Comparison

Roots vs Neap

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

Neap

Instantly block distracting applications with a simple tap to reclaim your focus. This app offers quick focus sessions, beautiful progress visualization, and screen time statistics to help you build better digital wellness habits.

Highlights
  • Instant app blocking
  • Beautiful focus timer animation
  • Screen time statistics
  • Smart notifications
  • Zero setup time
  • Ultra Focus Mode
  • iCloud sync
Features
Read full description

Focus in 2 taps. Block apps instantly. No schedules needed. Neap is the fastest way to block distracting apps and reclaim your focus. Pick your duration, tap start. That's it. No complicated setup, no scheduling—just instant digital detox when you need it. Why Neap? • Instant App Blocking - Choose 30 mins, 1 hour, 2 hours or 4 hours. One tap blocks all your distracting apps immediately • Beautiful Focus Timer - Watch your progress with our signature wave animation that rises as you stay focused • Screen Time Statistics - Track your focus streaks, daily average, and see your progress improve over time • Smart Notifications - Get gentle reminders when your focus session ends • Zero Setup Time - Select distracting apps once. Then just tap to focus whenever you need Perfect for: • Students blocking social media during study sessions • Professionals doing deep work without notification anxiety • Parents setting healthy screen time boundaries • Anyone building better digital wellness habits • People tired of complex productivity apps that waste time Premium Features Unlock: • Ultra Focus Mode - Lock yourself in completely—no way out until timer ends • Extended Sessions - 2-hour and 4-hour deep focus blocks • Complete Statistics - Full history and insights, not just last 7 days • iCloud Sync - Your focus data on all devices • Home Screen Widget - Start focus sessions instantly • Custom Sounds & Colors - Personalize your experience • Unlimited History - Track your journey forever Real Results: Join thousands who've broken their scrolling habits. Our users report 3x more productive hours and better sleep within the first week. "We believe focus apps should help you focus immediately, not waste time with setup. No schedules to configure. No overwhelming options. Just tap and reclaim your time." Built by an indie developer who was tired of doom scrolling. If Neap helps you focus better, please leave a review—it means everything to solo developers! Start your digital detox in 30 seconds. Download Neap now. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
Neap4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Roots at 76% against Neap's 25%. Roots also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (2.9K vs 4). Neap's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). 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 18 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Neap sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Roots holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 2.9K ratings behind it against 4, 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 25% of Neap's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 2 weeks, Neap daily. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Roots versus Neap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsNeap
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.9K ratings) — better3.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews75.6% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2.9K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size355 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMBurak Akyalcin

Customer experience

Roots

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

Neap

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Neap

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
2 purchases

Neap

Subscriptions2
  • Neap Pro Weekly$5.997 Days
  • Neap Pro Yearly$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Neap free?
Neap is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or Neap?
Roots is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Neap averages 3.3 from 4 ratings.
Do Roots or Neap have ads?
Neither Roots nor Neap shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or Neap?
Roots ships an update every 2 weeks, and Neap daily. Most recently, Roots was updated on October 18, 2026 and Neap on October 8, 2026.

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