Comparison

ScreenZen vs Turning

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

Turning

Manage your smartphone usage to boost focus and build better habits. This app helps you intentionally use only the apps you need, when you need them, with features like a 24-hour lock system and a deep focus mode for stricter control. Track your progress and gain insights to reduce screen time and improve productivity.

Highlights
  • 24-hour app lock system
  • Deep Focus Mode with per-app limits
  • Categorize helpful and distracting apps
  • Personalized usage statistics tracking
  • Digital buddy 'Turny' for mood feedback
  • Build healthy smartphone habits
Read full description

Phone-free time, protected. Turning locks distracting apps all day, and in Deep Focus Mode (subscription) the Deep Focus Timer keeps them shut until it ends. -- “Just 10 more minutes... Just one more video... I’ll start tomorrow, for real... Wait, what time is it?” “Turn your time around. Take back the hours you lose to scrolling — use only the apps you truly need, when you need them.” -- ■ A screen time management app with 400K+ downloads in 160+ countries ■ Highly recommended for students, exam takers, job seekers, freelancers, and anyone seeking productivity ■ Based on Turning user data, average daily screen time went from 6 hours before Turning to 2 hours 30 minutes after (individual results vary) ■ Research on Turning’s effectiveness, based on behavioral science data, is in progress with Yonsei University’s Applied Statistics Lab — ▶ Who is Turning for? - Those who can't stop watching Shorts or Reels before bed - Those who lose entire days to impulsive smartphone use - Those preparing for exams, competitions, or major events - Those experiencing poor focus or recurring digital fatigue - Those who want to be with family and friends instead of their phone - Those who’ve tried everything to break phone addiction — ▶ Turning helps you use apps intentionally, not habitually. ▶ Now featuring a reliable 24-hour lock system to control app usage with consistency. (1) Simply register your apps once. Our intuitive, straightforward system locks distractions for 24 hours. Through the “Apps” tab, register your Disturbing Apps and Useful Apps. The free plan includes 1 Disturbing App and 1 Useful App. To open a locked app, complete a mission and set how long you’ll use it — when the time is up, the app closes automatically. (2) Need stronger control? Subscribe to Deep Focus Mode. The Deep Focus Timer instantly locks all your Disturbing Apps until it ends — there's no way back in. Deep Focus Mode also blocks website URLs, sets per-app and total daily limits, closes the usual workarounds, asks for a few deep breaths before you reopen an app, adds more mission types, gives you an AI report on your usage, tracks phone use during sleep hours, and removes all ads. In Deep Focus Mode, you can register up to 49 apps. If the basic mode felt too lenient, upgrade for full control and digital discipline. (3) Meet your digital buddy Turny on the home screen. Turny’s mood changes based on your screen time patterns :) Use Disturbing Apps less, and Useful Apps more! (4) Track your personalized usage statistics See which apps you used today and how you've improved compared to yesterday. Build long-term healthy habits through daily insights and steady progress. — ▶ Have suggestions or feature requests? Contact us via in-app support or at cs@hustlers.co.kr — ▶ We built Turning to help you live better with your phone. Build healthier smartphone habits — start today with Turning. — ▶ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula ▶ Privacy Policy: https://assets.turning.kr/docs/privacy.html — ▶ Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account upon purchase confirmation. ▶ You can manage and cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. ▶ Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
Turning4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ScreenZen at 4.9 against Turning's 4.1. ScreenZen also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 68%) and ratings volume (49K vs 35). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Turning sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 49K ratings behind it against 35, 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 68% of Turning's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, Turning every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
ScreenZen versus Turning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenTurning
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (49K ratings) — better4.1 (35 ratings)
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews — better67.9% of reviews
Number of ratings49K — better35
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#176 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB103 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenZen LLCHUSTLERS Corp

Customer experience

ScreenZen

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

Turning

All ratings35 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral11.4%
Negative17.1%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive67.9%
Neutral9.4%
Negative22.6%

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

Turning

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
5 purchases

Turning

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly plan7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Monthly plan$7.991 Month
  • Yearly plan7 Days trial$34.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly plan7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime plan$89.99

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Turning free?
Turning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or Turning?
ScreenZen is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 49K ratings, while Turning averages 4.1 from 35 ratings.
Do ScreenZen or Turning have ads?
Neither ScreenZen nor Turning shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScreenZen or Turning?
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, and Turning every 10 days. Most recently, ScreenZen was updated on September 25, 2026 and Turning on September 23, 2026.

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