Nothing vs Forest
Forest turns focus into a game: plant a tree, stay off your phone, watch it grow — or kill it if you leave. Nothing removes the game entirely.
ForestGamified focus$4 once + premium
Pick Nothing if
- Streaks and points have stopped working on you
- You want rest, not a productivity game
- You want the phone face-down, not a timer to beat
- You don't want to lose anything by stopping
Pick Forest if
- Gamification genuinely motivates you
- You want a focus timer for studying or working
- You like growing something and earning rewards
- Planting real trees appeals to you
Nothing and Forest, side by side.
The mechanic
Nothing
No reward. The reward for sitting still is sitting still.
Forest
Grow a virtual tree; it withers if you leave the app.
What it's for
Nothing
Rest — a deliberate minute of nothing.
Forest
Focus — staying on task during work or study.
Pressure
Nothing
Nothing to lose, no streak to protect.
Forest
Loss aversion is the engine: leave and the tree dies.
Money
Nothing
Free core; optional paid app-lock.
Forest
About $4 once, plus coins and premium.
After the session
Nothing
A free mood check-in — still, lighter, refreshed, full.
Forest
No reflection — it's a focus tool.
The feature read.
●yes · ◐ partial · ○ no
| Feature | Nothing | Forest |
|---|---|---|
| One-tap to start | Nothing: Yes | Forest: Yes |
| Free core, no subscription required | Nothing: Yes | Forest: Partial |
| No streaks, points, or trees | Nothing: Yes | Forest: No |
| Blocks distracting apps | Nothing: Yes | Forest: Partial |
| No guru voice, no guided audio | Nothing: Yes | Forest: Yes |
| Mood reflection after a session | Nothing: Yes | Forest: No |
| 1-minute minimum entry | Nothing: Yes | Forest: No |
| Unlock locked apps by doing nothing | Nothing: Yes | Forest: No |
| Open-ended — you decide what nothing means | Nothing: Yes | Forest: No |
Where Forest wins.
No shade. Forestis good at what it does — it just doesn’t do this one specific thing.
- Real motivation if gamification works for you
- A solid, simple focus and study timer
- Planting real trees is a genuinely nice touch
Nothing vs Forest
- Is there an app like Forest but for resting instead of working?
- That's close to what Nothing is. Forest gamifies focus during work; Nothing is the inverse — a sixty-second rest with no growing, no badge, no proof you did it. If gamification works for you, Forest; if it's what's been failing you, Nothing.
- Nothing vs Forest for ADHD?
- Forest's loss aversion (don't kill the tree) helps some ADHD brains focus. For others it adds pressure and shame on the days they slip. Nothing removes the stakes entirely: one minute, nothing to lose. Worth trying if Forest's guilt loop wore you down.
- Does Nothing block apps like Forest?
- Yes, on the optional paid layer — and it unlocks by doing a minute of nothing, not by keeping a tree alive. Forest's blocking is tied to its focus game; Nothing's is tied to a rest you complete.
Start with
One Minute.
Even one minute a day can change your life.
Free to download