# Roots vs Screen Time Control App

The clearest difference is update cadence: Screen Time Control App at daily against Roots's every 3 weeks. Screen Time Control App also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Roots's advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Roots sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Screen Time Control App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Screen Time Control App 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 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, Screen Time Control App daily. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Roots | Screen Time Control App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roots-screen-time-control/id6446800962/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-app/id6758152591/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 75.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 379 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MWM](https://appshunter.io/developer/452269707) | [Lilucat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676061700) |

## 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


### Screen Time Control App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-app/id6758152591)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and providing insights into your usage. Set schedules for app blocking and receive motivational reminders to encourage a healthier digital balance and boost productivity.

**Highlights:** App Blocking, Scheduled Blocking, Instant Category Blocking, Usage Insights, Motivational Reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ScreenTimeControl Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| ScreenTimeControl Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| ScreenTimeControl Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Roots free?

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

### Is Screen Time Control App free?

Screen Time Control App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Roots or Screen Time Control App?

Screen Time Control App is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while Screen Time Control App averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Roots or Screen Time Control App have ads?

Neither Roots nor Screen Time Control App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Roots or Screen Time Control App?

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and Screen Time Control App daily. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 22, 2026 and Screen Time Control App on August 13, 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.*