Comparison

Roots vs touch grass

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

touch grass

Features
Read full description

touch grass: GoOutside, Beat Screen Addiction Break free from phone addiction, reduce screen time, and reconnect with the real world through daily outdoor challenges. GoOutside helps you touch grass with purpose, transforming your routine and building lasting habits in a gamified, rewarding way. Whether you're stuck in brain rot from endless doomscrolling or just need to cut back on screen time, GoOutside gives you the push you need. Choose a nature-based challenge, snap a photo, and earn points as you touch grass every single day. HOW IT WORKS - Get a new daily outdoor challenge: Easy, Medium, or Hard - Take a photo and submit it for AI verification - Earn points, track your streak, and monitor progress - Set real-life rewards — a coffee, a walk, a digital detox day - Build discipline with small, consistent wins FEATURES TO HELP YOU TOUCH GRASS - Naturally reduce screen time and improve focus - Replace brain rot with clarity, joy, and habit formation - Beat phone addiction and replace it with real-world rewards - Touch grass daily to form a powerful routine - Great for people trying a dumb phone lifestyle or breaking social media loops - Stay motivated with streak tracking and personal rewards WHY USERS LOVE GOOUTSIDE "It’s like being told to touch grass — but in the best, most intentional way." "Way better than any app block. This gives purpose and progress." "I didn’t just touch grass, I touched peace." "Touch grass has become my favorite habit." START YOUR FREE TRIAL Try GoOutside risk-free with a 3-day or 7-day free trial. Touch grass. Build the habit. Beat the addiction. Cancel anytime, no commitment required. WHO IT'S FOR - Addicted to screen time or constantly losing focus? - Want to build real-life habits and cut out app block cycles? - Struggling to touch grass, build habits, or go on a digital detox? - Curious about switching to a dumb phone but want a better middle ground? GoOutside is for you. Terms: https://www.go-outside.app/terms Privacy: https://www.go-outside.app/privacy

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
touch grass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: touch grass at every 2 days against Roots's every 3 weeks. touch grass also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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 touch grass sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, touch grass every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Roots versus touch grass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootstouch grass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.7K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.7K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size355 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMSamuel Ojo

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

touch grass

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
3 purchases

touch grass

Subscriptions3
  • PRO Weekly$3.997 Days
  • PRO Monthly3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • PRO Yearly7 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is touch grass free?
touch grass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Roots or touch grass have ads?
Neither Roots nor touch grass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or touch grass?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and touch grass every 2 days. Most recently, Roots was updated on October 1, 2026 and touch grass on September 19, 2026.

Other comparisons