Comparison

Roots vs TimeBack

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

TimeBack

This app helps you reduce screen time and avoid distractions by blocking addictive applications. It offers customizable blocking schedules, a 'Hard Mode' for complete phone lockdown, and an accountability feature that notifies friends when you override a block.

Highlights
  • App Blocking with custom schedules
  • Ad-hoc timers
  • Hard Mode for complete lockdown
  • Accountability notifications for friends
  • Block override options
  • Tracking of schedules and goals
Features
Read full description

TimeBack helps you cut screen time and avoid doomscrolling with scheduled or ad-hoc blocking. When you slip, friends are automatically notified to keep you accountable. Features: - App Blocking: Block distracting apps with custom schedules or ad-hoc timers. - Hard Mode: Block all apps at once to completely lock down your phone. - Block Overrides: Override a block for 5–60 minutes or until the end of day. - Accountability: If you override a block, your friends can be notified so excuses don’t go unnoticed. - Tracking: Track your schedules, goals, and overrides. Friends can see your progress and weakness moments, keeping you accountable while inspiring them to join. TimeBack simplifies reducing screen time by combining your focus intentions with social incentives. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
TimeBack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TimeBack at 100% against Roots's 75%. TimeBack also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Roots's advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 36). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Roots sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and TimeBack sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TimeBack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 2.6K ratings behind it against 36, 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 100% of TimeBack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, TimeBack weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Roots versus TimeBack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsTimeBack
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings)5.0 (36 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.6K — better36
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size379 MB42 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperMWMNicholas Camson

Customer experience

Roots

All ratings2,649 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews362 reviews
Positive75.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative19.3%

TimeBack

All ratings36 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

TimeBack

From 36 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best Screen Time Control App
  • 👍 Great Tool
  • 👍 Great way to reduce screen time
  • 👍 Smooth
  • 👍 Productivity increased working from home

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

TimeBack

No bugs or feature requests surfaced in reviews.

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
8 purchases

TimeBack

Subscriptions3
  • TimeBack Premium Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • TimeBack Premium Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • TimeBack Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time5
  • TimeBack Premium$0.99
  • 100 TimeBack Points$0.99
  • 500 TimeBack Points$4.99
Show 2 more
  • 1000 TimeBack Points$9.99
  • 2500 TimeBack Points$19.99

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TimeBack free?
TimeBack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or TimeBack?
TimeBack is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while TimeBack averages 5.0 from 36 ratings.
Do Roots or TimeBack have ads?
Neither Roots nor TimeBack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or TimeBack?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and TimeBack weekly. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 22, 2026 and TimeBack on August 29, 2026.

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