# Roots vs Atoms

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Roots | Atoms |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roots-screen-time-control/id6446800962/reviews) | **[4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atoms-from-atomic-habits/id6474421906/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3.3K | **11K** |
| Positive reviews | **75.7% of reviews** | 55.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 361 MB | 227 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MWM](https://appshunter.io/developer/452269707) | [Atomic Development Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1704890395) |

## What reviewers say

### Roots

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roots-screen-time-control/id6446800962)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Roots Plus - Weekly Plan | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Roots - Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Roots Plus - Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Roots Plus - Annual Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Pass | $59.99 | per year |
| Roots Plus - Annual Plan | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Pass | $99.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Premium Pass | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atoms-from-atomic-habits/id6474421906)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Atoms Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Atoms Pro Annual | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*