A Forest alternative with real teeth (and real studying)
Forest is charming: you plant a virtual tree, and it grows while you leave your phone alone. But its power is guilt, not a lock — on iPhone it mostly can't stop you opening TikTok, and it has nothing to do with your actual coursework. QuizLocky replaces guilt with a deal: the apps stay genuinely locked until you pass a quiz built from your own notes.
What Forest is
Forest is a gamified focus timer. You set a session, a tree grows, and quitting the session kills the tree. It's cross-platform, inexpensive, and its partner program plants real trees — a lovely product for gentle motivation.
QuizLocky vs Forest
| Forest | QuizLocky | |
|---|---|---|
| What stops you scrolling | Guilt about a virtual tree | A real Screen Time lock on the apps you chose |
| What ends the lock | The timer running out | Passing a quiz made from your own study notes |
| Built-in study content | None — it's a timer | AI flashcards and quizzes from your notes, PDFs and photos |
| If you give in | The tree dies, apps still open | The apps stay locked until you've studied |
| Platform | iPhone and Android | iPhone |
When Forest is the better choice
- Gentle, low-pressure motivation works for you and you just want a pretty focus timer
- You need Android
- You mostly fight distraction on a laptop where Forest's browser extension helps
When QuizLocky is
- The tree dies and you scroll anyway — you need an actual lock, not a mascot's disappointment
- You want the blocked time to turn into exam prep automatically
- Your problem is specifically TikTok, Instagram or Snapchat on your phone
Common questions
Is QuizLocky just Forest with quizzes?
No — the mechanics are opposite. Forest asks you to resist your phone while a timer runs. QuizLocky assumes you won't resist, and puts a quiz between you and the apps, so the moment of weakness becomes the moment you study.
Does QuizLocky really lock apps on iPhone?
Yes. It uses Apple's Screen Time framework, so chosen apps genuinely won't open until you clear the quiz. Forest on iPhone is primarily a timer and can't enforce a hard block in the same way.
What does QuizLocky cost?
There's a 3-day free trial, then $5.99 per week or $49.99 per year. Cancel anytime in your App Store settings.
Make your scroll urge study for you
QuizLocky is free for 3 days. Set it up tonight, and tomorrow the next time your thumb heads for TikTok, you'll learn something first.
Download on the App StoreiPhone only · uses Apple Screen Time · cancel anytime
Also comparing: Opal · Brick · Quizlet · or read how to stop scrolling and actually study.