Comparison

ScreenZen vs Intentional

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

Intentional

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by requiring you to justify opening blocked applications. An AI judge evaluates your arguments, granting temporary access if your reasoning is sound, or denying it to encourage mindful usage.

Highlights
  • AI-powered app blocking
  • Justify app access with AI judge
  • Customizable blocking schedules
  • Focus Score and progress tracking
  • Multiple AI judge personas
  • Emergency passes for urgent needs
Read full description

Intentional is the app blocker that actually works - because it makes you think before you scroll. Most blockers fail because they're too easy to bypass. Intentional is different. When you try to open a blocked app, you're met by an AI judge who makes you argue your case. Want to open Instagram right now? Tell the judge why. If your reason is solid, you get a few minutes. If not, you're denied, and most of the time, you'll realize you didn't really need it. HOW IT WORKS Set up your blocks: choose which apps to block, when to block them, and how strict you want the judge to be. When you try to open a blocked app, the Shield appears. You can argue your case, use an emergency pass, or stay focused. The AI Judge listens, evaluates your reasoning, and decides. Approved arguments unlock the app for a limited time. Denied arguments send you back to your day, usually realizing you didn't need it after all. CHOOSE YOUR JUDGE Pick the persona that fits your style: • Lawyer — logical, evidence-based, professional • Therapist — empathetic, curious, explores your patterns • Sergeant — strict, no excuses, high standards • Philosopher — big-picture thinker, questions your intentions TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Your Focus Score shows how intentional your day was. Watch your streaks grow, see which apps distract you most, and get insights on the time you've saved. The goal isn't perfection, it's awareness. KEY FEATURES • Smart Blocking — set schedules for specific days and hours • AI Negotiation — argue in text or voice to unlock for limited time • Difficulty Levels — Easy, Hard, or Hardcore blocking • Emergency Passes — limited-use passes for genuine urgency • Focus Score — a daily measure of your digital intentionality • 7-Day Streaks — build consistency over time • App Breakdown — see exactly which apps trigger you most • Deep Onboarding — the judge learns your habits, triggers, and goals from day one Intentional works with Screen Time to block apps at the system level, it can't be easily bypassed. Whether you're trying to cut back on TikTok, stop reflexively opening Twitter, or just be more present, Intentional gives you the friction that makes the difference. Your attention is yours. Use it intentionally. Terms of Use: https://intentionalai.github.io/Intentional/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://intentionalai.github.io/Intentional/privacy.html

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
Intentional4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ScreenZen at 4.9 against Intentional's 4.4. ScreenZen also leads on ratings volume (52K vs 7) and chart position (#131 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, 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 Intentional sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 52K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 93% of ScreenZen's written reviews are positive against 100% of Intentional's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, Intentional monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
ScreenZen versus Intentional: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenIntentional
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (52K ratings) — better4.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings52K — better7
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#131 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenZen LLCSHM Ventures LLC

Customer experience

ScreenZen

All ratings50,446 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews6,842 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.9%

Intentional

Written reviews1 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

Intentional

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
3 purchases

Intentional

Subscriptions3
  • Intentional Pro$4.997 Days
  • Intentional Pro2 variants$6.991 Month
  • Intentional Pro2 variants$29.991 Year

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Intentional free?
Intentional is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or Intentional?
ScreenZen is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 52K ratings, while Intentional averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.
Do ScreenZen or Intentional have ads?
Neither ScreenZen nor Intentional shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScreenZen or Intentional?
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, and Intentional monthly. Most recently, ScreenZen was updated on October 26, 2026 and Intentional on October 17, 2026.

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