Comparison

ScreenZen vs Detox

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

Detox

This app helps you reduce screen time by blocking distracting applications. You can set custom limits for app usage, schedule blocks during specific times, or initiate immediate blocks for deep work. It aims to foster a calmer digital life with less mindless scrolling.

Highlights
  • Consecutive usage limits for apps
  • Scheduled blocks with website blocking
  • Daily time budgets for apps
  • Instant blocking for deep work
  • Strict mode to prevent rule changes
  • Urgent unblock for emergencies
Features
Read full description

Detox helps you cut down your screen time without frustration. You choose the apps and how Detox steps in: when you've been scrolling for too long, at set hours, once your time for the day is used, or right now. Everything you don't pick, like chats, maps or work apps, stays open. Detox is a subscription app, and a subscription is required to use it. Free trials may be available on some plans for eligible new subscribers. Cancel anytime. SESSION LIMITS Most blockers shut down everything. Detox uses consecutive usage limits. You choose the apps. Detox blocks them only after you have been using them continuously for too long, like 15 minutes in a row, then for a short time you pick, like 5 minutes. Quick checks are fine. Long doomscrolling sessions are interrupted. - Set a consecutive usage limit for selected apps - Create several session limits, each with its own apps - Keep access to messages, maps and work tools - Break long scrolling streaks without feeling punished SCHEDULED BLOCKS Create time periods on selected days of the week where distracting apps are automatically blocked. Add websites too. Use schedules to avoid distractions during: - Your mornings - Your evenings and nights - Your daily focus hours Set it once and Detox blocks the apps you choose at the times you choose. DAILY LIMITS Give apps a daily time budget, like 1 hour a day. It's the total that counts, so many short visits add up too. Once it's used, the apps stay blocked until your day starts over, or for a time you choose. Daily limits are available on iOS 17.4 or later. BLOCK NOW Start a Block now when you need deep work. Detox blocks distracting apps right away, for anywhere from 5 minutes to 4 hours, while essential tools stay available. SEE HOW YOUR DAY IS GOING Home shows your screen time today next to your usual, a typical day for you. Switch to only the apps in your blocks, or look back at another day. STAY IN CONTROL - Strict mode: while a rule blocks, you can't change it, delete it or uninstall apps - Unblocks: when you really need an app, a short wait helps you decide. Or set Unblocks to None for your strictest rules - Turn off: stop a rule for a while, for a holiday or a sick day. It turns back on by itself - Urgent unblock: for real emergencies, once every 24 hours MADE TO FIT YOU Light or dark, you choose the look in Settings. Every rule lives on the Blocks page as a card, so you can see what's set up at a glance. WHY DETOX WORKS Detox targets long, mindless sessions instead of every single unlock. This makes control of your screen time sustainable in the long term. - Less frustration - Fewer willpower battles - No uninstalling after two weeks A CALMER DIGITAL LIFE With Detox, you'll enjoy more time for what matters and less mindless scrolling. Take back control of your attention. Start your Detox today. SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Detox is offered as an auto-renewing subscription. Current pricing and any free trial details are shown in the app at the time of purchase, in your local currency. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically at the end of each period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in iPhone Settings, then Apple ID, then Subscriptions. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://detox-sarl.notion.site/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://detox-sarl.notion.site/terms-conditions

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
Detox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ScreenZen at 93% against Detox's 54%. ScreenZen also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (54K vs 457). Detox's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 Detox sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. 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 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 54K ratings behind it against 457, 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 54% of Detox's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, Detox every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
ScreenZen versus Detox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenDetox
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (54K ratings) — better4.6 (457 ratings)
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews — better54.0% of reviews
Number of ratings54K — better457
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#131 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB81 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenZen LLCDetox

Customer experience

ScreenZen

All ratings50,446 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews7,056 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.0%

Detox

All ratings457 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral3.1%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews137 reviews
Positive54.0%
Neutral8.8%
Negative37.2%

User reviews

ScreenZen

From 54K 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

Detox

From 457 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Effective in reducing screen time
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 💡 Customizable blocking features
  • 🚀 Helpful in improving productivity
  • 👍 Responsive and supportive developers

Room to improve

  • 🤑 Paid subscription required
  • 🐛 Crashing issues after updates
  • 🔒 Concerns over privacy and data usage
  • 🤔 Lack of free trial or free version
  • 🤔 Misleading advertising about free usage

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

Detox

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App not recognizing purchases and requiring re-subscription
  • Blocking features not working as expected
  • Sync issues between devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add option to block apps selectively instead of all-or-nothing
  • Implement a scheduling feature to automatically block apps during certain times
  • Provide more detailed usage analytics and reports
  • Allow users to customize the app's appearance and branding

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
9 purchases

Detox

Subscriptions9
  • Detox - Weekly3 Days trial2 variants$2.997 Days
  • Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Detox - Monthly$5.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Detox - Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Detox - Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Detox - Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Detox - Yearly3 Days trial$54.991 Year
  • Detox - Yearly3 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Detox - Yearly7 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Detox free?
Detox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or Detox?
ScreenZen is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 54K ratings, while Detox averages 4.6 from 457 ratings.
Do ScreenZen or Detox have ads?
Detox shows ads; ScreenZen does not.
Which is updated more often, ScreenZen or Detox?
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, and Detox every 8 days. Most recently, ScreenZen was updated on November 13, 2026 and Detox on November 12, 2026.

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