Comparison

ScreenZen vs Reduce Scrolling

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

Reduce Scrolling

This app helps you regain control over your phone usage by introducing gentle "speed bumps" to encourage mindful app engagement. It offers customizable settings for different applications and schedules to help you reduce distractions and build better digital habits.

Highlights
  • Per-app control with customizable settings
  • Live Activity timer for remaining time
  • Recharge Time delays to prevent compulsive reopening
  • Smart Schedules for automatic app blocking
  • Streak tracking for habit momentum
  • 7-day free trial
Features
Read full description

We get it. You don't want to completely ditch your phone, you just want to stop feeling like it controls you. Maybe you've noticed yourself opening Instagram without even thinking about it. Or you meant to check one thing and suddenly 30 minutes disappeared. Or you feel that little twinge of guilt when you realize you've been scrolling instead of doing... literally anything else. You're not broken. Your phone is just really, really good at grabbing your attention. **WHY BLOCKWISE IS DIFFERENT** We're not here to shame you or lock you out of your apps like you can't be trusted. We built Blockwise because we had the same problem, and we realized that aggressive blocking doesn't actually help you build better habits. It just makes you feel restricted. Instead, Blockwise works with you to create little speed bumps that help you pause and think before you dive into an app. Small changes that actually stick. **WHAT YOU GET** - Per-App Control - Different settings for different apps based on how distracting they are - Live Activity timer - See exaclty how much time you have left while using a distracting app - Recharge Time delays - Prevent compulsive app reopening with customizable wait times - Smart Schedules - Automatic make distracting apps inaccessible during work, sleep, or family time - Streak Tracking - Build momentum with daily success streaks **WHY PEOPLE LOVE BLOCKWISE** "I use it for my ADHD and tendency to doom scroll and lose complete track of time. It's made a HUGE impact for me. 100% recommend!" "My screen time dropped from 8-9 hours, to TWO. I haven't been able to find anything else like it." "This app is fairly new but I'm loving it already. It helps me to cut back on doom scrolling and improve my social media health. Give it a chance!" **THE HONEST TRUTH** Blockwise won't magically fix everything overnight. Building new habits takes time. But if you're tired of feeling like your phone is in charge, this is a really good place to start. And here's the thing: even though finding your perfect routine takes a bit of experimentation, most people start seeing real reductions in their screen time right after setting up their first block. The results can be surprisingly quick. You'll probably slip up sometimes. That's totally normal. The difference is, with Blockwise, you'll have tools that actually help you get back on track instead of just feeling bad about it. **LESS SCROLLING, MORE LIVING** Whether you want to focus better at work, be more present with friends and family, sleep better, or just stop feeling guilty about your screen time, Blockwise can help. Your phone can be a useful tool instead of a time thief. We'll help you get there. **TRY IT FREE FOR 30 DAYS** See if Blockwise clicks for you. If it does, awesome. If not, no hard feelings. **YOUR DATA IS YOURS** We use Apple's Screen Time APIs, which means your data stays on your device. We don't see what you're doing on your phone, and we don't sell your information. **QUESTIONS? WE ANSWER THEM ALL** Seriously, reach out anytime at blockwise.app@gmail.com. We actually read and respond to messages. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://joinblockr.xyz/privacy/

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
Reduce Scrolling4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ScreenZen at 50K against Reduce Scrolling's 4. ScreenZen also leads on chart position (#158 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 Reduce Scrolling sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ScreenZen against 5.0 for Reduce Scrolling. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 50K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
ScreenZen versus Reduce Scrolling: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenReduce Scrolling
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (50K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings50K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#158 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB80 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenZen LLCKo LiChung

Customer experience

ScreenZen

All ratings50,446 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%

Reduce Scrolling

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Reduce Scrolling

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
9 purchases

Reduce Scrolling

Subscriptions9
  • Unlimited access2 variants$9.991 Year
  • Unlimited3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Access$19.991 Year
Show 6 more
  • Unlimited access$22.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited access$39.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access7 Days trial$44.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access7 Days trial$89.991 Year

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reduce Scrolling free?
Reduce Scrolling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or Reduce Scrolling?
Reduce Scrolling is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 50K ratings, while Reduce Scrolling averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do ScreenZen or Reduce Scrolling have ads?
Neither ScreenZen nor Reduce Scrolling shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScreenZen or Reduce Scrolling?
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, and Reduce Scrolling every 3 weeks. Most recently, ScreenZen was updated on October 14, 2026 and Reduce Scrolling on October 9, 2026.

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