Blank Spaces Launcher vs Recode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Blank Spaces Launcher
This app transforms your smartphone into a minimalist tool by decluttering your home screen. It removes distracting badges and icons, allowing you to focus on essential apps and regain control of your attention. Designed for simplicity and privacy, it helps you use your phone intentionally.
- Simplified home screen widget
- Mutes badges and app icons
- Focus on essential apps
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Privacy-focused design
- 7-day free trial
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Blank Spaces is a minimalist launcher that turns your iPhone into a dumb phone. It swaps a home screen full of icons for a simple list of the apps you actually need. We believe technology should empower us, not take our attention. • Simplify your home screen Your most important apps in a clean text list. No icons, no badges, no clutter. • Take back your focus Blank Spaces interrupts distracting apps before they open, so you can reclaim your time and attention. Use your phone as a tool and focus on what matters in life. • Lock what pulls you back Lock distracting apps on a schedule or with a time limit. Unlock them with a breathing exercise or a set of push-ups. • Make it yours Choose your theme, colors, and wallpaper. • Build lasting habits Track your streak and keep your focus for the long term. • Easy to use The app is completely intuitive, and setup takes 60 seconds. • Private by design We believe in openness, privacy, and 100% data ownership. See our privacy policy at blankspaces.app/privacy. BLANK SPACES SUBSCRIPTION Full access to Blank Spaces requires a subscription (monthly, annual, or lifetime). Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Terms of Use - www.blankspaces.app/terms Privacy Policy - www.blankspaces.app/privacy Join Us - www.blankspaces.app/cult
Recode
This app helps you regain focus by physically preventing access to distracting applications. It requires scanning a QR or barcode to unlock apps, creating friction that discourages reflex checking and promotes productivity.
- Physical app blocking via QR/barcode scan
- Accountability through intentional unlocking
- Reduces reflex app checking
- Promotes focus and productivity
- Customizable app blocking schedules
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Stop scrolling. Start living. Recode is the only screen time app that requires you to physically scan a QR code or barcode to unlock your blocked apps. No easy bypass. No cheating. Just real accountability. How it works: 1. Choose which apps to block and set your schedule. 2. Pick any QR code or barcode as your unlock key — a book on your shelf, a code at your desk, anything. 3. When you want to unblock, you have to physically go scan it. That friction is what makes Recode work. Why it's different: Other screen time apps let you bypass limits with a single tap. Recode doesn't. The physical requirement of scanning a code creates real resistance between you and your distracting apps. You can't cheat from the couch. Track your progress with Streaks: Build a daily streak by keeping your break time under 30 minutes. Watch your calendar fill with green as you take back control of your habits. Built from personal experience: I built Recode because I was losing myself in endless scrolling — distracted all day, drained at night, ashamed of how little I got done. Even in its demo version, the simple act of requiring a scan to unblock completely shifted my habits. Knowing I couldn't unblock until I got home kept me off my phone. Over time, I reclaimed focus, confidence, and the satisfaction of being productive. Take control of your time. Download Recode today. Available subscription options: Recode Pro – Monthly or Annual auto-renewable subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Recode at 67% against Blank Spaces Launcher's 28%. Recode also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). Blank Spaces Launcher's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (8.4K vs 5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Blank Spaces Launcher sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Recode sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Blank Spaces Launcher holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blank Spaces Launcher has 8.4K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 28% of Blank Spaces Launcher's written reviews are positive against 67% of Recode's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Blank Spaces Launcher ships an update every 2 weeks, Recode weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blank Spaces Launcher | Recode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (8.4K ratings) — better | 4.2 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 27.5% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8.4K — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Freemium — better |
| Best chart rank | #115 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 164 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ecstasis LLC | Alexander Hartigan |
Customer experience
Blank Spaces Launcher
Recode
Bugs and requests
Blank Spaces Launcher
Reported bugs
5 issues- Widgets not showing up or disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when adding/removing apps
- Shortcuts not working as expected
- Wallpaper customization issues
- App crashing or freezing during setup
Requested features
5 requests- Add more supported apps, including default iOS apps
- Allow custom shortcuts without going through Shortcuts app
- Improve widget customization options
- Provide a free or one-time purchase version
- Add ability to rename app labels in widgets
Recode
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Blank Spaces Launcher
- 1 Week$1.997 Days
- 1 Month$3.991 Month
- 1 Month1 Month trial$3.991 Month
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- 1 Month$4.991 Month
- Monthly Plan$7.991 Month
- 12 Months$17.991 Year
- Special Offer (1 Year)$18.991 Year
- Yearly Plan2 variants$19.991 Year
- Yearly Plan$24.991 Year
- Lifetime Subscription (Reward)Free
- Blank Lifetime Subscription$11.99
- Blank Lifetime Subscription$23.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Blank Lifetime Subscription$24.99
- Lifetime Plan$29.99
- Lifetime Plan$39.99
Recode
- Pro Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Pro Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
Questions
Is Blank Spaces Launcher free?
Is Recode free?
Which has better reviews, Blank Spaces Launcher or Recode?
Do Blank Spaces Launcher or Recode have ads?
Which is updated more often, Blank Spaces Launcher or Recode?
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