Comparison

Roots vs AnchorGrid

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 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
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

AnchorGrid

Facilitates remote screen sharing for iPhone users needing IT support. Technicians can view your screen live in a browser by entering a shared code, allowing for guided troubleshooting and setup assistance. Sessions are view-only and designed with strong privacy controls.

Highlights
  • Live screen sharing via browser
  • 9-digit code for session access
  • View-only screen access
  • Encrypted peer-to-peer connection
  • Time-limited, single-use codes
  • Tenant isolation for IT teams
Read full description

AnchorGrid is remote screen sharing for iPhone, built for IT teams. When your IT team needs to see what's on your iPhone screen, to fix a setting, troubleshoot, or guide you through a process, you open AnchorGrid, share a 9-digit code, and they see your screen live in their browser tab. HOW A SESSION WORKS 1. Tap Start Session. The app shows a 9-digit code. 2. Share the code with your technician. 3. They enter it in their workspace's web portal. 4. Your iPhone asks you to start a Screen Broadcast. Tap Start. 5. Your technician sees your screen in real time. 6. Tap the red status bar at the top to end the session anytime. VIEW-ONLY BY DESIGN Your technician can SEE your screen. They cannot tap, type, or control your iPhone in any way. Enforced by the system itself. PRIVACY YOU CAN VERIFY • Codes expire 10 minutes after generation and are single-use. • Screen frames are never stored on AnchorGrid's servers, direct peer-to-peer when possible, and an encrypted relay when not. • AnchorGrid staff cannot view your workspace without a time-limited grant that your admin explicitly creates. FOR IT TEAMS Each workspace runs at a dedicated subdomain with strict tenant isolation, audit logs of every technician join, role-based access, Microsoft 365 single sign-on, and TOTP two-factor authentication. Learn more: anchorgrid.io Privacy: https://anchorgrid.io/privacy Terms: https://anchorgrid.io/terms

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
AnchorGrid3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AnchorGrid at none against Roots's 17. AnchorGrid also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Roots's advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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 17 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. AnchorGrid asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AnchorGrid 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Roots versus AnchorGrid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsAnchorGrid
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.6K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size379 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMAlexander Thompson

Customer experience

Roots

All ratings2,649 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews362 reviews
Positive75.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative19.3%

AnchorGrid

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

AnchorGrid

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

17 purchases

Roots

Subscriptions17
  • Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$6.991 Month
  • Premium$7.997 Days
  • Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 14 more
  • 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
  • Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium Pass1 Month trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium Pass7 Days trial$99.991 Year
None

AnchorGrid

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AnchorGrid free?
AnchorGrid is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Roots or AnchorGrid?
AnchorGrid is rated higher. Roots averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while AnchorGrid averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Roots or AnchorGrid have ads?
Neither Roots nor AnchorGrid shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Roots or AnchorGrid?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and AnchorGrid every 3 weeks. Most recently, Roots was updated on September 25, 2026 and AnchorGrid on September 20, 2026.

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