Comparison

ScreenZen vs FocusMirror

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

FocusMirror

This app provides a calm and honest reflection on how your phone usage impacts your attention. It helps you set focus sessions, understand your daily digital habits without judgment, and establish quiet periods for specific apps. You can also share progress summaries for accountability.

Highlights
  • Focus sessions with goals and reminders
  • Gentle daily reflection on phone usage
  • App quiet rules during focus
  • Accountability partner progress sharing
  • Mac app integration
  • Privacy-focused data summarization
Features
Read full description

FocusMirror is a calm, honest mirror for your attention. It shows how your phone helped or pulled you away — and gives you one useful next step. • Start a focus session with a goal, a length, and check-in reminders. • See a gentle, observational daily reflection — never shaming, never a score. • Set simple rules for which apps you want quiet during focus. • Share progress with a partner for accountability — summaries only, never your app history. • Pairs with FocusMirror on your Mac: your desktop shows what you did, your phone shows what pulled you away. Privacy first, by design: • We summarize activity as aggregates — app and category time only. • We never read your messages, capture your screen, or see your content. • You control what's tracked and what's shared. Delete everything in one tap. FocusMirror helps you understand your attention — and still feel in control.

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
FocusMirror4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FocusMirror at none against ScreenZen's 4. ScreenZen's advantage is ratings volume (53K vs 1) and chart position (#184 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and iOS requirement 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. FocusMirror asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 FocusMirror. 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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
ScreenZen versus FocusMirror: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenFocusMirror
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (53K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings53K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#184 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenZen LLCJames Mbualungu

Customer experience

ScreenZen

All ratings50,446 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews6,942 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.7%
Negative4.0%

FocusMirror

All ratings1 ratings
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

FocusMirror

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
None

FocusMirror

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FocusMirror free?
FocusMirror is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or FocusMirror?
FocusMirror is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 53K ratings, while FocusMirror averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do ScreenZen or FocusMirror have ads?
Neither ScreenZen nor FocusMirror shows ads.

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