Comparison

Blank Spaces Launcher vs Recode

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • Physical app blocking via QR/barcode scan
  • Accountability through intentional unlocking
  • Reduces reflex app checking
  • Promotes focus and productivity
  • Customizable app blocking schedules
Read full description

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

Blank Spaces Launcher4 screens
Recode4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Blank Spaces Launcher versus Recode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlank Spaces LauncherRecode
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (8.4K ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews27.5% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8.4K — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
Best chart rank#115 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size164 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEcstasis LLCAlexander Hartigan

Customer experience

Blank Spaces Launcher

All ratings8,424 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral2.0%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews850 reviews
Positive27.5%
Neutral9.9%
Negative62.6%

Recode

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

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

15 purchases

Blank Spaces Launcher

Subscriptions9
  • 1 Week$1.997 Days
  • 1 Month$3.991 Month
  • 1 Month1 Month trial$3.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • 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
One-time6
  • Lifetime Subscription (Reward)Free
  • Blank Lifetime Subscription$11.99
  • Blank Lifetime Subscription$23.99
Show 3 more
  • Blank Lifetime Subscription$24.99
  • Lifetime Plan$29.99
  • Lifetime Plan$39.99
2 purchases

Recode

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Blank Spaces Launcher free?
Blank Spaces Launcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Recode free?
Recode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Blank Spaces Launcher or Recode?
Blank Spaces Launcher is rated higher. Blank Spaces Launcher averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8.4K ratings, while Recode averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Blank Spaces Launcher or Recode have ads?
Neither Blank Spaces Launcher nor Recode shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blank Spaces Launcher or Recode?
Blank Spaces Launcher ships an update every 2 weeks, and Recode weekly. Most recently, Blank Spaces Launcher was updated on October 16, 2026 and Recode on October 5, 2026.

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