Comparison

Roots vs SmartScroll

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

SmartScroll

Transform mindless scrolling into a learning experience with curated content. Break free from doomscrolling, strengthen attention, and discover fascinating facts daily. Designed for curious minds seeking better screen time habits.

Highlights
  • Break doomscrolling cycle
  • Strengthen attention span
  • Discover daily facts
  • Curated enriching content
  • Distraction-free interface
  • Customizable themes
  • Share discoveries
Features
Read full description

Stop doomscrolling before another hour disappears. Most blockers just lock you out and get bypassed in seconds. SmartScroll is different: when your limit is reached on Tiktok, Reels, Shorts, or any endless feed, it interrupts the loop and replaces it with quick knowledge cards. Something better to do, right at the moment your brain wants "one more video." Why people use SmartScroll: - Interrupt doomscrolling before it spirals - Block TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, X, and more after daily limits are reached - Replace mindless scrolling with bite-sized knowledge you’ll actually remember - Add friction when automatic scrolling takes over - Visualize wasted screen time with Life Grid - Build healthier phone habits without deleting social media Core features: - Automatic app blocking after your limits are reached - Smart interruption flow that breaks scrolling momentum - Bite-sized knowledge cards for quick, useful learning - Custom app limits and schedules - Life Grid to visualize time lost and time reclaimed SmartScroll is for people who: - Open social media without thinking - Lose an hour checking “one thing” - Feel mentally drained after short-form videos - Have tried timers, willpower, or basic blockers without success • Want healthier phone habits without quitting social media Your apps are not the problem. The automatic scrolling loop is. SmartScroll helps you break it. Download SmartScroll for free. Premium features require an in-app purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
SmartScroll4 screens

Verdict

The call

Roots and SmartScroll both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 33% of SmartScroll's. Roots also leads on ratings volume (2.6K vs 6). 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 17 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and SmartScroll sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. 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 SmartScroll. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 2.6K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 33% of SmartScroll's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, SmartScroll every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Roots versus SmartScroll: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsSmartScroll
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings)4.8 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews75.5% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings2.6K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size379 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMAlperen Cerkez

Customer experience

Roots

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

SmartScroll

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

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

SmartScroll

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
9 purchases

SmartScroll

Subscriptions9
  • SmartScroll Premium | Weekly$1.997 Days
  • SmartScroll Premium | Monthly$4.991 Month
  • SmartScroll Weekly Premium3 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • Weekly Premium$9.997 Days
  • Yearly Premium$24.991 Year
  • SmartScroll Yearly Premium$24.991 Year
  • SmartScroll Premium | Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Premium7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Yearly Premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SmartScroll free?
SmartScroll is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or SmartScroll?
Roots and SmartScroll are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2.6K and 6 ratings respectively.
Do Roots or SmartScroll have ads?
Neither Roots nor SmartScroll shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or SmartScroll?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and SmartScroll every 2 weeks. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 29, 2026 and SmartScroll on September 15, 2026.

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