PulsePomPulsePom and Forest at a glance
What each app offers, from PulsePom itself and from Forest's own listings.
| Feature | PulsePom | Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Focus timer | Pomodoro timer, and a Normal stopwatch or countdown; every session is saved to a subject | Countdown timer and stopwatch that grow a virtual tree |
| Grow a tree while you focus | A tree that grows while you focus Coming soon | Over a hundred tree species to unlock |
| Plants real trees | No | With Trees for the Future, paid with the coins you earn |
| Use without an account | Timer, Stats and Planner, saved on your device and moved into your account when you sign in | Not listed |
| To-do list and planner | Planner with lists and a Board view; Calendar Pro (Premium) | Not listed |
| Habit tracking | Weekly and monthly habit tracker, with daily mood and motivation ratings | Not listed |
| Stats | Basic, Advanced and Subjects & Tasks stats: heatmap, hourly chart, streaks | Focus tracking and history; Focus Analytics and custom tags with Forest Plus |
| Study with friends | Study groups that show who is studying and for how long, with Studicons, challenges, quizzes and polls | Plant Together focus rooms with friends |
| Group chat | Group chat with AI-moderated images and virus-scanned files | Not listed |
| Leaderboards | Global (daily, 7 and 30 days) and in every group | Global leaderboard |
| App blocking | Android: apps and websites, during focus, on schedules or when a usage limit runs out Free | Deep Focus app blocking; a custom allowlist with Forest Plus |
| Shorts and Reels blocking | Android: YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok and Facebook Reels; YouTube University Free | Not listed |
| More blocking tools | Android: Study Mode, Strict Mode, scroll and app-launch limits, notification blocking, location and Wi-Fi triggers, adult-site blocking Free | Time Guard schedule blocks: one app or site free, more with Forest Plus |
| Focus sounds | No focus sounds | Ambient sounds, and Mindful Space breathing exercises |
| Ads | No ads | In the free version (Google Play label); Forest Plus is ad-free |
| Price | Free; Premium (monthly, yearly, or Lifetime on Android) adds PulsePom AI and Calendar Pro | Free; Forest Plus subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Android, Windows; iPhone, iPad and Mac in the browser | Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome and Firefox extensions |
Where Forest is the better choice
- You grow a virtual tree while you focus, with over a hundred species to unlock. PulsePom's tree-growing focus mode is coming soon, but it isn't available yet.
- Forest plants real trees with Trees for the Future when you spend the coins you earn; its listing says users have planted over 2,000,000.
- Ambient sounds and Mindful Space breathing exercises. PulsePom has no focus sounds.
- Native iPhone and iPad apps, and Chrome and Firefox extensions. On iPhone, PulsePom runs in the browser.
Where PulsePom is different
- Study groups, not just a shared room: see who is studying and for how long, with Studicons, group chat, study challenges, quizzes and polls.
- A planner with lists and a Board view, a weekly and monthly habit tracker, and Basic, Advanced and Subjects & Tasks stats.
- Free blocking that goes further on Android: YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok and Facebook Reels, Study Mode, scroll and app-launch limits, notification blocking, and location and Wi-Fi triggers. Forest's free plan blocks with Deep Focus and one Time Guard app or site; its custom allowlist and multi-app Time Guard need Forest Plus.
- No ads. Forest's free version shows ads, according to its Google Play label.
- A web app and a Windows app, and the Timer, Stats and Planner work without an account.
Choose Forest if…
- a tree that withers if you leave is what keeps you off your phone
- you want your focus time to plant real trees
- you want focus sounds, or a native iPhone app
- you focus alone, or with a few friends in a Plant Together room
Choose PulsePom if…
- you study with a group and want chat, challenges and leaderboards
- you want a planner and habit tracker next to the timer
- you need YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels blocked on Android, free
- you study on a computer too, in the browser or the Windows app
How to switch from Forest to PulsePom
- Open PulsePom on the web, or install it from Google Play or the Microsoft Store. The timer starts without an account.
- Add your subjects, the way you used tags in Forest, and start a Pomodoro or a Normal session.
- On Android, open Block, turn on blocking during focus and add the apps you used to keep off your allowlist. Then create a study group and share the invite link with your Plant Together friends.
Forest and PulsePom: questions
Is PulsePom like Forest?
Both keep you off your phone while you focus. Forest grows a virtual tree. PulsePom saves each session to a subject, blocks distracting apps, Shorts and Reels on Android, and adds study groups, group chat, a planner and a habit tracker. A tree-growing focus mode is coming to PulsePom, but it isn't available yet.
Can I grow trees in PulsePom?
Not yet. Growing a tree while you focus is coming soon. Today you can choose a Forest scene for the timer, one of its nine focus scenes.
Is PulsePom free like Forest?
PulsePom's timer, study groups, group chat, planner, habit tracker, stats and every Android blocking feature are free, with no ads. Premium adds the PulsePom AI study coach and Calendar Pro. Forest is free with ads and offers a Forest Plus subscription; its website lists what each plan includes.
Does PulsePom work on iPhone?
Yes, in Safari or any browser at pulsepom.io, with the same account as on Android and Windows. There is no App Store app, and blocking is Android-only.
Sources and disclaimer
PulsePom's column comes from the app itself. The other apps' details come from their own store listings and websites, checked on 9 November 2026. "Not listed" means we didn't find the feature in those sources, not that the app lacks it. Apps change often, so check each app for its latest features and prices.
- Forest (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, forestapp.cc (Free vs Plus plans), App Store listing
Forest is a trademark of its owner. PulsePom isn't affiliated with it.
Ready to focus together?
PulsePom is free on the web, Android and Windows. Start the timer now, with no account, and bring your friends when you're ready.