Comparison

Roots vs Atoms

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

Head to head
About

Roots

This app helps you manage your phone usage by setting app limits, scheduling downtime, and offering challenges to reduce screen time. It aims to improve focus, be more present, and cure phone addiction by monitoring digital dopamine and providing a personal balance score.

Highlights
  • App and website blocking
  • Scheduled downtime
  • Phone detox challenges
  • Monk Mode for strict blocking
  • Digital dopamine monitoring
  • Daily goals and progress tracking
  • Personal balance score
Features
Read full description

Roots is the #1 screen time app. Set boundaries with your phone, and unlock more time.  Screen time has a major impact on our mental and physical wellbeing. We're here to help — with better app limits, digital downtime, daily goals, balance score, and more. Join thousands of people using Roots to build a better relationship with their phone. WHAT TO EXPECT - Better screen time management - Unlock 2 hours per day - Stop scrolling mindlessly - Cure your phone addiction - Detox from phone dopamine - Find better balance - Be more present - Stay focused BLOCK NOW - Start blocking apps at any time with one tap BETTER APP LIMITS - Block any app or website based on time limits or number of opens SCHEDULE DOWNTIME - Be intentional with "mindful mornings", "evening wind down", and more PHONE DETOX CHALLENGES - Personalized challenges to compete with yourself and friends - Challenges with neuroscientist and Roots Chief Science Officer, Tj Power BLOCK WITH "MONK MODE" - App blocking that doesn't let you unblock until tomorrow MONITOR DIGITAL DOPAMINE - Not all screen time is equal, so we help you understand the impact of each app DAILY GOALS - Set goals for screen time and phone pickups, and track your daily progress PERSONAL BALANCE SCORE - Daily score helps keep you accountable with beautiful illustrations and visuals SCREEN TIME TRENDS - View the progress and trends of your screen time journey BUILD A STREAK - Build a streak as you stay under limits, earn cheat days and custom app icons BLOCK ADULT WEBSITES - Keep yourself off adult websites once and for all DON’T JUST TAKE IT FROM US "We’re all guilty of being obsessed with our phones. Roots helps you break free." -- Tj Power, Neuroscientist and Author “It's beautiful, and it works” -- Jameston78 “This app does what it says” -- Casper-F “Worth every penny” -- Thehikingfool PRIVACY GUARANTEED We use Apple’s Screen Time API so all of your phone usage data stays on your phone. TERMS & CONDITIONS - Auto-Renewing Subscription Options: Roots Plus (Monthly or Annual) - Terms: https://www.getroots.app/terms - Privacy Policy: https://www.getroots.app/privacy-policy

About

Atoms

This app helps you build good habits and break bad ones using principles from a best-selling book. It offers bite-sized lessons, guided habit creation, and smart reminders to make positive changes in just five minutes a day.

Highlights
  • Guided habit creation
  • Bite-sized lessons
  • Smart reminders
  • Progress insights
  • Intuitive interface
  • Apple Watch app
Features
Read full description

Introducing Atoms – The Official Atomic Habits App! ## Tiny changes, remarkable results! ## Atoms is the definitive habits forming app inspired by the groundbreaking principles of Atomic Habits, the best-selling book by James Clear. Atoms is not only a habit tracker, but also your personal guide filled with bite-sized lessons and insightful strategies to help you make positive changes one small step at a time. # WHY ATOMS? * Proven Principles: Atoms is crafted on the science-backed principles of habit change covered in Atomic Habits. You will learn how to make your habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. * Five Good Minutes: Experience powerful change in just five minutes a day! Atoms is designed for everyone, including those with busy lifestyles, ensuring that you can build good habits, break bad ones, and make better decisions with minimal time investment. * NYT Best-Seller: Join over 15 million people who have already embraced the transformative power of Atomic Habits. Atoms brings these life-changing principles and James Clear’s content to your fingertips in an easy-to-use app. # KEY FEATURES: * Guided Habit Creation: Start small and build habits based on the kind of person you want to become. Get guidance on how to start at the right size for you. Create consistency by committing to a time and place. Build habits that last. * Intuitive Interface: Enjoy a seamless user interface that makes habit tracking a joy. Visualize your progress, celebrate milestones, and stay motivated with every tiny win. * Smart Reminders: Never miss a moment to invest in yourself. Atoms uses smart reminders to keep you on track and encourage consistent habit-building. * Progress Insights: Gain valuable insights into your habits with detailed analytics. Track your progress over time, identify patterns, and make informed decisions for continuous improvement. * Apple Watch app: Log your habits on the move Download Atoms now and start experiencing the power of Atomic Habits. Think big. Start Small. Use Atoms. Terms and Conditions - https://www.iubenda.com/terms-and-conditions/22673733 Privacy Policy - https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/22673733 End User License Agreement - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
Atoms4 screens

Verdict

The call

Roots and Atoms both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 76% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 56% of Atoms's. Atoms's advantage is ratings volume (11K vs 3.3K) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Roots sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and Atoms sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Roots against 4.8 for Atoms. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.3K and 11K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 56% of Atoms's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, Atoms every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Roots versus Atoms: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsAtoms
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings)4.8 (11K ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.7% of reviews — better55.9% of reviews
Number of ratings3.3K11K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size361 MB227 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMAtomic Development Inc.

Customer experience

Roots

All ratings3,142 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews370 reviews
Positive75.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative19.2%

Atoms

All ratings10,650 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews706 reviews
Positive55.9%
Neutral12.3%
Negative31.7%

User reviews

Roots

From 3.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helpful for reducing screen time
  • 🚀 Effective in cutting down app usage
  • 💡 Customizable app blocking and downtime settings
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 👍 Responsive customer support

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional performance issues and bugs
  • 🐛 Inconsistent app blocking and unblocking
  • 🐛 Inaccurate screen time tracking
  • 🐛 Difficulty deleting account or changing subscription
  • 🐛 Frustrating when apps are locked unexpectedly

Atoms

From 11K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Simple and easy to use
  • 👍 Visually appealing design
  • 💡 Integrates principles from Atomic Habits book
  • 🎯 Helps focus on one habit at a time
  • 🔥 Motivating and encouraging

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription price
  • 🔒 Limited to only 1 or 3 habits in free version
  • 🔍 Lack of flexibility to track habits not tied to specific times
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
  • 🕰 Can't backlog past 24 hours

Bugs and requests

Roots

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Apps getting blocked when they shouldn't be
  • Screen time data not syncing correctly
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Subscription issues and inability to cancel
  • Trouble with the initial setup and syncing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Home screen and lock screen widgets
  • Customizable challenges and ability to share with friends
  • More options for the 'Do Not Disturb' mode
  • Improved analytics and progress tracking
  • Ability to easily adjust app limits without resetting

Atoms

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues and app freezes
  • Habit progress not saving correctly
  • Widget not functioning as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to track more habits
  • More customization options for habits
  • Improved data visualization and analytics
  • Accountability partner features

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Roots

Subscriptions10
  • Premium$7.997 Days
  • Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Roots - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan$29.991 Year
  • Premium Pass$59.991 Year
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Premium Pass1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium Pass7 Days trial$99.991 Year
2 purchases

Atoms

Subscriptions2
  • Atoms Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Atoms Pro Annual$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Atoms free?
Atoms is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or Atoms?
Atoms is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Atoms averages 4.8 from 11K ratings.
Do Roots or Atoms have ads?
Neither Roots nor Atoms shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or Atoms?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and Atoms every 2 weeks. Most recently, Roots was updated on November 7, 2026 and Atoms on November 8, 2026.

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