Comparison

Roots vs Indistractable

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 regain control of your phone usage by setting app limits, scheduling downtime, and participating in detox challenges. It provides insights into your screen time habits and offers features like 'Monk Mode' for focused periods. Aimed at improving well-being and reducing phone addiction.

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

Indistractable

This app helps you regain focus by blocking distracting applications and notifications. It aims to combat bad habits and improve concentration, allowing you to be more present. Access to blocked apps requires an accountability partner or a QR code.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Silence notifications
  • Improve concentration
  • Accountability partner access
  • QR code unlock method
  • Take control of time
Read full description

Indistractable: App Blocker You don't need more willpower. You need a phone that respects your focus. Indistractable is a commitment device for your attention. Pick the apps that actually matter, lock your phone into a focus session, and unlike Screen Time, you can't just tap "ignore" to get back in. To unlock early, you have to mean it. Try it free: download, pick the apps that pull you away, and run a real blocking session before you pay anything. No account needed. HOW IT WORKS - Build a mode. Save a set of the only apps you want available (just your maps, music, and messages, say), or pick exactly what to block. - Lock in. Start a session and everything else is blocked, phone-wide. - Choose how hard it is to quit: Normal, Strict, or Hardcore. THREE WAYS TO UNLOCK, ALL OF THEM ON PURPOSE - Scan a QR code you've stashed across the room, so quitting means physically getting up. - Ask your accountability partner, who approves the unlock from their own phone. - Spend an emergency unlock, a limited few, for when you truly need out. MORE FOCUS, WHERE IT COUNTS - Schedule focus sessions to start automatically: mornings, work hours, bedtime. - Block whole categories, not just single apps. - Unlock with a tap of an NFC tag. - Watch the time you win back add up. WHO IT'S FOR Deep workers, students, makers, and anyone tired of reaching for their phone and losing an hour. If Screen Time never stuck because it was too easy to bypass, Indistractable is built to actually hold. Focus you can trust. Your first blocking session is free, with no account and no payment. An in-app subscription unlocks everything else: unlimited sessions, multiple modes, Strict and Hardcore locks with QR, NFC and partner unlocks, scheduled sessions, and emergency unlocks. Available yearly with a 7-day free trial, or monthly. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
Indistractable4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Roots at 75% against Indistractable's 0%. Roots also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Indistractable's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). 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. Roots sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Indistractable sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, Indistractable every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Roots versus Indistractable: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsIndistractable
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2.6K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size379 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMRed Kite 9 Ltd

Customer experience

Roots

All ratings2,649 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews367 reviews
Positive75.5%
Neutral5.2%
Negative19.3%

Indistractable

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

Indistractable

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

17 purchases

Roots

Subscriptions17
  • Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$6.991 Month
  • Premium$7.997 Days
  • Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 14 more
  • Roots - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
  • Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
  • Roots - Monthly Plan$19.991 Month
  • Premium Pass7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan$29.991 Year
  • Premium$39.991 Year
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Premium Pass$59.991 Year
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Premium1 Month trial$69.991 Year
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan$79.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium Pass1 Month trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium Pass7 Days trial$99.991 Year
2 purchases

Indistractable

Subscriptions2
  • Indistractable Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Indistractable Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Indistractable free?
Indistractable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Roots or Indistractable have ads?
Neither Roots nor Indistractable shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or Indistractable?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and Indistractable every 10 days. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 29, 2026 and Indistractable on September 8, 2026.

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