Comparison

Screen Freedom vs Dumb Phone (dp)

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

Head to head
About

Screen Freedom

This app helps you reduce phone usage by partnering with a friend for accountability. Set screen time goals for specific apps, and they'll automatically block when you reach your limit. Your friend is notified if you try to break the goal, offering support or even the ability to deny your request.

Highlights
  • Partner accountability for screen time
  • Set app-specific time limits
  • Automatic app blocking
  • Friend notifications for goal breaks
  • Friend can deny requests to exceed limits
  • Track individual and partner streaks
  • View historical goal achievement data
Read full description

Have you ever tried to spend less time on your phone? There are so many solutions out there, but they all seem to rely on your discipline in one way or another. Although that can work for some, here at Screen Freedom we have an alternative solution: accountability! Screen Freedom allows you to partner with a friend and hold each other accountable for how much time you spend on your phones. Simply set a screen time goal, selecting the apps of your choice and choosing a daily time limit. Next, use those apps until you reach your limit, at which point they block. At this point, you can either go on living your life, adding a successful day to your screen time streak, or you can unblock your apps, at which point your friend will be notified of your decision and given the chance to reach out to you to offer support. You can also optionally give your friend the ability to deny your request to go over your goal! With Screen Freedom, you are no longer alone in your battle against the tech attempting to control your attention. Unlock the power of accountability and be amazed at how many hours you save! Key Features: - Partner with a friend, holding each other accountable for your screen time usage - Select a screen time goal, choosing what apps to track and your time limit on them - Automatically block your chosen apps when you reach your daily time limit - Notify your friend if you choose to break your daily screen time goal - Turn on accountability lock to allow your friend to accept or deny your request to exceed your screen time goal - Build your individual goal-achieved streak, as well as your cumulative streak with your partner - View your own and your partner's historical data of goal-achievement - Track your feelings at the time of breaking your screen time goal - Set downtime windows when your chosen apps are blocked regardless of how much time you have spent on them - Select apps that are always blocked regardless of whether you have reached your goal or not Note: Although data concerning whether you successfully achieved your goal is saved in the cloud to share with your partner, all specific app-usage data remains securely on your device. We take privacy very seriously and would not risk sensitive data such as this. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Dumb Phone (dp)

Transform your iPhone into a minimalist device by replacing distracting app icons and notifications with simple buttons for essential apps. Create custom launchers for different contexts and utilize detox modes to reduce digital distractions.

Highlights
  • Create minimalist launchers
  • Select essential apps
  • Style Home Screen with themes
  • Block and hide non-essential apps
  • Quickly switch launchers via Control Center
  • Adapt to Liquid Glass changes
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into a Dumb Phone. Dumb Phone™ lets you create your very own minimalist-style phone on iOS. Replace colorful app icons, pesky notification badges, and anything that might give you a dopamine hit when you unlock your phone, with simple buttons to open your essential apps - and nothing more. Key features: • Break out of your existing habits Every time you unlock your phone, all you will see is apps that you need, without being coerced into easy distractions from colorful apps on your Home Screen or the App Library. • Create a Minimalist Launcher Select apps and add Dumb Phone widgets to your Home Screen to blend everything together. • Choose your essential apps Select apps that you frequently use, so they are a single tap away. • Style your Home Screen Choose from a Dark or Light minimalist style, by adjusting your wallpaper, background, text, and more, with themes. • Adapt to Liquid Glass changes Reduce the addictive elements of the Liquid Glass Home Screen style, applied in the latest version of iOS. • Create multiple app launchers Create launchers for leisure, work, night time, so you see the most important apps in context to your day. • Detox Mode Create an immersive dumb phone experience by choosing which non-essential apps to block and/or hide on your device, with the powerful capabilities of Screen Time. • Control Center widgets Quickly switch between app launchers from the Control Center with new control center widgets that instantly change your Home Screen. Download the Dumb Phone app today and embrace the full benefits of minimalism, and turn your iPhone into a powerful utility once more. Visit the Dumb Phone app website for more info: https://dumbphone.so/ View our Privacy & Terms at: https://dumbphone.so/privacy https://dumbphone.so/terms

Screenshots

Screen Freedom4 screens
Dumb Phone (dp)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Screen Freedom at 100% against Dumb Phone (dp)'s 68%. Screen Freedom also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Dumb Phone (dp)'s advantage is ratings volume (3.9K vs 6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, 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. Screen Freedom sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Dumb Phone (dp) sells 12 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

Screen Freedom holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dumb Phone (dp) has 3.9K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Screen Freedom's written reviews are positive against 68% of Dumb Phone (dp)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Freedom ships an update every 6 weeks, Dumb Phone (dp) fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Screen Freedom versus Dumb Phone (dp): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen FreedomDumb Phone (dp)
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.6 (3.9K ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better68.4% of reviews
Number of ratings63.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB375 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEmancipas, LLCMichael Tigas

Customer experience

Screen Freedom

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Dumb Phone (dp)

All ratings3,891 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.3%
Written reviews860 reviews
Positive68.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative26.4%

Bugs and requests

Screen Freedom

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Dumb Phone (dp)

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Widget not appearing in list
  • Apps opening through Shortcuts app
  • Compatibility issues with older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to hide App Library
  • More widget customization options
  • Customizable widget labels
  • Detox mode for specific apps
  • Support for more third-party apps

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Screen Freedom

Subscriptions2
  • Premium - Monthly14 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Premium - Yearly14 Days trial$9.991 Year
12 purchases

Dumb Phone (dp)

Subscriptions8
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 month)$2.991 Month
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 month)$3.991 Month
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 month)$5.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 year)$9.991 Year
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 year)$12.991 Year
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 year)$14.991 Year
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 year)$19.991 Year
  • Dumb Phone Pro Family (1 year)$24.991 Year
One-time4
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$24.99
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$29.99
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$39.99
Show 1 more
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Screen Freedom free?
Screen Freedom is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dumb Phone (dp) free?
Dumb Phone (dp) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Screen Freedom or Dumb Phone (dp)?
Screen Freedom is rated higher. Screen Freedom averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Dumb Phone (dp) averages 4.6 from 3.9K ratings.
Do Screen Freedom or Dumb Phone (dp) have ads?
Neither Screen Freedom nor Dumb Phone (dp) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screen Freedom or Dumb Phone (dp)?
Screen Freedom ships an update every 6 weeks, and Dumb Phone (dp) fortnightly. Most recently, Screen Freedom was updated on October 24, 2026 and Dumb Phone (dp) on November 1, 2026.

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