ScreenZen vs Alarm Scan
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Alarm Scan
This app helps heavy sleepers wake up by requiring physical actions like scanning barcodes or solving challenges to turn off alarms. It offers multiple backup alarm layers and anti-cheat technology to ensure you get out of bed.
- Scan specific barcodes or QR codes to disable alarms
- Multiple backup alarm layers
- Adjustable Low Visibility Challenge
- Anti-cheat technology
- Customizable backup alarm timing
- Ad-free experience for pro users
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Are you a heavy sleeper who has tried every alarm clock app on the market? Alarm Scan is the ultimate accountability tool designed to force you out of bed through physical movement and cognitive missions. Key Features: The Scan Mission: Lock your alarm until you scan a specific barcode or a generated QR code located far from your bed. Use your toothpaste, coffee bag, or shampoo as the key to silence. Multiple Backup Alarms: Set layers of protection. If the first alarm doesn't wake you, our backup systems ensure you never oversleep an important meeting again. The Fail-Safe Backup Plan: If you can’t reach your QR code, choose your path out: solve our adjustable Low Visibility Challenge or completely turn off the backup plan. Anti-Cheat Technology: Once the alarms are set via our app, it will keep ringing until you stop it from our app via scanning a QR/Barcode. Custom Backup Options: Our pro users also get access to editing the time between each backup alarm and number of alarms to trigger along with an ad-free app for the lifetime. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/alarm-scan/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ScreenZen at 4.9 against Alarm Scan's 2.0. ScreenZen also leads on ratings volume (53K vs 1) and chart position (#183 vs unranked). On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. ScreenZen sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Alarm Scan sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ScreenZen holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 53K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | ScreenZen | Alarm Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (53K ratings) — better | 2.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 93.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 53K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #183 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 159 MB | 65 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ScreenZen LLC | Waseem Gul |
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
Alarm Scan
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ScreenZen
- Kind Tip$5.00
- Generous Tip$10.00
- Amazing Tip$20.00
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- Fantastic Tip$40.00
Alarm Scan
- Remove Ads (Monthly)3 Days trial$1.491 Month
