Comparison

Minimal vs always.sh

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

Head to head
About

Minimal

This app transforms your home screen into a distraction-free, text-based launcher using widgets. It helps reduce screen time by hiding distracting icons and notification badges, allowing for a more personalized and focused mobile experience.

Highlights
  • Text-based app launcher widgets
  • Reduces screen time
  • Hides distracting icons
  • Customizable widget appearance
  • Personalized home screen setup
Read full description

Hey there! I’m the maker of Minimal. Like many of you, I found myself constantly checking my phone, hopping from one app to another, and losing precious hours. That's why I created Minimal — to help us reclaim our time and focus by cutting down on digital clutter. Here’s What Minimal Can Do For You: 1. A Cleaner Home Screen Minimal uses home screen widgets to transform your home screen with a sleek, text-based app launcher — access what you need without distractions. 2. Reduce Screen Time Keep distracting icons and notification badges out of sight. This "out of sight, out of mind" strategy helps reduce unnecessary screen time. 3. Personalize Your Experience Your phone should reflect your style. Customize the look and feel of your widgets to create a setup that’s uniquely yours. Why Minimal? I built Minimal initially to help myself focus more and swipe less. It turned my phone from a distraction into a tool. Minimal has transformed my relationship with my phone, and I hope it does for you too. Unlock everything for the price of a latte. No subscriptions or hidden fees. Try it free for 7 days, no payment required if you don’t love it! About Us: ByteBrew is a one-man app studio based in NYC, building high-quality apps that deliver real value at a fair price. We’re committed to using technology to improve lives.

About

always.sh

Features
Read full description

Always is a dynamic run of show software for event organizers. always up-to-date Run of Show always in your team’s hands

Screenshots

Minimal4 screens
always.sh4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: always.sh at none against Minimal's 1. always.sh also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, 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. Minimal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. always.sh asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Minimal ships an update every 2 months, always.sh every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Minimal versus always.sh: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMinimalalways.sh
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperByteBrew LLCThomas Stubblefield

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Minimal

One-time1
  • Lifetime Membership$4.99
None

always.sh

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Minimal free?
Minimal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is always.sh free?
always.sh is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Minimal or always.sh have ads?
Neither Minimal nor always.sh shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Minimal or always.sh?
Minimal ships an update every 2 months, and always.sh every 5 days. Most recently, Minimal was updated on October 30, 2026 and always.sh on October 30, 2026.

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