Comparison

Roots vs Brainrot

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

Brainrot

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and websites. Utilize a focus timer and smart schedules to improve productivity, sleep, and reduce screen time. A visual indicator provides a playful nudge to encourage mindful usage.

Highlights
  • App and website blocking
  • Focus timer
  • Smart scheduling
  • Mindful breaks
  • Usage insights
Features
Read full description

Reclaim your day with Brainrot, a playful screen time control, app blocker, and focus coach. Pick the apps and sites to block, set schedules, and watch your cute brain avatar decay as you doom scroll. The visual nudge helps you put the phone down. Save about 2 hours per day, feel less distracted, sleep better, and get more done. What you get: - Instant blocking for apps and websites - Focus timer for deep work and Pomodoro - Smart schedules for bedtime, mornings, and meetings - Mindful breaks so you reset without the guilt - Clear insights to spot Brainrot apps fast ### PRIVATE & SECURE Brainrot uses Apple’s Screen Time API; all monitoring and blocking run *entirely* on your device. Your browsing data never leaves your phone. *All features described above require a subscription.* Terms of Service: https://thebrainrotapp.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://thebrainrotapp.com/privacy

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
Brainrot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Roots at 75% against Brainrot's 18%. Roots also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Brainrot's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (22K vs 2.6K). 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 Brainrot sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Roots holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainrot has 22K ratings behind it against 2.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 18% of Brainrot's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, Brainrot every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Roots versus Brainrot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsBrainrot
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings) — better4.5 (22K ratings)
Positive reviews75.5% of reviews — better17.5% of reviews
Number of ratings2.6K22K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size379 MB126 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMSmolworks Inc

Customer experience

Roots

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

Brainrot

All ratings22,334 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral2.8%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews2,022 reviews
Positive17.5%
Neutral6.6%
Negative75.9%

User reviews

Roots

From 2.6K 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

Brainrot

From 22K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Reduces screen time
  • 👍 Helpful for productivity
  • 🥰 Great app
  • 💯 Highly recommended

Room to improve

  • 💰 Requires paid subscription
  • 🙅‍♀️ No free version available
  • 😤 Forced to pay to use

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

Brainrot

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Stuck on payment screen with no way out
  • Requires re-entering info every time

Requested features

2 requests
  • Free version with limited features
  • Free trial period

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
15 purchases

Brainrot

Subscriptions15
  • Unlimited (1 Month)$3.991 Month
  • Unlimited (1 Week)$3.997 Days
  • Unlimited (1 Week)$4.997 Days
Show 12 more
  • monthly$8.991 Month
  • Unlimited (1 Year)$9.991 Year
  • Unlimited (1 Year)3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Unlimited (1 Year)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Unlimited (1 Year)$19.991 Year
  • Brainrot (Full Access)$24.991 Year
  • Unlimited (1 Year)3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited (1 Year)$29.991 Year
  • Brainrot (Full Access)$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited (1 Year)3 Days trial$44.991 Year
  • Brainrot Annual3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Unlimited$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Brainrot free?
Brainrot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or Brainrot?
Roots is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while Brainrot averages 4.5 from 22K ratings.
Do Roots or Brainrot have ads?
Neither Roots nor Brainrot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or Brainrot?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and Brainrot every 6 days. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 29, 2026 and Brainrot on September 30, 2026.

Other comparisons