Roots vs Detachd
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
Detachd
This app locks distracting applications and requires physical exercise, like push-ups or squats, to earn back access. It uses on-device computer vision to track reps, promoting less screen time and more physical activity. Earn minutes by moving first, then unlock your apps.
- App blocking with physical effort unlock
- On-device rep tracking via computer vision
- Customizable daily rep targets
- Multiple exercise options (push-ups, squats, etc.)
- Streak tracking for consistency
- Built on Apple's Screen Time framework
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Your social media isn't free anymore. Detachd locks Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, whichever apps drain your day, and makes you earn back access with your body. Push-ups buy minutes. Squats buy minutes. Walking buys minutes. Move first, unlock later. That's the whole rule. Timers fail because tapping past them is free. Blockers fail because anyone can delete them. Detachd asks for the one thing that can't be cheated: physical effort. The friction is the point. Pick which apps to gate. Set a daily rep target. Start earning. Push-ups, squats, sit-ups, jumping jacks, lunges, walking — six ways to bank minutes. Your iPhone counts every rep on-device with computer vision. No smartwatch, no upload, no shared data. Hit your goal, keep your streak. Two things happen at once: the hours you used to feed your phone come back to your real life, and the body that sat still through all that scrolling starts moving again. Less screen, more strength. Built on Apple's Screen Time framework. Selections, reps, and unlock history all stay on your phone. Forget discipline. You need friction. Detachd is a subscription-based app. An active subscription is required to lock apps and earn screen time. Detachd Pro — auto-renewing subscription, Weekly and Yearly tiers available. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the same tier price. Manage or cancel your subscription anytime in iPhone Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions Privacy Policy: https://apponeinc.com/detachd/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://apponeinc.com/detachd/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Roots at free with in-app purchases against Detachd's subscription. Roots also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (3.1K vs 5). Detachd's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 Detachd sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 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 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 3.1K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Roots ships an update every 2 weeks, Detachd every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Roots | Detachd |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3.1K ratings) — better | 4.4 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3.1K — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 355 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MWM | App One Dijital Hizmetler Anonim Sirketi |
Customer experience
Roots
Detachd
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
Detachd
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
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- 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
Detachd
- Detachd Weekly$6.997 Days
- Detachd Weekly Free Trial3 Days trial$6.997 Days
- Detachd Annual$49.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Detachd Annual - Free Trial7 Days trial$49.991 Year









