Roots vs Screentox
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
Screentox
This app helps you reduce phone usage by setting daily goals and blocking distractions. Earn virtual plants for hitting your targets and gain insights into your habits. It's designed for intentional phone use, not complete abstinence.
- Set daily screen time goals
- Block distracting apps
- Schedule focus sessions
- Track weekly habits
- Earn virtual plants
- Optional accountability sharing
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Stop losing hours to your phone. Screentox helps you interrupt mindless scrolling with app blocking and a system that’s easy to keep using. When you can see your attention as a living plant, you naturally start taking better care of it. WHY SCREENTOX WORKS Most screen time apps show numbers and hope you change. That rarely works. Screentox gives you a daily target, blocks distractions when you need focus, and turns consistency into something you can actually see: a growing collection of living succulents. Hit your goal, you earn a plant. Miss it, and you start fresh tomorrow. WHAT YOU CAN DO – Set one clear daily goal Choose a realistic screen time target and always know where you stand. – Block distractions when it matters Block apps instantly or schedule focus for work, evenings, or weekends. Strict Mode closes common loopholes. – Understand your habits Clean weekly trends show what’s actually driving your screen time. – Earn progress you can see Hit your goal and unlock a unique generative succulent. Every plant is earned. – Stay aware without pressure Gentle reminders help you pause before you spiral. – Optional accountability Share progress with friends if you want. Turn it off anytime. *All features require a paid subscription to use.* You can start with a 7-day free trial. After the trial ends, a monthly or annual auto-renewing subscription is required to continue using the app and access all features. USE YOUR PHONE ON PURPOSE Screentox isn’t about quitting your phone. It’s about using it deliberately instead of by habit. Built by a solo indie creator combining behavior design and generative art. Terms of Use: https://screentox.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://screentox.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Roots at free with in-app purchases against Screentox's subscription. Roots also leads on ratings volume (3.1K vs 10). Screentox's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 76%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Roots sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Screentox sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Screentox holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 3.1K ratings behind it against 10, 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 Screentox's.
Roots ships an update every 2 weeks, Screentox weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Roots | Screentox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3.1K ratings) | 4.9 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3.1K — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 355 MB | 53 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MWM | Mindnest Limited Liability Company |
Customer experience
Roots
Screentox
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
Screentox
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Roots
- Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$6.991 Month
- Premium$7.997 Days
- Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- 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
Screentox
- Screentox Pro Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
- Screentox Pro Yearly7 Days trial$44.991 Year







