Comparison

Roots vs ZenGate

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

ZenGate

This system helps you block distractions and enter deep focus with a physical card and app. Customize focus modes for different activities and create separation between work and rest.

Highlights
  • Activate focus modes with a tap
  • Block distracting apps
  • Silence notifications
  • Customize focus modes
  • Create work-life separation
  • Physical commitment device
Features
Read full description

ZenGate is a focus system that pairs a beautifully engineered ZenGate Card with a seamless app experience to help you block distractions instantly and enter deep focus - no timers, no hacks, no loopholes. Switch between custom focus modes like *Work*, *Gym*, or *Unplug* with a single tap. The ZenGate Card gives you a way to reset your environment, physically and mentally. --- What ZenGate Does --- - Tap your ZenGate Card to instantly activate a focus mode - Block time-wasting apps, silence notifications, and reduce screen friction - Customize modes to fit your routines, not the other way around - Create separation between work and rest, distraction and intention --- Who It’s For --- ZenGate is made for founders, creatives, and high-performers who need structure without friction. If you’ve outgrown app-based screen limits, this was built for you. --- Why It Works --- Focus isn’t just about blocking apps… it’s about creating the right rituals. The ZenGate Card acts as your commitment device, turning intention into action with a single tap.

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
ZenGate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Roots at 4.8 against ZenGate's 3.0. Roots also leads on ratings volume (2.6K vs 2). ZenGate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 17) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. ZenGate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Roots holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 2.6K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 100% of ZenGate's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, ZenGate every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Roots versus ZenGate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsZenGate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews75.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.6K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size379 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWM24 Labs Inc.

Customer experience

Roots

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

ZenGate

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

ZenGate

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
None

ZenGate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ZenGate free?
ZenGate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Roots or ZenGate?
Roots is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while ZenGate averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Roots or ZenGate have ads?
Neither Roots nor ZenGate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or ZenGate?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and ZenGate every 5 days. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 29, 2026 and ZenGate on September 8, 2026.

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