Comparison

Roots vs Screen Time Control

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 manage your phone usage by setting app limits, scheduling downtime, and offering challenges to reduce screen time. It aims to improve focus, be more present, and cure phone addiction by monitoring digital dopamine and providing a personal balance score.

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

Screen Time Control

This app helps you reduce screen time by requiring a photo of your pet to access distracting apps. It uses image recognition to verify your pet and tracks your progress in reclaiming lost hours. Multiple modes are available for focused work or social accountability.

Highlights
  • Pet photo verification for app access
  • Block any distracting app
  • Screen time tracking and stats
  • Streak tracking for habit building
  • Multiple CatKey support
  • Loop, Focus, and Contract modes
Features
Read full description

CatNap puts your cat (or dog) in charge of your distracting apps. Pick the apps that eat your day, turn on CatNap mode, and they stay blocked until you get up, find your pet and scan them. That's the Cat Tax. HOW IT WORKS 1. Create a CatKey: a few photos of your pet, so CatNap knows who they are. 2. Choose the apps to block with Apple's Screen Time. 3. Start CatNap mode. When you want in, scan your pet: CatNap's AI checks the photo against your CatKey, so only your pet opens your apps. CATNAP MODES Loop: your apps stay blocked, each scan opens them for the stretch of time you pick, then they lock again. Focus: block your apps for one session. Contracts: start a session with friends as witnesses. End it early and they get a notification. EMERGENCY SKIPS Can't find your cat? Every month comes with a few Emergency Skips, and sharing CatNap can earn a bonus one. Every skip goes in your Cat Journal. PET ALARM Set an alarm that only stops when you scan your pet. Getting out of bed to find them is the point. SCHEDULES Block apps on a schedule, or start from a preset. CAT JOURNAL AND STATS Every scan and session is saved, with your screen-time totals and your streaks. FRIENDS Add friends by username and see where you land on the weekly leaderboard. Works with cats and dogs. Optional NFC tags can stand in for a scan. CatNap requires a subscription or purchase to use premium features, plans detailed below: PREMIUM PLANS ($2.99/week, $9.99/month, $39.99/year, $24.99/year discount): - More blocked apps - More CatNap sessions a day - More pets - More alarms - Your full Cat Journal The $2.99/week plan and the $39.99/year plan each start with a 3-day free trial. By downloading this app, you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy: Terms: apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy: trycatnap.com/privacy Support: format.partners/support Contact: hello@format.partners CatNap uses Apple's Screen Time to block apps and AI image recognition to check pet scans, which can make mistakes. It is made for managing your own screen time and is not a parental control app.

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Roots at 3.3K against Screen Time Control's 18. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and Screen Time Control sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Roots against 4.7 for Screen Time Control. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 3.3K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 80% of Screen Time Control's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, Screen Time Control fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Roots versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings) — better4.7 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews75.7% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.3K — better18
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size361 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMFormat Partners LLC

Customer experience

Roots

All ratings3,142 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews370 reviews
Positive75.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative19.2%

Screen Time Control

All ratings18 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

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

Screen Time Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Roots

Subscriptions10
  • Premium$7.997 Days
  • Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Roots - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan$29.991 Year
  • Premium Pass$59.991 Year
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Premium Pass1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium Pass7 Days trial$99.991 Year
4 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions4
  • CatNap - Premium Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • CatNap - Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • CatNap - Premium Annual Coupon$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • CatNap - Premium Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or Screen Time Control?
Roots is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.7 from 18 ratings.
Do Roots or Screen Time Control have ads?
Neither Roots nor Screen Time Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or Screen Time Control?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and Screen Time Control fortnightly. Most recently, Roots was updated on November 7, 2026 and Screen Time Control on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons