# Roots vs Focado

Roots and Focado both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 60% of Focado's. Focado's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Roots sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Focado sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Roots against 4.8 for Focado. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.6K and 1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 60% of Focado's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Roots | Focado |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roots-screen-time-control/id6446800962/reviews) | [4.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focado-focus-timer/id6755039509/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | **75.4% of reviews** | 60.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 379 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [MWM](https://appshunter.io/developer/452269707) | [Modernist LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449830298) |

## What reviewers say

### Roots

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roots-screen-time-control/id6446800962)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Roots Plus - Monthly Plan | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Roots Plus - Weekly Plan | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Roots - Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Roots Plus - Monthly Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Roots - Monthly Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Premium Pass | $19.99 | per month |
| Roots Plus - Annual Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Roots Plus - Annual Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Pass | $59.99 | per year |
| Roots Plus - Annual Plan | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Roots Plus - Annual Plan | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Premium Pass | $99.99 | per year |
| Premium Pass | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Focado

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focado-focus-timer/id6755039509)

This app uses a charming knitting avocado character to motivate users to focus. As you concentrate, the avocado knits items that can be traded for decorations to upgrade its room. It offers features like deep focus mode and Pomodoro breaks to enhance productivity.

**Highlights:** Knitting mechanic with focus progress, Trade knitted items for room decorations, Deep focus mode to block distractions, Pomodoro break timer, Live Activity for Lock Screen tracking, Customizable room themes

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focado Monthly Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Focado Monthly Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Focado Monthly Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Focado Yearly Pro | $19.99 | per year |
| Focado Yearly Pro | $24.99 | per year |
| Focado Yearly Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Focado Yearly Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Thinkcado | $5.99 | one-time |
| Smartcado | $5.99 | one-time |
| Brainycado | $5.99 | one-time |
| Grungecado | $5.99 | one-time |
| Bookcado | $5.99 | one-time |
| Vibecado | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Roots free?

Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Focado free?

Focado is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Roots or Focado?

Roots and Focado are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2.6K and 1K ratings respectively.

### Do Roots or Focado have ads?

Neither Roots nor Focado shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Roots or Focado?

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and Focado every 3 weeks. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 22, 2026 and Focado on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*