# Minimalist Launcher vs SmartScroll

Minimalist Launcher and SmartScroll both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of Minimalist Launcher's written reviews are positive against 33% of SmartScroll's. Minimalist Launcher also leads on ratings volume (3.6K vs 6). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Minimalist Launcher sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and SmartScroll sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Minimalist Launcher against 4.8 for SmartScroll. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Minimalist Launcher has 3.6K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Minimalist Launcher's written reviews are positive against 33% of SmartScroll's.

Minimalist Launcher ships an update every 11 days, SmartScroll every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Minimalist Launcher | SmartScroll |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-launcher/id6498880303/reviews) | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartscroll-quit-doomscroll/id6740744254/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.6K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **86.0% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 134 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ankit Kumar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1732202055) | [Alperen Cerkez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788173841) |

## What reviewers say

### Minimalist Launcher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-launcher/id6498880303)

Simplify your phone's home screen to reduce distractions and screen time. This launcher helps you cut down on mindless scrolling and impulsive app usage by focusing on essential applications. Features like digital detox and app blocking further support a more focused mobile experience.

**Highlights:** Minimal home screen, Reduce screen time, Digital detox features, App blocking, Eliminate impulsive app opening, Zero distraction environment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Minimalist Launcher Premium | $5.99 | per month |
| Minimalist App Launcher - Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Minimalist Launcher Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Minimalist App Launcher - Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Minimalist Premium - Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Minimalist App Launcher - 50% Off | $12.49 | one-time |
| Minimalist Phone Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |
| Minimalist App Launcher - Lifetime | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reduces screen time
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Helpful for digital minimalism
- 🔒 Responsive developer
- 👍 Customizable home screen

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs with widgets
- 🔒 Free trial not clearly mentioned
- 🔒 Paid version required for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets sometimes show blank rectangles
- Time/date display not always accurate
- Clunky transition when opening apps

**Requested features**

- Allow more than 6 apps on home screen
- Add ability to customize app names
- Improve widget transparency and alignment
- Provide more wallpaper/theme options


### SmartScroll

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartscroll-quit-doomscroll/id6740744254)

Transform mindless scrolling into a learning experience with curated content. Break free from doomscrolling, strengthen attention, and discover fascinating facts daily. Designed for curious minds seeking better screen time habits.

**Highlights:** Break doomscrolling cycle, Strengthen attention span, Discover daily facts, Curated enriching content, Distraction-free interface, Customizable themes, Share discoveries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SmartScroll Premium \| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| SmartScroll Premium \| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| SmartScroll Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| SmartScroll Yearly Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| SmartScroll Premium \| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Minimalist Launcher free?

Minimalist Launcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SmartScroll free?

SmartScroll is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Minimalist Launcher or SmartScroll?

SmartScroll is rated higher. Minimalist Launcher averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while SmartScroll averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.

### Do Minimalist Launcher or SmartScroll have ads?

Neither Minimalist Launcher nor SmartScroll shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Minimalist Launcher or SmartScroll?

Minimalist Launcher ships an update every 11 days, and SmartScroll every 2 weeks. Most recently, Minimalist Launcher was updated on October 21, 2026 and SmartScroll on October 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*