Comparison

ScreenZen vs STFU

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

STFU

This app helps you regain control of your time by blocking distracting social media apps and websites. Set timed sessions or schedules for a hard mute, track your progress, and challenge friends to build better habits.

Highlights
  • Block social apps and websites
  • Run timed blocking sessions
  • Set scheduled locks
  • Track protected time and streaks
  • Challenge friends and climb leaderboards
  • Earn rewards for staying focused
Features
Read full description

Your phone needs to STFU. Block the social apps and websites stealing your attention. Reclaim your time. Build better habits. Challenge friends. Earn points for staying off the feed. STFU is a voluntary self-control tool for adults who are done pretending Screen Time is enough. You pick what needs to shut up. STFU locks it. WHAT STFU DOES • Block social apps on iPhone (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and whatever else owns your thumb) • Block the websites too, so Safari is not the back door • Run timed STFU sessions when you need a hard mute • Set bedtime and scheduled locks that hold overnight • Track protected time, streaks, and points • Challenge friends and climb a weekly leaderboard • Share cards when you actually did the thing HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick the apps that need to STFU 2. Start a session or schedule a lock 3. STFU blocks those apps and domains 4. Reclaim time, beat your friends, earn rewards FREE VS STFU PRO Core blocking works on Free. STFU Pro unlocks extra schedules and limits, week trends, and more of the product around the lock - not a tollbooth on Apple's block button. STFU PRO • Weekly: $4.99 • Annual: $49.99 with a 3-day free trial Auto-renewing subscription billed through your Apple ID. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. STFU is a wellness and productivity tool. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or mental health condition. Points and trophies are status, not cash. Real-money bounties are not live. Privacy: https://stfu.bot/privacy Terms: https://stfu.bot/terms Billing: https://stfu.bot/billing Support: support@stfu.bot

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
STFU4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ScreenZen at 4.9 against STFU's 4.0. ScreenZen also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (53K vs 4). STFU's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ScreenZen sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and STFU sells 2 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 53K ratings behind it against 4, 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 STFU'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, STFU daily. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
ScreenZen versus STFU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenSTFU
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (53K ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings53K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#116 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB33 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperScreenZen LLCChristopher Riley

Customer experience

ScreenZen

All ratings50,446 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews6,973 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.7%
Negative4.0%

STFU

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
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

STFU

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
2 purchases

STFU

Subscriptions2
  • STFU Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
  • STFU Pro Annual3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is STFU free?
STFU is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or STFU?
ScreenZen is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 53K ratings, while STFU averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do ScreenZen or STFU have ads?
STFU shows ads; ScreenZen does not.
Which is updated more often, ScreenZen or STFU?
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, and STFU daily. Most recently, ScreenZen was updated on November 3, 2026 and STFU on October 29, 2026.

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