1.
Download the App
Click “Download for Mac” on this page. The .dmg file downloads to your computer.
tree planting app for mac
The Free Tree Planting App for Mac
IdleForest is a free Mac app that plants verified trees while you use your computer. It runs in the background and uses the internet bandwidth you are not using to fund tree-planting projects. You download it once. There is no account, no payment, and nothing to change about how you work.
Featured on Chrome Web Store · 4.8 ★ from 33 reviews · 1,000+ users · 5,364 verified trees planted
Runs on macOS 11+
Uses spare bandwidth
Works when browsers are closed
Funds verified trees
What the Mac App Does
Once installed, the app sits quietly in the background. It uses your idle bandwidth, the part of your connection you are not using, to run small data tasks for paying clients. The revenue from those tasks funds tree planting with verified partners.
It runs as a lightweight Mac app and starts with your computer, so it keeps funding trees even when your browser is closed. You do not switch your search engine, change a setting, or remember to do anything. You use your computer the way you always have, and trees get funded in the background.
See exactly how it worksWhy the Desktop App Plants More Than the Extension
The Chrome extension only runs while Chrome is open. The Mac app runs whenever your computer is on, even when every browser is closed. That means more idle bandwidth put to work, and more trees funded over time. If you leave your computer on, the desktop app is the stronger choice. You can run both if you want.
Prefer the browser? Add the Chrome extensionHow to Install IdleForest on Mac
Installing takes about a minute. There are three steps.
2.
Open the .dmg and Install
Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag IdleForest into your Applications folder. The install takes about a minute.
3.
You’re Done
Open IdleForest once, and it starts running on its own. You do not need to create an account or change any setting. Trees begin to get funded as you use your computer.
Trees You Can Verify
5,364 trees planted
$2,796 contributed
10.1M requests powered
1,000+ users
The app funds planting with three reforestation partners: Trees for the Future, Tree-Nation, and 1ClickImpact. Each one publishes its planting records, and each works in regions where reforestation has measurable carbon and biodiversity impact. You can see the full breakdown on the transparency page.
Read our full transparency reportFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Mac app free?
Yes. There is no cost, no subscription, and no donation. The app is funded by the revenue from idle bandwidth tasks, not by you.
Will it slow down my computer or internet?
No. The app uses only the bandwidth you are not using, and it steps back the moment you need it. When you start a video call, open a heavy site, or download a file, the app backs off. Your computer keeps its full speed.
Which versions of macOS does it support?
IdleForest runs on macOS 11 Big Sur and later, on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. The app is light and runs in the background without slowing your machine.
Is it safe to install?
Yes. IdleForest is featured on the Chrome Web Store and rated 4.8 stars from 33 reviews. The app runs in the background and touches only spare bandwidth, not your personal data.
What data passes through my connection?
Automated data requests from paying clients, such as uptime checks and price lookups. None of it is yours. Your files, logins, and browsing history never enter the process, and the tasks carry no cookies or identifiers.
Do I need the Chrome extension too?
No. The desktop app works on its own and funds more trees than the extension because it runs even when your browser is closed. You can run both if you like, but you do not need to.
How do I uninstall it on Mac?
Quit IdleForest, then drag it from your Applications folder to the Trash. Once removed, no bandwidth is used. The trees you have already funded stay funded.
Install IdleForest on Mac in a Minute
Download it once. Use your computer like always. Watch trees get planted.