Comparison

Roots vs NoMo Screen Time

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

NoMo Screen Time

This app helps you reclaim your time and focus by playfully interrupting distracting app usage. Set daily or hourly goals and receive fun visual feedback as your screen time decreases. It encourages intention over strict restriction.

Highlights
  • App blocking and timers
  • Daily and hourly goals
  • Fun visual feedback
  • Usage-based mood changes
  • Focus on intention
Features
Read full description

Reclaim your time, focus, and mind. With NoMo Screen Time, every time you try to open a distracting app, Mo greets you playfully with a blissful pause. Set a timer, daily or hourly targets, and watch your screen time drop. Don't upset Mo! Mo’s moods, messages, and even the app icon change as your usage climbs. * Simple app blocking & timers * Daily & hourly goals * Fun, visual feedback that keeps you on track * Intention, not restriction Driven by mission, supported by donors. NoMo Screen Time. Mo real life.

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
NoMo Screen Time4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NoMo Screen Time at none against Roots's 17. NoMo Screen Time also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Roots's advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads 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 17 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. NoMo Screen Time asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NoMo Screen Time 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 5, 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 NoMo Screen Time's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, NoMo Screen Time every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Roots versus NoMo Screen Time: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsNoMo Screen Time
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.6K — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size379 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMAswath Krishnan

Customer experience

Roots

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

NoMo Screen Time

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 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

NoMo Screen Time

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
None

NoMo Screen Time

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NoMo Screen Time free?
NoMo Screen Time is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Roots or NoMo Screen Time?
NoMo Screen Time is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while NoMo Screen Time averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Roots or NoMo Screen Time have ads?
Neither Roots nor NoMo Screen Time shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or NoMo Screen Time?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and NoMo Screen Time every 2 weeks. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 25, 2026 and NoMo Screen Time on June 7, 2026.

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