ScreenZen vs Do First
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.
Do First
This app helps you focus by locking distracting applications until you complete your daily tasks. Earn access to your apps by checking off your to-do list, building streaks for accountability.
- App blocking based on task completion
- Customizable daily task lists
- Streak building for accountability
- Deadline locking mode
- Private by default data handling
- Pro features: Face ID, CSV export
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Do First locks your most distracting apps until you finish your real to-do list for the day. Your to-do list, with teeth. Open Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube before you've done your tasks, and a calm block screen appears: "Finish your tasks to unlock." Knock out your checklist, and your apps open for the rest of the day. Earn your scroll. HOW IT WORKS - Pick the apps to block (any app, using Screen Time). - Add your daily tasks: post to socials, make the bed, 20 pushups, whatever matters. - Finish your required tasks to unlock your apps. - Build a streak and stay accountable, day after day. TWO WAYS TO LOCK - Tasks-First (free): your apps stay locked each day until your required tasks are done. - Deadline (Pro): your apps stay open until a cutoff you choose, then lock if your tasks aren't done. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT Your tasks and history stay on your device. Do First never sees inside the apps you block, and nothing is uploaded. DO FIRST PRO Unlock Deadline mode, unlimited history, full stats and streaks, Face ID lock, and CSV export. - Monthly: $4.99 / month - Yearly: $29.99 / year Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://promptflowbusiness.com/do-first/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: ScreenZen at 53K against Do First's 2. ScreenZen also leads on chart position (#164 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). Do First's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 Do First sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ScreenZen against 5.0 for Do First. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 53K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, Do First every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ScreenZen | Do First |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (53K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 93.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 53K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #164 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 159 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ScreenZen LLC | chad vasquez |
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
Do First
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
Do First
- Do First Pro Weekly$1.997 Days
- Do First Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Do First Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
