Roots vs Nook
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Roots
This app helps you manage your phone usage by setting app limits, scheduling downtime, and offering challenges to reduce screen time. It aims to improve focus, be more present, and cure phone addiction by monitoring digital dopamine and providing a personal balance score.
- 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
Nook
This app helps University of Washington students find quiet and available study spots on campus in real-time. It provides insights into campus study environments to avoid crowded or noisy locations.
- Real-time study environment insights
- Find available study locations
- Campus-focused for UW students
- Avoid crowded libraries
- Identify quiet study areas
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Nook is a campus-focused app designed to help University of Washington students quickly and efficiently find ideal places to study. On a campus where library crowding and unpredictable noise levels can make it frustrating to find a good spot, Nook solves this core issue by giving students real-time insights into the study environment across campus.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nook at none against Roots's 10. Nook also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Roots's advantage is review sentiment (76% vs 50%) and ratings volume (3.2K vs 9). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Nook asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Roots against 4.7 for Nook. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 3.2K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 50% of Nook's.
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, Nook monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Roots | Nook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3.2K ratings) — better | 4.7 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.7% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3.2K — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 361 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | MWM | Aadyant Maity |
Customer experience
Roots
Nook
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
Nook
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Roots
- Premium$7.997 Days
- Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
- Roots - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
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- Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
- Roots Plus - Annual Plan$29.991 Year
- Premium Pass$59.991 Year
- Roots Plus - Annual Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Premium Pass1 Year trial$99.991 Year
- Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
- Premium Pass7 Days trial$99.991 Year
Nook
No in-app purchases









