ZenTab
Add to Chrome
Comparison · Phone app and browser extension

ZenTab vs Forest

Forest turns focus into a game: plant a tree, stay focused, and it grows; leave, and it dies. It's best known as a phone app, with a free browser extension for Chrome and Firefox. ZenTab is a Chrome extension that blocks distracting sites, hides endless feeds and turns focus time into a streak, free to start with a $10 one-time Pro.
Prices and features checked on . Sources are listed below.

At a glance

Price
ZenTab: Free; Pro is $10 once, with a 14-day refund
Forest: Core app and extension free; Forest Plus is a subscription priced by region in the app stores
Where it works
ZenTab: Chrome, Edge and Brave on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS)
Forest: iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome and Firefox
Website blocking
ZenTab: 10 sites free; unlimited, page-level rules and allowlist mode with Pro
Forest: Deep Focus blocks sites in the browser during a session
Schedules and time limits
ZenTab: Schedules and daily limits with Pro
Forest: Time Guard schedules in the phone app
Hard to undo in a weak moment
ZenTab: Strict Mode; Nuclear mode and commitment locks with Pro
Forest: Leaving early kills your tree
Hide feeds, keep the site
ZenTab: YouTube Shorts free; 15 feeds on 9 sites with Pro
Forest: Not a dedicated feature
Focus timer
ZenTab: Pomodoro presets free; Flowtime and custom timers with Pro
Forest: Focus timer with a growing tree
Motivation
ZenTab: GitHub-style focus streak, Earned Time, achievements
Forest: A virtual forest, coins, achievements and real trees planted with a partner charity
Adult content
ZenTab: Adult sites blocked free; urge challenges, SafeSearch and a 30-minute lock with Pro
Forest: Not a dedicated feature
Blocks desktop or phone apps
ZenTab: No: browser only, plus a free DNS guide for phones
Forest: Yes on phones
Account needed
ZenTab: No; optional Google sign-in for sync
Forest: Optional, for sync

Where Forest is better

  • The most charming motivation of any focus app.
  • Strong on the phone, where it can block apps during a session.
  • Plant Together lets friends focus at the same time.

Where ZenTab is better

  • Blocking that holds outside a session, with schedules, limits and Strict Mode.
  • Feed Eraser for YouTube, Instagram, Reddit and more.
  • Adult content protection.
  • A one-time price instead of a Plus subscription.

Which should you pick?

Choose Forest if…

You want a playful focus timer on your phone.

Choose ZenTab if…

You want your computer's browser locked down, with a streak that shows your progress.

Sources

Checked on from Forest's own pages. Prices can change and may differ by country or app store. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@zentab.live and we'll fix it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Forest Chrome extension free?

Yes. When we checked, Forest's core features and browser extension were free, with an optional Forest Plus subscription priced by region in the app stores.

Does ZenTab have a tree or game?

ZenTab's motivation is a GitHub-style streak graph: every day you focus 25 minutes fills a square. Pro adds achievements, freezes and a shareable streak card.

Try ZenTab free

Block distracting sites, hide endless feeds and grow a focus streak. Free forever, with a 7-day Pro trial and no card. Pro is $10 once, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Add to Chrome, it's free See pricing

Related