Comparison

ScreenZen vs NoteOnly

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

NoteOnly

Capture thoughts instantly with a single, endless note. This app prioritizes privacy with local data storage and iCloud syncing. AI features enhance voice memos and note summaries for easier retrieval.

Highlights
  • Instant thought capture
  • AI-enhanced voice memos
  • Markdown and plain text export
  • Local data storage
  • iCloud syncing
  • Reminders and pinned notes
Features
Read full description

One endless note. No folders, no files, no "where does this go." 1. Zero-choice capture. Pull down → type → done. Thought-to-note in under two seconds. Voice memo lands as a transcribed line. 2. Extremely easy to port contents out, one click to export/copy all notes into markdown file or plain text so you can extend the work. 3. No sign-up, no email, no password. Open the app, start writing 4. Privacy first, local data first. Syncs through your own iCloud — your notes are not stored in our servers. We design NoteOnly to help you quickly catch thoughts, not your attention. The app is quiet, but also intelligent when you need it. Insert a summary, refine your voice memo's transcripts, these AI features just make notes easier to read and retrive so you can focus on thinking. More features for power users: -Add a reminder to each entry so you won't forget to revisit in a later time -Pin important notes on top -Select and copy as .md or plain texts to your favorite AI tools and extend work beyond NoteOnly Plus — $2.99/month, auto-renewable Unlocks AI Enhanced voice recognition: automatic language detection, mixed-language speech, better accuracy and punctuation. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://noteonly.ai/privacy

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
NoteOnly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NoteOnly at none against ScreenZen's 4. ScreenZen's advantage is ratings volume (50K vs 1) and chart position (#148 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. NoteOnly 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 NoteOnly. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 50K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of ScreenZen's written reviews are positive against 100% of NoteOnly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, NoteOnly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
ScreenZen versus NoteOnly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenNoteOnly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (50K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings50K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#148 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS16.4 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenZen LLC72mn LLC

Customer experience

ScreenZen

All ratings50,446 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews6,705 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.7%
Negative4.0%

NoteOnly

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
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

NoteOnly

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

NoteOnly

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NoteOnly free?
NoteOnly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or NoteOnly?
NoteOnly is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 50K ratings, while NoteOnly averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do ScreenZen or NoteOnly have ads?
Neither ScreenZen nor NoteOnly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScreenZen or NoteOnly?
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, and NoteOnly every 2 weeks. Most recently, ScreenZen was updated on October 13, 2026 and NoteOnly on October 1, 2026.

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