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plant a tree chrome extension
Plant a Tree Chrome Extension That Works in the Background
IdleForest is a free Chrome extension that funds verified tree planting with the internet bandwidth you are not using. No signup, no donations, and no change to how you browse or which search engine you use.
Featured on the Chrome Web Store. Rated 4.8 across 33 reviews. Used by 1,000+ people planting trees just by leaving their browser on.
Free install
Chrome extension
4.8 stars from 33 reviews
Featured Chrome Web Store listing
5,105 trees funded in public records
Open-source code and public receipts
How the tree-planting Chrome extension works
One install, then nothing to remember. IdleForest runs quietly and turns wasted bandwidth into funded trees while you do what you already do.
1
Add it to Chrome in one click.
Install from the Chrome Web Store. There is no account to create, no payment method, and no browser setting to change. The desktop apps for Windows and Mac plant trees even when your browser is closed.
2
Browse the way you always do.
IdleForest stays in the background and uses only the bandwidth you are not using, for small sessionless tasks like uptime checks and market research. It pauses on its own when you need the connection.
3
Watch verified trees get funded.
The revenue from those tasks goes to reforestation partners. You can follow every funded tree on the transparency page.
category choice
The best browser extension for digital sustainability, compared
Most plant a tree extensions ask for something back. IdleForest asks for nothing you would notice. Forest is an excellent focus tool and TreeClicks is a real charity-shopping tool, but neither is built for passive, verifiable reforestation as its main job.
| Decision point | IdleForest | Forest | TreeClicks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, no signup | Free add-on tied to a paid mobile app | Free |
| What you must change | Nothing, install and forget | Run timed focus sessions, avoid your phone | Shop online, activate a popup per store |
| How trees are funded | Revenue from your idle bandwidth | In-app coins you earn, then spend | Affiliate fees from your purchases |
| When trees get planted | Continuously, in the background | Only when you finish sessions and spend coins | Only when you buy at a partner shop |
| Real-tree proof | Named partners, receipts, live counter | Over 2 million trees via Trees for the Future | Trees planted, mainly in India |
Comparing the search-engine route?alternatives to Ecosia·eco-friendly search engine
Verified trees, named partners, public receipts
IdleForest funds reforestation through Trees for the Future, Tree-Nation, and 1ClickImpact. These are established organizations with published planting records, so the trees are traceable rather than a marketing figure.
Native-species and food-forest projects survive better and help local income, which is why they were chosen over cheap monoculture planting.
Community total
5,105
Trees funded in the current public planting records.
A running total of trees funded by the community sits on the transparency page, updated from real partner records. You can also check the partner sites directly.
How much impact does idle bandwidth really make?
The revenue per person is small, often a few cents per month for an average connection. The model works at scale, not by pretending one person can reforest a hillside alone.
At 1,000+ active users, pooled bandwidth funds verified trees every month. That is the trade: zero effort from you, real trees at scale.
Is the extension safe to install?
The tasks routed through your connection are sessionless. They carry no cookies, no personal identifiers, and no browsing history. The extension does not read your tabs, bookmarks, or searches.
Tasks are limited to passive work on public sites, such as uptime monitoring and market research. No crypto mining, no ad fraud, no scraping of private data.
privacy policyPlant a tree Chrome extension: frequently asked questions
Is the tree-planting extension really free?
Yes. There is no subscription, no donation, no signup, and no paid tier. It is funded by revenue from idle-bandwidth tasks, not by you.
Does it slow down my computer or internet?
No. It uses only bandwidth you are not using and steps back the moment you start a video call, a download, or a heavy site. You can pause it from the extension menu at any time.
How does the extension actually plant trees?
Your unused bandwidth powers small backend tasks for paying clients. That revenue is sent to reforestation partners, who plant and record the trees. You can see the running total on the transparency page.
Which browsers does it work on?
Chrome and Edge as an extension, plus desktop apps for Windows and Mac. Mobile is on the roadmap.
Can I use it with Ecosia or another search engine?
Yes. It does not change your search engine or your browsing, so it stacks on top of Ecosia, Brave, Chrome, and Edge. You keep your habits and add a passive layer.
How is this different from the Forest extension?
Forest is a focus timer that plants trees when you complete sessions and spend in-app coins, and its Chrome add-on is a companion to a paid mobile app. IdleForest plants continuously in the background with no game and no paid tier.
What data does the extension collect?
None of your personal browsing data. The traffic that runs through it is sessionless, so it carries no cookies, identifiers, or history.
Are the trees real and verified?
Yes. Trees are funded through Trees for the Future, Tree-Nation, and 1ClickImpact, all with published planting records, and the community total is shown live on the transparency page.
How many trees has IdleForest funded?
IdleForest has funded 5,105 trees in the current public planting records. The transparency page shows the running community total and links to the partner records behind it.
Can I uninstall it whenever I want?
Yes. Remove the extension from your browser menu or uninstall the desktop app like any other program. Trees you already helped fund stay funded.
Does it work for teams or companies?
Yes. Companies can run it across a network for verified impact and certificates. See the business page.
community proof
Trusted by a growing community of passive tree planters
IdleForest is rated 4.8 stars across 33 Chrome Web Store reviews, marked Featured, used by 1,000+ people, based in Lisbon, Portugal, and open source on GitHub.
read all 33 reviews
Start planting trees in ten seconds
Install IdleForest, browse the way you always do, and let unused bandwidth fund verified reforestation. It is free, runs in the background, and you can forget it is there.