Evernote vs Forest: Comprehensive Comparison
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Overview
In today's fast-paced world, choosing the right productivity tool can make all the difference. This comprehensive comparison between Evernote and Forest will help you understand which tool best fits your workflow and productivity needs.
⚡ Quick Summary
Aspect | Evernote | Forest |
|---|---|---|
Best For | Note-taking app for capturing and organizing ideas across devices | Gamified focus timer that grows virtual trees during focused sessions and dies if you leave the app |
Pricing | Free, from $99/year | iOS: $3.99 one-time, Android: Free or $1.99 pro |
Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | iOS, Android, Web |
What is Evernote?
Evernote is a note-taking app for capturing, organizing, and prioritizing ideas, projects, to-dos, and information across devices. It offers AI note cleanup and editing, task management, document scanning with OCR, web clipper, and fast semantic search capabilities.
🌟 Key Features of Evernote
✦AI note cleanup and editing
✦Document scanning with OCR
✦Web clipper
✦Tasks with due dates and prioritization
✦Fast semantic search
✦Spaces for team collaboration
What is Forest?
Forest is a gamified productivity app that uses a focus timer where users plant virtual trees that grow during focused sessions; leaving the app kills the tree. It tracks focus time, provides statistics, and partners with Trees for the Future to plant real trees. Available on iOS, Android, and web with cross-platform sync.
🌟 Key Features of Forest
✦Virtual tree planting with focus timer that kills trees if you leave the app
✦App blocking and allow lists for iOS devices (iOS 16+)
✦Detailed analytics with tagging, weekly/monthly/yearly statistics
✦Social features including multiplayer planting and leaderboards
✦Real tree planting partnership with Trees for the Future
✦Ambient sounds, white noise, and breathing exercises
📊 Feature Comparison
Feature | Evernote | Forest |
|---|---|---|
📅 Calendar Integration | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
✅ Task Management | ✓ Yes | ◐ Limited |
⏰ Time Blocking | ✗ No | ◐ Limited |
🗣️ Natural Language Processing | ✗ No | ✗ No |
🔔 Notifications | — | — |
🌍 Time Zones Support | — | — |
📆 Scheduler | — | — |
📈 Analytics | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
🔗 Integrations
Evernote
Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Google Drive, Slack, Salesforce, Zapier (8,000+ apps), IFTTT (900+ apps), Todoist, Notion, Trello, Gmail, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Dropbox, HubSpot, Jira, ClickUp
Forest
Cross-device sync within Forest ecosystem, Chrome browser extension
💰 Pricing Comparison
Evernote
Free, from $99/year
Free (50 notes, 1 notebook, 250 MB monthly upload), Starter $14.99/mo or $99/year, Advanced $17.99/mo or $124.90/year, Enterprise (contact sales)
Forest
iOS: $3.99 one-time, Android: Free or $1.99 pro
iOS: $3.99 one-time. Android: Free with ads or $1.99 one-time for pro features. Optional in-app purchases $1-$45 for cosmetic items.
💡 Things to Consider
When Choosing Evernote
→Limited free plan may push quick upgrades (50 notes, 1 device + web only)
→Higher pricing compared to competitors like OneNote
→Performance can slow with media-heavy notes and mobile app has reported bugs
When Choosing Forest
→Requires self-discipline to remember starting sessions and relies on personal motivation rather than strict app blocking
→One-time purchase with no free trial available, and purchases don't transfer between iOS and Android platforms
→Limited integrations with other productivity tools like Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, or Todoist
⭐ User Reviews
Evernote
"Praised for reliability, cross-device syncing, and organizational tools. Criticized for limited free plan (50 notes, 1 notebook), high pricing compared to competitors, and occasional performance issues. Strong search capabilities and AI tools on paid plans, but mobile app can be slow with bugs."
Forest
"Users praise Forest for making focus fun and effective against distractions, with 4.8/5 stars on App Store. Positive feedback highlights gamification and real-tree planting. Complaints include UX frustrations, strict tree-death rules, and bugs. Best for gentle nudges over hard blocks."
🎯 Conclusion
Both Evernote and Forest are excellent productivity tools with their own strengths.
Evernote excels in AI note cleanup and editing, while Forest shines with Virtual tree planting with focus timer that kills trees if you leave the app. The best choice depends on your specific needs, workflow preferences, and budget.
We recommend trying both tools to see which one fits better with your productivity style.
