Comparison

Roots vs App Blocker

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 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.

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

App Blocker

This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by blocking distracting apps and websites. Set custom timers, schedules, or usage limits to improve focus during work, study, or sleep. Analyze your app habits to build healthier routines.

Highlights
  • Immediate app blocking
  • Scheduled app locking
  • Usage limit timers
  • App usage analysis
  • Website blocking
  • Customizable focus routines
Features
Read full description

Create time away from your phone with an app blocker made for focus. Lock the social, video, and gaming apps you keep opening for only as long as you need. ■ Lock Now Immediately lock the apps, categories, and websites you choose for the time you set. Step away from your phone whenever it is time to focus. ■ Scheduled Lock Automatically lock apps on the days and at the times you choose. Build a routine for study, work, or bedtime. ■ Timer Lock Automatically lock selected apps when they reach your daily usage limit. Reduce excessive time on social media and video apps. ■ Analysis Check how you use your phone and apps. Review your habits and create rules that work for you. ▶ Recommended for • People who keep opening social media, video, or games • Anyone who wants to focus on studying or work • People who want less phone time before bed • Anyone who wants to set daily usage limits • People who want apps to lock automatically at set times • Anyone who wants distance from apps without deleting them ▶ Examples Morning: Use Scheduled Lock for social media while getting ready or studying Daytime: Tap Lock Now before work to focus on the task at hand Night: Use Timer Lock to reduce time on videos and social media This app is for protecting your own time to focus, not for monitoring anyone else. * Scheduled Lock and Timer Lock are available with PRO. ■ Subscription For terms governing subscriptions, please see the links below. 1. Privacy Policy: https://sorayazawa-ux.github.io/applocksolo-legal/privacy.html 2. Terms of Use: https://sorayazawa-ux.github.io/applocksolo-legal/terms.html

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
App Blocker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Roots at none against App Blocker's shown. Roots also leads on ratings volume (3.1K vs 1). App Blocker's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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 18 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and App Blocker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

App Blocker 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, App Blocker weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Roots versus App Blocker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsApp Blocker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3.1K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings3.1K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.017.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size361 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMWMSora Yazawa

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

App Blocker

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

18 purchases

Roots

Subscriptions18
  • Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$6.991 Month
  • Premium$7.997 Days
  • Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 15 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
  • 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
3 purchases

App Blocker

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Pro Plan$1.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro Plan7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro Plan$29.99

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is App Blocker free?
App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or App Blocker?
App Blocker is rated higher. Roots averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while App Blocker averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Roots or App Blocker have ads?
App Blocker shows ads; Roots does not.
Which is updated more often, Roots or App Blocker?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and App Blocker weekly. Most recently, Roots was updated on October 30, 2026 and App Blocker on October 28, 2026.

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