Roots vs Nudge
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
Nudge
This app helps couples and partners manage shared responsibilities with gentle, persistent reminders. It facilitates task completion without direct confrontation, supporting daily routines and medication tracking. Premium features offer enhanced reminder options and unlimited usage.
- Send reminders to partner
- Repeat reminders until task completion
- Track medications and routines
- Share task inbox
- Urgent reminder intervals (Premium)
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Nudge is the app for couples and partners who want to stay on top of shared tasks — without the awkward "did you do that yet?" conversation. Pair with your partner and send gentle reminders straight to their phone. Whether it's taking out the trash, picking up groceries, or remembering medications — Nudge keeps you both accountable without the drama. FEATURES • Send nudges to your partner for any task • Get reminded on repeat until the task is done • Track medications and daily routines • Set urgent 15-minute reminder intervals (Premium) • Share a task inbox with your partner • Works without sharing accounts or passwords NUDGE PREMIUM Unlock unlimited nudges, unlimited partner tasks, urgent 15-min reminders, 10 reminder loops, and unlimited medication tracking for $4.99/month or $29.99/year. Perfect for couples, roommates, caregivers, or anyone who needs a kind but persistent reminder system. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRb5DW7gmfPAdUe_Dwmz4S3iBZn0Tcmzit9uKd-ue4fPurtHHst4TY_nagehvzm8ah8e3iL2q0RQ2Xh/pub
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Roots at 3.1K against Nudge's 1. Nudge's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). 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 Nudge sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Nudge holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 3.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, Nudge every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Roots | Nudge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3.1K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3.1K — better | 1 |
| 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, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 361 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | MWM | Kristofer Huffman |
Customer experience
Roots
Nudge
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
Nudge
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
Nudge
- Nudge Premium$4.991 Month
- Nudge Premium$29.991 Year









