Forest is a strong option, but it is not the right fit for everyone. Below are 10 alternatives compared on rating, install base, pricing and the use case each one actually wins on.
Forest blocks a blocklist of distracting sites for a set period, growing a virtual tree that dies if you leave. It syncs with the mobile app so a single focus session covers phone and browser.
| Extension | Rating | Users | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest (original) | 3.8 | 800K+ | Freemium | Students who need a light-touch commitment device during study blocks. |
| Translate - Translator, Dictionary, TTS | 4.5 | 100K+ | Freemium | Accurate translate words, phrases and texts using Google Translate. Full page translator, dictionary and text to speech (TTS). |
| YT Notes | 4.0 | 4K+ | Freemium | A Smarter Note Taking System for YouTube Learners |
| Relingo - Master vocabulary while browsing websites and watching YouTube | 4.6 | 40K+ | Free | Relingo extract words, full-text immersive translation while browsing. Also supports bilingual subtitles for Youtube, Netflix, etc. |
| YouTube Notes to Notion with Udemy, Coursera, BiliBili and more by Snipo | 4.6 | 40K+ | Free | Take YouTube notes directly to Notion, generate AI flashcards, capture screenshots, and sync learning courses with Notion |
| Scholarcy | 4.0 | 80K+ | Freemium | Students and researchers triaging large reading lists. |
| Google Translate | 4.2 | 33M+ | Free | Reading foreign-language pages and documentation |
| BetterCampus (prev. BetterCanvas) | 4.7 | 2M+ | Freemium | Feature packed extension for Canvas. |
| Language Reactor | 4.2 | 2M+ | Freemium | Learn languages effectively by watching films and series in your target language. |
| Mote for Google Chrome™ | 4.6 | 1M+ | Freemium | The literacy platform for Chrome: Mote’s Sidebar and integrations address barriers in learning to read, write, speak and listen. |
| Speechify — Text to Speech | 4.6 | 1M+ | Freemium | Read aloud any Google Doc, PDF, webpage, or book with text to speech (TTS). Natural sounding voices in 60+ languages & 1,000 voices. |
Accurate translate words, phrases and texts using Google Translate. Full page translator, dictionary and text to speech (TTS).
Why it replaces Forest: Translate - Translator, Dictionary, TTS is a solid alternative in the same category as Forest.
A Smarter Note Taking System for YouTube Learners
Why it replaces Forest: YT Notes is a solid alternative in the same category as Forest.
Relingo extract words, full-text immersive translation while browsing. Also supports bilingual subtitles for Youtube, Netflix, etc.
Why it replaces Forest: Relingo - Master vocabulary while browsing websites and watching YouTube is a solid alternative in the same category as Forest.
Take YouTube notes directly to Notion, generate AI flashcards, capture screenshots, and sync learning courses with Notion
Why it replaces Forest: YouTube Notes to Notion with Udemy, Coursera, BiliBili and more by Snipo is a solid alternative in the same category as Forest.
Summarises academic papers into structured flashcards.
Why it replaces Forest: Covers similar ground in the Education category: Summarises academic papers into structured flashcards.
Translate selected text or a full page without leaving the tab.
Why it replaces Forest: Another popular Education extension: Translate selected text or a full page without leaving the tab.
Feature packed extension for Canvas.
Why it replaces Forest: Another popular Education extension: Feature packed extension for Canvas.
Learn languages effectively by watching films and series in your target language.
Why it replaces Forest: Another popular Education extension: Learn languages effectively by watching films and series in your target language.
The literacy platform for Chrome: Mote’s Sidebar and integrations address barriers in learning to read, write, speak and listen.
Why it replaces Forest: Another popular Education extension: The literacy platform for Chrome: Mote’s Sidebar and integrations address barriers in learning to read, write, speak and listen.
Read aloud any Google Doc, PDF, webpage, or book with text to speech (TTS). Natural sounding voices in 60+ languages & 1,000 voices.
Why it replaces Forest: Another popular Education extension: Read aloud any Google Doc, PDF, webpage, or book with text to speech (TTS). Natural sounding voices in 60+ languages & 1,000 voices.
Direct comparisons with the extensions people weigh against it.
Translate - Translator, Dictionary, TTS is the closest match. Translate - Translator, Dictionary, TTS is a solid alternative in the same category as Forest.
Yes — Relingo - Master vocabulary while browsing websites and watching YouTube, YouTube Notes to Notion with Udemy, Coursera, BiliBili and more by Snipo, Google Translate are free.
