ScrollCop is the better app overall, scoring 8.6 to 8.4. ScrollCop wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Forest on 2.
iPhone users who keep turning off their own app limits
Students and procrastinators who respond to playful, visual rewards
Score by score
The details
| Feature | ScrollCop | Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mind & Focus | Mind & Focus |
| Category rank | #4 of 9 | #7 of 9 |
| Developer | The Big Head | Seekrtech Co., Ltd. |
| Pricing | Free | Paid |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
ScrollCop
- A friend can hold the key, so blocks actually stick
- Free with no subscription, no ads and no account
- Blocks whole categories and websites, not just apps
- iPhone only, with no Android or desktop version
- Fewer stats and reports than Opal
ScrollCop blocks the apps and sites that eat your time using Apple's Screen Time, so blocked apps really disappear. Its best idea is the key: when you start a block you can let a friend hold a one-time PIN, so you can't quietly end it at midnight. Daily schedules, an SOS button for cravings and short boredom exercises round it out. It is iPhone-only, but free with no subscription.
Full ScrollCop review
Forest
- Playful motivation that works well for students
- Paid once on iPhone, with no subscription required
- Group sessions keep friends accountable
- Doesn't block other apps on iPhone
- Limited stats compared with dedicated focus tools
Forest turns focus into something you can see. Start a timer and a tree grows; leave to check social media and it withers. Over time you build a forest that reflects your focused hours, and earned coins can fund real tree planting through a partner charity. It is charming and simple. On iPhone it doesn't block other apps, so it relies more on willpower than strict tools do.
Full Forest review
