Roots vs Happy Capy
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
Happy Capy
This app helps you build healthier digital habits by visualizing your screen time through a playful capybara character. It uses gentle prompts and delays to break mindless scrolling and encourages intentional phone use.
- Living capybara mood system
- Smart app blocker
- Focus timer
- Dynamic home screen widgets
- Weekly screen time insights
- Smart button delays and confirmations
- Smart schedules
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Turn your screen habits into something healthier with Happy Capy, the playful screen time companion that helps you reduce phone addiction, stay focused, and build better digital habits. Unlike traditional screen time apps that rely on strict lockouts, Happy Capy uses a living capybara mood system that reflects how you use your phone. Scroll mindlessly and your capy starts feeling overwhelmed. Use your phone intentionally and Happy Capy stays calm and happy. Your habits shape Happy Capy’s mood. The Problem The average person spends 5–7 hours per day on their phone. That’s years of life lost to endless scrolling on social media, short videos, and distraction apps. Most screen time blockers fail because they rely only on willpower. The Happy Capy Solution Happy Capy creates a visual feedback loop that makes you aware of your phone habits in real time. Before opening a distracting app, Happy Capy pauses and asks if you really want to continue. Small delays and confirmations help break the automatic doomscroll cycle. Over time, you naturally use your phone less and more intentionally. Happy Capy’s Mood System Your screen habits affect how Happy Capy feels. Happy – Healthy screen balance Chill – Relaxed and focused Content – Moderate phone use Drained – Too much scrolling Sad – Time for a break Overwhelmed – Screen time overload Help your capybara stay happy by building healthier habits. Key Features Smart App Blocker • Block distracting apps instantly • Stop social media, games, or websites • One of the most powerful screen time control tools for iPhone Focus Timer • Pomodoro style deep work sessions • Perfect for studying, productivity, and work • Stay focused while Happy Capy relaxes Dynamic Home Screen Widgets • Live widgets showing Happy Capy’s mood • See your screen time progress instantly • Track your focus streak directly from your home screen Weekly Screen Time Insights • Clear weekly screen time reports • Identify your most distracting apps • Track progress as your phone usage improves Smart Button Delays & Confirmations • Before opening blocked apps, Happy Capy pauses • Gentle confirmations break the autopilot scrolling habit • Helps reduce phone addiction naturally Smart Schedules • Automatically block apps during work, study, or sleep • Create digital detox routines • Build consistent phone habits Private & Secure Happy Capy uses Apple’s Screen Time API, meaning: • All monitoring runs entirely on your device • Your screen time data never leaves your phone • No tracking or selling personal data Your digital wellbeing stays private. Perfect For • Students who want better focus • Professionals trying to reduce distractions • People struggling with social media addiction • Anyone looking for a screen time tracker, app blocker, or digital detox tool Subscription Information Happy Capy offers optional premium features through a subscription. Payment will be charged to your Apple Account after confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Service: https://happycapy.notion.site/ Privacy Policy: https://happycapy.notion.site/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Roots at 76% against Happy Capy's 33%. Roots also leads on ratings volume (3.1K vs 35) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, 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 Happy Capy sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Roots holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 3.1K ratings behind it against 35, 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 33% of Happy Capy's.
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, Happy Capy every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Roots | Happy Capy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3.1K ratings) — better | 4.5 (35 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.7% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3.1K — better | 35 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 26.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 361 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MWM | Ryan Tolone |
Customer experience
Roots
Happy Capy
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
Happy Capy
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
Happy Capy
- Full Access$0.997 Days
- Full Access$1.997 Days
- Full Access$9.991 Month
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Full Access7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Full Access$11.991 Month
- Full Access$14.991 Month
- Full Access7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Full Access7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Full Access$35.991 Year
- Full Access7 Days trial$44.991 Year









