How popular isForest?
In September 2026, people searched for Forest by name about 33,100 times worldwide, an 18.3% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 39.3% of all global focus app searches, placing Forest first out of six apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about focus apps, Forest appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the six.
Forest is the most searched of 6 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.
ForestShare of searches 39.3%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
OpalShare of searches 26.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
FreedomShare of searches 17.6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
ScreenZenShare of searches 11.7%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
one secShare of searches 4.3%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
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Top focus apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Forest was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Forest is the fifth most recommended of the six.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Opal4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Freedom4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Forest3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- ScreenZen3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- one sec3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Clearspace0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about focus apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which focus app should I use to cut my screen time?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best app blockers and focus apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best app for blocking social media on my phone?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“focus app”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“app blocker”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 22, 2026.
Which focus apps compete with Forest?
Share of searches by month for Forest, Opal, Freedom, ScreenZen, one sec. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Forest | Opal | Freedom | ScreenZen | one sec | Clearspace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 45.4% | 20.3% | 20.3% | 9.1% | 4% | 0.99% |
| Nov 2025 | 47% | 21% | 17.2% | 9.4% | 4.2% | 1.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 39% | 26.1% | 17.4% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 1.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.6% | 25.9% | 17.3% | 11.5% | 5.2% | 1.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 37.7% | 25.3% | 20.6% | 11.3% | 4.1% | 1% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.6% | 19.9% | 16.3% | 13.3% | 4.8% | 1.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.4% | 25.1% | 20.5% | 11.2% | 5% | 0.81% |
| May 2026 | 40.9% | 22.4% | 18.3% | 12.2% | 5.4% | 0.73% |
| Jun 2026 | 38% | 25.4% | 16.9% | 13.9% | 5% | 0.83% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.1% | 26.2% | 21.4% | 14.3% | 5.2% | 0.85% |
| Aug 2026 | 39.3% | 26.4% | 17.6% | 11.8% | 4.3% | 0.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.3% | 26.3% | 17.6% | 11.7% | 4.3% | 0.85% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 39.3% | 33.1K | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 26.3% | 22.2K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 17.6% | 14.8K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 11.7% | 9.9K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 4.3% | 3.6K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 0.85% | 720 | +22% | +0.2 points |
1.
Forest39.3%
Held 1st. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
2.
Opal26.3%
Held 2nd. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
3.
Freedom17.6%
Held 3rd. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
11.7%
Held 4th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
5.
one sec4.3%
Held 5th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.85%
Held 6th. 720 estimated branded searches, +22% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
Compare popularity between Forest and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Forest
11 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Forest changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Forest worldwide fell from 40.5K to 33.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Forest’s share of searches among focus apps worldwide decreased from 45.4% to 39.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Forest’s share of searches among focus apps worldwide peaked at 47% in November 2025 and was lowest at 32.1% in July 2026.
How did search popularity change for focus apps worldwide in September 2026?
5 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Opal worldwide rose 22.7% over 12 measured months, from 18.1K to 22.2K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for ScreenZen worldwide rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 9.9K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Forest worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 40.5K to 33.1K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Freedom worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 18.1K to 14.8K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Clearspace worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 880 to 720 in September 2026.
How are Forest’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Forest’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- forest app
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Where does Forest compete?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of searches | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study apps | 7th of 7 | 0.06% | Show ranking |
| Focus apps | 1st of 6 | 39.3% | Shown above |
Is Forest your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.