Best Free Forest Alternative for Mac
Stay in the zone without mobile distractions. Notchy keeps your focus timer visible on top of your work.
Does Notchy play sound alerts when a timer ends?
Yes. Subtle native chime notifications alert you when your work session finishes.
Quick Setup Guide
- 1Install Notchy
Download Notchy from notchy.dev. It installs in seconds and runs from your menu bar.
- 2Grant Accessibility Permissions
Allow Accessibility access so Notchy can handle keyboard shortcuts, window snapping, and notch interactions.
- 3Open the Island
Hover over the notch at the top of your screen to reveal the interactive island and its built-in widgets.
What you get with Notchy
- macOS Pomodoro notch timer & stopwatch — streaks + 7-day chart
- Focus-aware alerts & native haptic feedback
- Teleprompter (Cuely) for Zoom calls
- System-wide mic mute for every meeting app at once
- Fluid Dynamic Island animations on the Mac notch
- Native SwiftUI, tuned for Apple silicon
- 134 languages, fully localized
- Command palette (⌃⌥K) — every action one keystroke away
- Mac clipboard history shelf (password-manager safe)
- Now Playing music controls (Apple Music & Spotify)
Why Notchy leads the pack
While single-purpose utilities charge expensive subscription fees or license costs, Notchy gives you a completely free, native SwiftUI Dynamic Island. It integrates window snapping, clipboard history, Pomodoro timers, file drop shelves, and AI usage tracking directly into your Mac's notch.
Notchy vs Forest
An honest look at how a free all-in-one notch app compares to a dedicated pomodoro timer app.
| Feature | Notchy | Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | Freemium |
| Pomodoro focus timer | ✓ Included | ✓ Core feature |
| Streaks & 7-day chart | ✓ Included | Varies |
| Clipboard history | ✓ Included | — |
| File drop shelf | ✓ Included | — |
| Notch widgets & HUDs | ✓ 20+ built in | — |
Where Forest shines: richer statistics, task integrations, and long-term focus analytics — fair is fair. Notchy just happens to bundle pomodoro timer tools with 20+ other utilities, free forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Notchy play sound alerts when a timer ends?
Yes. Subtle native chime notifications alert you when your work session finishes.
Is Notchy free to use?
Yes, Notchy is 100% free with no subscription, no ads, and no data tracking. It is supported purely by optional user coffee donations.
Does it drain my Mac's battery?
No. Because Notchy is built natively in SwiftUI, it stays light on CPU and battery. It runs no web views or Electron in the background.