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Forest vs SelfControl

Forest and SelfControl are both Productivity tools in our directory. This side-by-side comparison covers pricing, user ratings, supported platforms, key features and open-source status so you can decide which one fits your needs.

Side-by-side comparison

AttributeForestSelfControl
VendorSeekrtechCharlie Stigler
Rating★ 4.8★ 4.6
PricingFreemiumFree
PlatformsiOS, AndroidmacOS
Key featuresPlant a tree per session, Phone lock as a game, Real-tree charityFree, Cannot undo until done, Mac-only
HeadquartersTaiwanOpen source
Founded20142009
Open sourceNoYes

Key differences

  • Forest has a higher user rating (4.8★ vs 4.6★).
  • Forest is Freemium, while SelfControl is Free.
  • SelfControl is open source (its code is public), while Forest is proprietary.
  • Forest runs on iOS, Android; SelfControl runs on macOS.

Frequently asked questions

Is Forest or SelfControl better?

By user rating, Forest scores higher (4.8★ vs 4.6★). Both are capable Productivity tools, so review the feature comparison for your use case.

Which is cheaper, Forest or SelfControl?

Forest is Freemium and SelfControl is Free. Check each product page for current plan details.

Are Forest and SelfControl open source?

SelfControl is open source, while Forest is proprietary.

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