one-time purchase to free with a 'Forest Plus' subscription around $32-36/year (approximate, check the App Store). Existing owners kept their features.
Pricing for Forest is free with a Forest Plus subscription around $32-36/year (moved from a one-time purchase to subscription in Dec 2025). Prices are approximate and change — the App Store listing is the source of truth. Pauza's core is free on iOS 26+: tracking, tokens, streaks, a daily Hard Mode block and friend challenges cost nothing. PRO is $59.99/year or $9.99/month and only lifts the caps.
Pricing for Forest is free with a Forest Plus subscription around $32-36/year (moved from a one-time purchase to subscription in Dec 2025). Prices are approximate and change — the App Store listing is the source of truth. For comparison, Pauza is free with an optional PRO tier at $59.99/year or $9.99/month.
Every iPhone subscription cancels the same way, Forest included: open Settings, tap your name at the top, then Subscriptions, then Forest, then Cancel Subscription. Deleting the app does not stop billing, and you keep access until the end of the period you already paid for.
We don't publish other companies' discount terms — check the Forest website or its App Store listing for current offers. With Pauza there is nothing to discount: the core app is free on iOS 26+, and PRO only lifts the caps.
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Every minute off social media earns tokens — and you can bet a friend on who scrolls less.
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