Comparison

ScreenZen vs ClearSpace

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ScreenZen

This app offers multiple strategies to help you reduce screen time and control app usage. Features include delayed app opening, timed scrolling interruptions, and customizable app limits. It also provides options for strict blocking, settings protection, and encourages mindful breaks.

Highlights
  • Delayed app opening
  • Scrolling interruption
  • Set app goals and limits
  • Configurable daily schedules
  • Strict app blocking
  • Screen time tracking for distracting apps
  • Settings protection locks
Features
Read full description

Multiple strategies to reduce your screentime 1. Delay before opening your app: A bit of time before choosing if you need to open your distracting app. You can have the wait time increase each time you open your app. 2. Interrupt your scrolling: Check your distracting apps for short periods of time so you don't get sucked in. 3. Set an app goal and optionally block when you reach your limit. 4. Configurable for different days of the week and time by app. 5. Messages like "Is this important" before opening your app. 6. See your screen time for only your distracting apps. Don't worry about Google Maps bloating up your time. 7. Strict block your apps: Either for time ranges, after a certain number of opens or ScreenTime. 8. Locks on Settings to prevent you from changing your settings when you want to open an app. 9. Breathing and other activities to encourage you not to need to open the app while waiting for it to unlock. 10. Streaks to encourage you not to exceed your limits or override your settings.

About

ClearSpace

This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by making your device less addictive. It offers tools to block distractions, manage app time, and build better digital habits. Achieve greater focus, productivity, and mental well-being by reducing impulse opens and doomscrolling.

Highlights
  • Block and limit distracting apps
  • Manage social media doomscrolling
  • Set schedules for app usage
  • Build better digital habits
  • Engage in attention-building challenges
  • Minimalist and straightforward design
  • Accountability partners for goals
  • Detailed screen time reporting
Features
Read full description

Controlling Screen Time is critical for mental health, focus, productivity, and relationships. Social media and other addictive apps can easily distract you from your goals. Clearspace helps you control screen time by giving you the tools to fight phone addiction by making your phone less addictive. Clearspace blocks distractions while retaining utilities. Say goodbye to impulse opens and social media doom scrolling. You don’t need to quit cold turkey or buy a dumb phone in order to get your scrolling in check. Instead of a new device, Clearspace gives you the freedom to make sober minded decisions about your usage allowing you to get control of your screen time. Attention is a precious resource, protect it with Clearspace features: - Block and Limit apps: block any apps you find distracting and limit screen time. - Social Media Doomscrolling: app time limits enable session management makes sure you don’t scroll for too long. - Focus management: set schedules for when to use apps - Habit change: dopamine is less powerful when you pause before opening an app which eventually creates a virtuous habit loop to make habits more atomic. - Screen Time Challenges: train your attention by engaging in challenges that strengthen your ability to focus. - Minimalist Design: the app is straightforward. We don’t want to take your attention away, instead we give it back to you. - Screen Time Accountability: have trusted accountability partners help you stick to your goals. - Screen Time Reporting: Streaks and budgets give you a better look at your screen time data in a way that helps you improve. - Digital Wellbeing: Align your intentions with your usage of your phone. Alignment can be helpful in health journeys battling anxiety and adhd. Blocking Apps helps you control impulse clicks. Users find that Clearspace helps them: - Reduce social media impulse opens - Focus on deep work and engage in flow state activities Social Media Doomscrolling is the cause of excessive screen time for many people, with Clearspace users report that: - Phone Addiction subsides - Dopamine craving for apps is less powerful Digital Minimalism is a new health wave that Clearspace enables for users: - Limiting apps in alignment with your intention - Mindfulness practices encourage a more balanced approach to phone usage Digital Wellbeing is a large and growing consideration in the health and wellness spaces. Clearspace users have found it helpful in dealing with: - Anxiety - ADHD - Depression - Socializing Research demonstrates that negative habits are hard to change through willpower alone, but that small, recurring nudges are effective at reshaping default patterns of behavior. Enter Clearspace. The idea is simple: - Select an app that you want to use less - When you click on a selected app, decide - proceed after a deep breath or opt out? - Over time, you'll notice you are in control of the usage Controlling Screen Time is essential for digital wellbeing, freedom from phone addiction, and maintaining focus. Clearspace empowers users with app limits, screen time control, and an app blocker to combat social media distractions. By aligning intentions with usage, Clearspace fosters healthier habits and a mindful approach to technology. Its minimalist design ensures attention is not diverted, enabling users to reclaim their time and break free from the grips of excessive screen time. With features such as screen time reporting, accountability partners, and challenges, Clearspace offers the tools needed to reshape default patterns of behavior and reduce the powerful hold of dopamine-driven app cravings. Embrace Clearspace as your ally in the journey towards a balanced digital lifestyle. Clearspace is a diet program for your digital consumption. A reminder to breathe before making decisions. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://getclearspace.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-05fb16506a294132acee914a8f6e5331

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
ClearSpace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: ScreenZen at none against ClearSpace's shown. ScreenZen also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 69%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ScreenZen sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and ClearSpace sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ScreenZen holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 49K ratings behind it against 8.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of ScreenZen's written reviews are positive against 69% of ClearSpace's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, ClearSpace every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
ScreenZen versus ClearSpace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenClearSpace
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (49K ratings) — better4.7 (8.8K ratings)
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews — better69.5% of reviews
Number of ratings49K — better8.8K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#159 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB80 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenZen LLCclearspace

Customer experience

ScreenZen

All ratings48,969 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews6,446 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.9%

ClearSpace

All ratings8,800 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.4%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews609 reviews
Positive69.5%
Neutral12.2%
Negative18.4%

User reviews

ScreenZen

From 49K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Completely reversed my scrolling addiction
  • 🚀 Helps manage screen time
  • 👍 Excellent app, easy to use
  • 👍 Genuinely the best screentime app out there
  • 👍 Effective in avoiding doom scrolling

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, sometimes doesn't unlock apps
  • 🐛 Notifications can't break through
  • 🐛 Inconsistent UI across devices

ClearSpace

From 8.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helps reduce screen time
  • 🚀 Effective at limiting app usage
  • 💡 Breathing exercise and quotes are helpful
  • 🤖 Tracks app usage well
  • 🤔 Makes users more mindful about phone usage

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and laggy performance
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔓 Allows bypassing restrictions
  • 🤖 Limited to one app in free version
  • 🤔 Breathing exercise can be annoying

Bugs and requests

ScreenZen

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unlock button not working as expected
  • App stops working after some time
  • Compatibility issues with iOS 16 update

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more customization options
  • Integrate with productivity/to-do apps
  • Add more pause/break options
  • Improve website blocking functionality

ClearSpace

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when trying to block apps
  • Notification issues and UI glitches
  • Inconsistent tracking of app usage
  • Problems with phone number verification

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow blocking multiple apps in free version
  • Add more exercise options beyond just breathing
  • Provide more customization options
  • Integrate with other fitness/health tracking apps
  • Improve website/app blocking capabilities

In-app purchases

4 purchases

ScreenZen

One-time4
  • Kind Tip$5.00
  • Generous Tip$10.00
  • Amazing Tip$20.00
Show 1 more
  • Fantastic Tip$40.00
8 purchases

ClearSpace

Subscriptions8
  • ClearSpace Premium (Monthly)$6.991 Month
  • Clearspace Premium Student$9.991 Year
  • ClearSpace Premium (Annual)$44.991 Year
Show 5 more
  • Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$44.991 Year
  • Clearspace Premium3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Clearspace Premium Family$79.991 Year

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ClearSpace free?
ClearSpace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or ClearSpace?
ScreenZen is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 49K ratings, while ClearSpace averages 4.7 from 8.8K ratings.
Do ScreenZen or ClearSpace have ads?
ClearSpace shows ads; ScreenZen does not.
Which is updated more often, ScreenZen or ClearSpace?
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, and ClearSpace every 2 weeks. Most recently, ScreenZen was updated on September 24, 2026 and ClearSpace on September 24, 2026.

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