Roots vs Tranquil
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Tranquil
This app helps you regain control of your time and attention by blocking distracting applications and websites. It offers customizable focus levels, scheduled sessions, and parental controls to foster better digital habits and achieve deep work.
- Tiered focus levels (Easy, Hard, Deep Focus)
- Scheduled focus sessions
- Secure parental controls
- Habit tracking and reports
- Customizable block screen
- Unlimited blocklists
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Are you tired of constantly being distracted? You sit down to work or study, but a notification pops up, and suddenly you're scrolling mindlessly. Before you know it, an hour has passed, and your to-do list is still untouched. You know you need to focus, but the digital world makes it nearly impossible. We created Tranquil for people just like you. those who want to take back control of their time and attention. Imagine a world where you can focus deeply on one task without interruption. With Tranquil's simple interface and powerful blocking features, you can silence the noise and get into your flow. Reclaim your focus with Tranquil, the powerful app and website blocker that adapts to your willpower. Go from gentle reminders to an unbreakable lockdown when you need it most. Tranquil isn't just another app blocker; it's a complete toolkit for building better digital habits and achieving deep, uninterrupted work. Whether you're a student facing exams, a professional on a deadline, or a parent guiding your child, Tranquil provides the control you need. KEY FEATURES: * FIND YOUR PERFECT FOCUS LEVEL Our unique tiered system lets YOU decide how strict to be. -- Easy Mode: A gentle nudge to stay on track, with the flexibility to take a break, and end session early. -- Hard Mode: A serious commitment that makes it difficult to end session early but not impossible to take breaks during a session. -- Deep Focus: An unbreakable, can't end or take breaks. lockdown for your most critical tasks. No loopholes, no excuses. * PLAN YOUR PRODUCTIVITY Don't just block distractions. prevent them. Schedule your focus sessions in advance for specific days and times to protect your deep work, study blocks, or family time. * SECURE PARENTAL CONTROLS Help your kids build a healthy relationship with their devices. Block distracting apps and websites during homework or bedtime. Our secure mode ensures the rules you set can't be easily bypassed with parental lock. * UNDERSTAND YOUR HABITS See exactly where your time goes with simple, insightful reports. Identify your biggest time-wasters and track your progress as you build better habits. Free Features The following features are included for free in the app: # Instant Session: Quickly create and start a focus session on the go. # Unlimited Blocklists: Create as many blocklists as you need to use during your focus sessions. # Deep Focus: Use this strict mode to prevent you from ending a session early and maintain focus. # Customize Block Screen: Personalize the screen that appears when an app is blocked with motivational themes and quotes. Premium Features (Subscription Required) Upgrade to our premium plan to unlock these additional features: # Parental Control: Set a PIN to prevent your child from modifying settings or ending focus sessions early. # Unlimited Sessions: Go beyond the free plan's single session and create an unlimited number of focus sessions. # Time Limit: Enforce your focus goals by blocking distracting apps and websites after a specific time limit. # Scheduled Sessions: Automate your routine by scheduling focus sessions in advance. WHO IT'S FOR: Students: Lock down social media during study sessions and ace your exams. Professionals & Creatives: Protect your flow state from constant notifications and interruptions. Parents: Empower your children with healthy digital boundaries. humans: who have gotten addicted to their smart phones and can't keep it down for more than few hours. Terms of Use: [https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/)Your goals are too important to be lost to distraction. Download Tranquil now and take the first step towards a more focused, productive life.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Roots at 4.8 against Tranquil's 2.5. Roots also leads on ratings volume (2.9K vs 2). Tranquil's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 76%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Roots sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Tranquil sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Roots holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 2.9K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 100% of Tranquil's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
| Parameter | Roots | Tranquil |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (2.9K ratings) — better | 2.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.9K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 355 MB | 103 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | MWM | Bamidele Akingboye |
Customer experience
Roots
Tranquil
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
Tranquil
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Roots
- Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$6.991 Month
- Premium$7.997 Days
- Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- 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
- Premium Pass1 Year trial$99.991 Year
- Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
- Premium Pass1 Month trial$99.991 Year
- Premium Pass7 Days trial$99.991 Year
Tranquil
- Weekly Premium Plan$4.997 Days
- Yearly Premium Plan$59.991 Year









