Comparison

Roots vs Lock In

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

Lock In

This app helps you focus by blocking distracting applications during timed work sessions. Set durations, choose apps to block, and track your productive time and streaks. Ideal for building better digital habits and reducing screen time.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Set custom focus timers
  • Track productive hours
  • Visualize progress and streaks
  • Build better digital habits
Features
Read full description

Lock In helps you stay focused and productive by blocking distracting apps during timed work sessions. Set your focus duration, select apps to block, and commit to distraction-free deep work. Track your progress with detailed statistics and visualizations that show your productive hours, longest streaks, and consistency over time. Perfect for students, professionals, and anyone looking to build better digital habits and reclaim their time from endless scrolling.

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
Lock In4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Roots at none against Lock In's shown. Roots also leads on ratings volume (2.9K vs 7). Lock In's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 76%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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 18 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Lock In sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lock In holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 2.9K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lock In's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 2 weeks, Lock In daily. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Roots versus Lock In: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsLock In
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.9K ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.9K — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size355 MB29 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperMWMEli Young

Customer experience

Roots

All ratings2,867 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews369 reviews
Positive75.6%
Neutral5.1%
Negative19.2%

Lock In

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
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

Lock In

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

18 purchases

Roots

Subscriptions18
  • Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$6.991 Month
  • Premium$7.997 Days
  • Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 15 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
  • 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
1 purchases

Lock In

One-time1
  • Lock In Premium (No Ads)$4.99

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lock In free?
Lock In is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or Lock In?
Lock In is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Lock In averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Roots or Lock In have ads?
Lock In shows ads; Roots does not.
Which is updated more often, Roots or Lock In?
Roots ships an update every 2 weeks, and Lock In daily. Most recently, Roots was updated on October 18, 2026 and Lock In on October 14, 2026.

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