Comparison

Detox vs ScreenMax

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Detox

This app helps you reduce screen time by blocking distracting applications after a set usage limit. It allows essential apps like messaging and maps to remain accessible, and offers scheduled blocking and immediate deep work sessions. Achieve a calmer digital life with improved focus and sleep.

Highlights
  • Consecutive usage limits for apps
  • Keep essential apps accessible
  • Scheduled app blocking
  • Block Now deep work sessions
  • Reduced frustration and willpower battles
  • Improved focus and sleep
Features
Read full description

Detox helps you cut down your screen time without frustration. It only steps in when you've been scrolling for too long, while productive use like chats, maps or work apps stays open. Detox is a subscription app. Free trial included, cancel anytime. AUTO BLOCK Most blockers shut down everything. Detox uses consecutive usage limits. You choose the apps. Detox blocks them only after you have been using them continuously for too long. Quick checks are fine. Long doomscrolling sessions are interrupted. - Set a consecutive usage limit for selected apps - Keep access to messages, maps and work tools - Break long scrolling streaks without feeling punished SCHEDULED BLOCKS Create time periods on selected days of the week where distracting apps are automatically blocked. Use schedules to avoid distractions during: - Your mornings - Your evenings and sleep - Your daily focus hours Set it once and Detox blocks the apps you choose at the times you choose. BLOCK NOW SESSIONS Start a Block Now session when you need deep work. Detox blocks distracting apps for a set period while essential tools stay available. WHY DETOX WORKS Detox targets long, mindless sessions instead of every single unlock. This makes control of your screen time sustainable in the long term. - Less frustration - Fewer willpower battles - No uninstalling after two weeks A CALMER DIGITAL LIFE With Detox, you'll enjoy more time for what matters, less mindless scrolling, and clearer days with better focus and sleep. Take back control of your attention. Start your Detox today. SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Detox is offered as an auto-renewing subscription. Current pricing and any free trial details are shown in the app at the time of purchase, in your local currency. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically at the end of each period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in iPhone Settings, then Apple ID, then Subscriptions. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://www.detox.so/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.detox.so/terms

About

ScreenMax

Features
Read full description

Block the apps stealing your time. Earn them back by actually learning something. ScreenMax is a Screen Time companion for people tired of mindlessly scrolling. Pick the apps you want to block — Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, whatever — and ScreenMax shields them. When you want them open, you don't tap "1 more minute." You solve a small challenge: a vocabulary question, a reasoning puzzle, or a short essay with comprehension questions. Get it right, and you've earned 15 minutes back. THE LIBRARY Over 350 short readings spanning science, history, psychology, philosophy, business, finance, conversation skills, animals, food, and culture. Each essay takes 3-5 minutes and ends with a few comprehension questions. The quiz pool covers vocabulary in context, fill-in-the-blank, analogies, idioms, sentence clarity, emotional intelligence scenarios, logical fallacies, subtext reading, and reasoning. New material is added regularly. MCAT MODE For pre-med students preparing for the MCAT, flip MCAT Mode on in Settings. Unlock challenges become real MCAT-style questions across: • Psychology / Sociology • General Chemistry • Organic Chemistry • Biochemistry • Physics Over 1,600 multiple choice questions plus 100+ passage-based items modeled on the actual P/S section. A separate Study tab uses spaced repetition (the same logic Anki uses): questions you nail get pushed into the future, questions you miss come back soon. Rate each card Again / Hard / Good / Easy. Filter by subject. See your daily due count. Study without any unlock attached. WHY IT WORKS The friction is the whole point. Tapping a button doesn't engage your brain — answering a question does. After a few unlocks, you've learned something instead of scrolling past it. PRIVACY Everything lives on your device. ScreenMax doesn't collect, transmit, or store any of your screen time data, app usage, or quiz answers. No accounts, no servers, no ads, no tracking, no data sold. HOW IT WORKS ScreenMax uses Apple's Family Controls / Screen Time framework to block apps locally on your device. You choose what to block, and you choose how hard to make it to get back in. Re-lock or unlock from inside the app at any time. You stay in control. (~2,180 chars, well under 4,000 limit) Paste both into App Store Connect → ScreenMax → Version 1.0 → "App Information" / "Prepare for Submission" sections.

Screenshots

Detox4 screens
ScreenMax4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ScreenMax at none against Detox's 25. ScreenMax also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Detox sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. ScreenMax asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Detox versus ScreenMax: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDetoxScreenMax
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (453 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings453 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDetoxRaj Khettry

Bugs and requests

Detox

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App not recognizing purchases and requiring re-subscription
  • Blocking features not working as expected
  • Sync issues between devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add option to block apps selectively instead of all-or-nothing
  • Implement a scheduling feature to automatically block apps during certain times
  • Provide more detailed usage analytics and reports
  • Allow users to customize the app's appearance and branding

ScreenMax

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

20 purchases

Detox

Subscriptions17
  • monthly influencer free$0.991 Month
  • yearly influencer free$0.991 Year
  • Weekly3 Days trial2 variants$2.997 Days
Show 14 more
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Weekly3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly2 variants$5.991 Month
  • Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Monthly2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Yearly1 Year trial$39.991 Year
  • Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Yearly3 variants$49.991 Year
  • Yearly3 Days trial$54.991 Year
  • Yearly3 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Yearly7 Days trial$69.991 Year
One-time3
  • Lifetime FreeFree
  • Lifetime$29.99
  • Lifetime$99.99
None

ScreenMax

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Detox free?
Detox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ScreenMax free?
ScreenMax is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Detox or ScreenMax have ads?
Detox shows ads; ScreenMax does not.

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