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
To study with friends without a camera, PulsePom's study groups show who is studying and for how long, with chat, challenges and leaderboards, all free. For cam study and a huge Korean community, YPT; to grow trees together, Forest or Flora; for live video, Focusmate (one partner) or StudyStream (big rooms); and for a cozy game-like library, Focustown.
| App | Best for | Price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. PulsePom | study groups without a camera, free | Free; Premium (monthly, yearly, or Lifetime on Android) adds PulsePom AI and Calendar Pro | Web, Android, Windows; iPhone, iPad and Mac in the browser |
| 2. YPT | cam study and Korea's biggest study community | Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$26.99 per item on Google Play) | Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| 3. Forest | focusing together in Plant Together rooms | Free; Forest Plus subscription | Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome and Firefox extensions |
| 4. Flora | growing trees with friends, with no ads | Free; in-app purchases ($0.99–$134.99 per item on Google Play) | Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome extension |
| 5. Focusmate | one-to-one accountability on video | Free: 3 sessions a week; Plus: unlimited, $8 a month billed yearly or $12 monthly | Browser on a computer or phone; no download |
| 6. StudyStream | big live video study rooms | Free, with premium features ($1.99–$69.99 per item on Google Play) | Web, Android, iPhone, iPad |
| 7. Focustown | a cozy, game-like library full of people | Free with in-app purchases ($0.99–$100 per item on Google Play) | Web, Android, iPhone, iPad |
How we chose
- How you study together: groups, rooms or video
- Whether you need a camera
- Chat, challenges and leaderboards
- What's free, and whether there are ads
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.
How each app lets you study together
| Feature | PulsePom | YPT | Forest | Flora | Focusmate | StudyStream | Focustown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study with friends | Study groups that show who is studying and for how long, with Studicons, challenges, quizzes and polls | Study groups that show whether each member is studying or resting, by cam study or icons | Plant Together focus rooms with friends | Study groups and teams that grow trees together | One-to-one coworking with a partner | Live study rooms, study partners, and students filtered by country and subject | Cozy virtual cafes and libraries where you study next to real people, and sessions with friends |
| Video study rooms | No video or voice rooms | Cam study | Not listed | Not listed | Live video sessions; you stay on camera | Live video study rooms with cameras on | Not listed |
| Group chat | Group chat with AI-moderated images and virus-scanned files | In study groups, plus the 열정카페 community | Not listed | Chat and share progress (official website) | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Leaderboards | Global (daily, 7 and 30 days) and in every group | Rankings by study category, such as university entrance, civil service and language exams | Global leaderboard | Compare weekly or monthly focus time with friends | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Focus timer | Pomodoro timer, and a Normal stopwatch or countdown; every session is saved to a subject | Stopwatch by subject, and a Pomodoro timer | Countdown timer and stopwatch that grow a virtual tree | Focus timer that grows a tree; the tree dies if you leave to use other apps | Booked sessions of 25, 50 or 75 minutes | Study Pomodoro timers and focus modes | Built-in focus timer |
| Ads | No ads | Yes (Google Play label) | In the free version (Google Play label); Forest Plus is ad-free | No ads (its listing) | Not listed | Yes (Google Play label) | Yes (Google Play label) |
| Platforms | Web, Android, Windows; iPhone, iPad and Mac in the browser | Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome and Firefox extensions | Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome extension | Browser on a computer or phone; no download | Web, Android, iPhone, iPad | Web, Android, iPhone, iPad |
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1. PulsePom
Best for study groups without a camera, free
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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2. YPT
Best for cam study and Korea's biggest study community
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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3. Forest
Best for focusing together in Plant Together rooms
Forest grows a virtual tree while you stay off your phone, and the tree withers if you leave to scroll. It has a countdown timer and stopwatch, Deep Focus app blocking, Plant Together rooms with friends, a global leaderboard and ambient sounds, and the coins you earn can plant real trees.
Good
- A simple, motivating idea that works
- Plants real trees with Trees for the Future
- Native Android and iPhone apps, plus Chrome and Firefox extensions
Keep in mind
- The free version shows ads (Google Play label)
- The custom allowlist, multi-app Time Guard and Focus Analytics need Forest Plus
- No to-do list or habit tracker in its listing
Price: Free; Forest Plus subscription · Platforms: Android, iPhone, iPad; Chrome and Firefox extensions
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4. Flora
Best for growing trees with friends, with 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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5. Focusmate
Best for one-to-one accountability on video
Focusmate pairs you with a partner for a live video session of 25, 50 or 75 minutes, so someone is there while you work: virtual body doubling in the browser.
Good
- Real accountability from a live partner
- Works in any browser, nothing to install
- Sessions sync with your calendar
Keep in mind
- You stay on camera
- The free plan has 3 sessions a week; Plus is $8 a month billed yearly or $12 monthly
- No stats, planner or app blocking among its listed features
Price: Free: 3 sessions a week; Plus: unlimited, $8 a month billed yearly or $12 monthly · Platforms: Browser on a computer or phone; no download
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6. StudyStream
Best for big live video study rooms
StudyStream is a large study-with-me community with live video study rooms, Pomodoro timers, tasks, streaks and AI note and quiz tools.
Good
- Live video rooms full of other students
- Find study partners by country and subject
- AI notes and quiz tools
Keep in mind
- Cameras on in live rooms
- Shows ads (Google Play label)
- No app blocking in its listing
Price: Free, with premium features ($1.99–$69.99 per item on Google Play) · Platforms: Web, Android, iPhone, iPad
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7. Focustown
Best for a cozy, game-like library full of people
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
How can I study with friends online without a camera?
Join a study group in PulsePom: everyone runs their own timer, and the group shows who is studying and how long each member has studied today, with chat, challenges and a leaderboard. Forest's Plant Together rooms and Flora's groups also work without a camera.
What is the best app for cam study?
YPT has cam study in its study groups, and StudyStream and Focusmate are built around live video. PulsePom has no video or voice.
Are study-with-friends apps free?
PulsePom's groups, chat and challenges are free with no ads. Focusmate's free plan has 3 sessions a week. YPT, StudyStream and Focustown are free with ads and in-app purchases, according to their Google Play labels.
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.
- 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)
- Forest (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, forestapp.cc (Free vs Plus plans), App Store listing
- Flora (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, flora.appfinca.com, App Store listing
- Focusmate (checked 9 November 2026): focusmate.com, Focusmate pricing
- StudyStream (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, App Store listing
- Focustown (checked 9 November 2026): Google Play listing, focustown.app, App Store listing
YPT, Forest, Flora, Focusmate, StudyStream, 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.