PulsePomWho made this list: we make PulsePom, and it's on this list. We've tried to be fair: every app here is the best choice for someone, and each entry says what it does well and what to keep in mind.
The short answer
For Forest's tree-growing with friends and no ads, Flora; for study groups, a planner and free blocking of Shorts and Reels, PulsePom (its tree-growing mode is coming soon); for a timer with a full task manager and a growing plant, Focus To-Do; for a cute companion, Focus Friend; for cam study and rankings, YPT; and for a cozy virtual library, Focustown.
| App | Best for | Price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Flora | tree-growing with friends and no ads | Free; in-app purchases ($0.99–$134.99 per item on Google Play) | Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome extension |
| 2. PulsePom | study groups and free blocking of Shorts and Reels | Free; Premium (monthly, yearly, or Lifetime on Android) adds PulsePom AI and Calendar Pro | Web, Android, Windows; iPhone, iPad and Mac in the browser |
| 3. Focus To-Do | a timer with tasks and a growing plant | Free with in-app purchases ($1.99–$11.99 per item on Google Play) | Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Apple Watch, Wear OS; Chrome extension |
| 4. Focus Friend | a cute companion instead of a tree | Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$39.99 per item on Google Play) | Android, iPhone, iPad |
| 5. YPT | cam study and exam rankings | Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$26.99 per item on Google Play) | Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| 6. Focustown | studying in a cozy virtual library | Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$100 per item on Google Play) | Web, Android, iPhone, iPad |
How we chose
- Does it keep you off your phone like Forest?
- Studying with friends
- What's free, and whether there are ads
- Extra tools: tasks, stats and blocking
We compared each app's own Google Play and App Store listings and official website, on the date shown under Sources, and PulsePom from the app itself. We haven't tested every app hands-on for this list: when we call an app the best for something, it's because its own listing describes that most fully among the apps here.
Forest alternatives side by side
| Feature | Flora | PulsePom | Focus To-Do | Focus Friend | YPT | Focustown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus timer | Focus timer that grows a tree; the tree dies if you leave to use other apps | Pomodoro timer, and a Normal stopwatch or countdown; every session is saved to a subject | Pomodoro timer with custom lengths, short and long breaks and Continuous Mode | A Bean who focuses with you; break timers for the Pomodoro method | Stopwatch by subject, and a Pomodoro timer | Built-in focus timer |
| Grow a tree while you focus | Trees and a garden that grow as you focus | A tree that grows while you focus Coming soon | A plant that grows as you focus | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Study with friends | Study groups and teams that grow trees together | Study groups that show who is studying and for how long, with Studicons, challenges, quizzes and polls | Not listed | Not listed | Study groups that show whether each member is studying or resting, by cam study or icons | Cozy virtual cafes and libraries where you study next to real people, and sessions with friends |
| App blocking | Not listed | Android: apps and websites, during focus, on schedules or when a usage limit runs out Free | App whitelist while you focus | Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps during sessions | Blocks other apps while you study | Not listed |
| Ads | No ads (its listing) | No ads | No “Contains ads” label on Google Play | No “Contains ads” label on Google Play | Yes (Google Play label) | Yes (Google Play label) |
| Platforms | Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome extension | Web, Android, Windows; iPhone, iPad and Mac in the browser | Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Apple Watch, Wear OS; Chrome extension | Android, iPhone, iPad | Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | Web, Android, iPhone, iPad |
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1. Flora
Best for tree-growing with friends and no ads
Flora is a tree-planting focus app with no ads: a seed grows while you focus and dies if you leave. You can grow trees with friends in groups, chat, compare focus time, turn to-dos into a plant-collecting journey, and plant real trees with Flora Care.
Good
- No ads, per its listing
- Grow trees together with friends, and chat
- Real trees with a Flora Care subscription
Keep in mind
- No app blocking in its listing: leaving kills the tree instead
- No web or Windows app in its listing
- Real tree planting needs a subscription
Price: Free; in-app purchases ($0.99–$134.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome extension
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2. PulsePom
Best for study groups and free blocking of Shorts and Reels
A free study app that puts a Pomodoro and Normal timer, study groups with chat, a planner, a weekly and monthly habit tracker, stats and leaderboards in one place, with no ads. Its Android app adds a free blocker for apps, websites, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. The Timer, Stats and Planner work without an account and offline.
Good
- Study groups, group chat, challenges and leaderboards, all free
- Every Android blocking feature is free, Shorts and Reels blocking included
- Web, Android and Windows apps with one account, and no sign-up needed to start
Keep in mind
- No App Store app: on iPhone, iPad and Mac it runs in the browser
- Blocking is Android-only
- No focus sounds, video study rooms or smartwatch app
- The AI study coach is part of Premium
Price: Free; Premium (monthly, yearly, or Lifetime on Android) adds PulsePom AI and Calendar Pro · Platforms: Web, Android, Windows; iPhone, iPad and Mac in the browser
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3. Focus To-Do
Best for a timer with tasks and a growing plant
Focus To-Do joins a Pomodoro timer to a full task manager with projects, reminders and recurring tasks, and syncs between phone and computer. It has reports with a Gantt chart, an app whitelist, white noise and a plant that grows as you focus.
Good
- A real task manager next to the timer
- Apps for almost every platform, including watches
- Gantt-chart and trend reports
Keep in mind
- No study groups or group chat in its listing
- Blocking is an app whitelist only
- Some features are in-app purchases
Price: Free with in-app purchases ($1.99–$11.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Apple Watch, Wear OS; Chrome extension
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4. Focus Friend
Best for a cute companion instead of a tree
Focus Friend, made by Hank Green, is a cozy timer where a little Bean focuses with you and earns decorations for its room. Its Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps during a session.
Good
- Very gentle and fun for short sessions
- Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps
- Pomodoro-style break timers
Keep in mind
- No study groups, planner or stats in its listing
- No web or desktop app in its listing
- Decorations and skins are in-app purchases
Price: Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$39.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad
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5. YPT
Best for cam study and exam rankings
YPT (열품타) is a study stopwatch with study groups that show whether each member is studying or resting, by cam study or icons. It ranks you against people preparing for the same exams, blocks other apps while you study, builds a planner from your sessions and has a large community in Korea.
Good
- Cam study and real-time status in study groups
- Rankings against people studying for the same exam
- Wear OS and Apple Watch apps
Keep in mind
- Shows ads (Google Play label)
- Studycons are bought with flames, sold in the app or earned by watching ads
- No web or Windows app in its listings
Price: Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$26.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
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6. Focustown
Best for studying in a cozy virtual library
Focustown puts you in a cozy, game-like cafe or library where you study next to real people from around the world, with a focus timer and coins to dress up your character.
Good
- A cozy, game-like place to study with others
- No camera needed
- Study sessions with your own friends
Keep in mind
- Shows ads (Google Play label)
- No planner, stats or blocking in its listing
- Customization is earned or bought
Price: Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$100 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Web, Android, iPhone, iPad
Questions
What is the closest app to Forest?
Flora: a tree grows while you focus and dies if you leave, you can grow trees with friends, and real trees can be planted with a Flora Care subscription. Its listing says it has no ads.
Is there a Forest alternative that blocks apps?
Yes. PulsePom's Android app blocks apps, websites, Shorts and Reels during focus, free, and Focus Friend's Deep Focus Mode locks distracting apps.
Is PulsePom getting tree growing?
Yes. A mode where a tree grows while you focus is coming soon. It isn't available yet.
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.
- Flora (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, flora.appfinca.com, App Store listing
- Focus To-Do (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, focustodo.cn, App Store listing
- Focus Friend (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, App Store listing
- YPT (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, App Store listing (US and Korea), namu.wiki and Korean user guides, for studycons, flames and AI tokens (checked 23 October 2026)
- Focustown (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, focustown.app, App Store listing
Flora, Focus To-Do, Focus Friend, YPT, Focustown are trademarks of their owners. PulsePom isn't affiliated with them.
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.