Comparison

Roots vs STFU

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

STFU

This app helps you regain control of your time by blocking distracting social media apps and websites. Set timed sessions or schedules for a hard mute, track your progress, and challenge friends to build better habits.

Highlights
  • Block social apps and websites
  • Run timed blocking sessions
  • Set scheduled locks
  • Track protected time and streaks
  • Challenge friends and climb leaderboards
  • Earn rewards for staying focused
Features
Read full description

Your phone needs to STFU. Block the social apps and websites stealing your attention. Reclaim your time. Build better habits. Challenge friends. Earn points for staying off the feed. STFU is a voluntary self-control tool for adults who are done pretending Screen Time is enough. You pick what needs to shut up. STFU locks it. WHAT STFU DOES • Block social apps on iPhone (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and whatever else owns your thumb) • Block the websites too, so Safari is not the back door • Run timed STFU sessions when you need a hard mute • Set bedtime and scheduled locks that hold overnight • Track protected time, streaks, and points • Challenge friends and climb a weekly leaderboard • Share cards when you actually did the thing HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick the apps that need to STFU 2. Start a session or schedule a lock 3. STFU blocks those apps and domains 4. Reclaim time, beat your friends, earn rewards FREE VS STFU PRO Core blocking works on Free. STFU Pro unlocks extra schedules and limits, week trends, and more of the product around the lock - not a tollbooth on Apple's block button. STFU PRO • Weekly: $4.99 • Annual: $49.99 with a 3-day free trial Auto-renewing subscription billed through your Apple ID. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. STFU is a wellness and productivity tool. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or mental health condition. Points and trophies are status, not cash. Real-money bounties are not live. Privacy: https://stfu.bot/privacy Terms: https://stfu.bot/terms Billing: https://stfu.bot/billing Support: support@stfu.bot

Screenshots

Roots4 screens
STFU4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Roots at 4.7 against STFU's 4.0. Roots also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (3.2K vs 4). STFU's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 76%). 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and STFU sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Roots holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roots has 3.2K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of Roots's written reviews are positive against 100% of STFU's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, STFU daily. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Roots versus STFU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsSTFU
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3.2K ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews75.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.2K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size361 MB33 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMWMChristopher Riley

Customer experience

Roots

All ratings3,142 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews370 reviews
Positive75.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative19.2%

STFU

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
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

STFU

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Roots

Subscriptions10
  • Premium$7.997 Days
  • Roots Plus - Weekly Plan3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Roots - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Roots Plus - Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan$29.991 Year
  • Premium Pass$59.991 Year
  • Roots Plus - Annual Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Premium Pass1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Premium Pass7 Days trial$99.991 Year
2 purchases

STFU

Subscriptions2
  • STFU Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
  • STFU Pro Annual3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Roots free?
Roots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is STFU free?
STFU is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Roots or STFU?
Roots is rated higher. Roots averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while STFU averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Roots or STFU have ads?
STFU shows ads; Roots does not.
Which is updated more often, Roots or STFU?
Roots ships an update every 3 weeks, and STFU daily. Most recently, Roots was updated on November 3, 2026 and STFU on October 29, 2026.

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