Comparison

Dumb Phone (dp) vs Bloom

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

Head to head
About

Dumb Phone (dp)

Transform your iPhone into a minimalist device by replacing distracting app icons and notifications with simple buttons for essential apps. Create custom launchers for different contexts and utilize detox modes to reduce digital distractions.

Highlights
  • Create minimalist launchers
  • Select essential apps
  • Style Home Screen with themes
  • Block and hide non-essential apps
  • Quickly switch launchers via Control Center
  • Adapt to Liquid Glass changes
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into a Dumb Phone. Dumb Phone™ lets you create your very own minimalist-style phone on iOS. Replace colorful app icons, pesky notification badges, and anything that might give you a dopamine hit when you unlock your phone, with simple buttons to open your essential apps - and nothing more. Key features: • Break out of your existing habits Every time you unlock your phone, all you will see is apps that you need, without being coerced into easy distractions from colorful apps on your Home Screen or the App Library. • Create a Minimalist Launcher Select apps and add Dumb Phone widgets to your Home Screen to blend everything together. • Choose your essential apps Select apps that you frequently use, so they are a single tap away. • Style your Home Screen Choose from a Dark or Light minimalist style, by adjusting your wallpaper, background, text, and more, with themes. • Adapt to Liquid Glass changes Reduce the addictive elements of the Liquid Glass Home Screen style, applied in the latest version of iOS. • Create multiple app launchers Create launchers for leisure, work, night time, so you see the most important apps in context to your day. • Detox Mode Create an immersive dumb phone experience by choosing which non-essential apps to block and/or hide on your device, with the powerful capabilities of Screen Time. • Control Center widgets Quickly switch between app launchers from the Control Center with new control center widgets that instantly change your Home Screen. Download the Dumb Phone app today and embrace the full benefits of minimalism, and turn your iPhone into a powerful utility once more. Visit the Dumb Phone app website for more info: https://dumbphone.so/ View our Privacy & Terms at: https://dumbphone.so/privacy https://dumbphone.so/terms

About

Bloom

This app helps you conquer screen time by requiring you to tap an NFC keycard to your phone to access distracting apps. Set schedules, manage breaks, and utilize strict mode to stay focused. It's a physical solution for digital detox and improved productivity.

Highlights
  • NFC keycard app blocking
  • Customizable distraction lists
  • Focus schedules
  • Break limits
  • Strict mode
  • Emergency exits
Read full description

Most screen time apps fail because they’re easy to bypass. Bloom was created to fix that. Bloom revolutionizes your productivity by requiring you to scan an NFC keycard to your phone to access distracting apps. **How It Works** - Choose Your Distractions: Select the apps or websites you find most distracting. - Block Your Distractions: Tap your Bloom card to your phone to block those apps. - Live Distraction-Free: Stay productive with your card out of reach. When ready, just tap your Bloom card to your phone to unblock your apps. **Features** - Schedules: Set personalized schedules for your focus periods, allowing them to start and end automatically. - Breaks: Use your apps mindfully by setting limits on the frequency and duration of your breaks. - Strict Mode: Disable your ability to delete the Bloom app while in focus mode (optional). - Emergency Exits: Unblock all of your apps without your bloom card up to three times. **Why Bloom** - Spend less time on your phone and more time doing things that actually matter. - Improve your work habits by blocking out distractions. - Our physical solution is the ultimate solution for digital detox and time management. With Bloom’s NFC keycard, you can leave the “key” to your distractions behind, ensuring you stay focused and productive. Find your Bloom today and enjoy life beyond your phone! (We prioritize your privacy—your screen time data stays securely on your device and is never shared or stored elsewhere). Learn more by visiting our website: bloom.inc

Screenshots

Dumb Phone (dp)4 screens
Bloom4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bloom at none against Dumb Phone (dp)'s 12. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Dumb Phone (dp) sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Bloom asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bloom holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.8K and 2.4K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Dumb Phone (dp)'s written reviews are positive against 66% of Bloom's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Dumb Phone (dp) versus Bloom: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDumb Phone (dp)Bloom
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (3.8K ratings)4.8 (2.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.6% of reviews — better66.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3.8K — better2.4K
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size590 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael TigasFind Your Bloom LLC

Customer experience

Dumb Phone (dp)

All ratings3,764 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews840 reviews
Positive68.6%
Neutral5.1%
Negative26.3%

Bloom

All ratings2,129 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews406 reviews
Positive66.0%
Neutral10.3%
Negative23.6%

User reviews

Dumb Phone (dp)

From 3.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to set up
  • 👍 Helps reduce screen time
  • 👍 Customizable layout
  • 👍 Responsive developer
  • 🚀 Smooth app launching

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Clunky setup process
  • 💡 Lack of widget customization
  • 🔒 Hidden subscription model
  • 🔒 Expensive for a widget app
  • 🐛 Inconsistent app launching

Bloom

From 2.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Helps reduce screen time
  • 👍 Effective at improving productivity
  • 💡 Unique physical card concept
  • 🔒 Prevents access to distracting apps
  • 👍 Gamified approach is motivating

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and settings issues
  • 💡 Could use more flexible session scheduling

Bugs and requests

Dumb Phone (dp)

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Widget not appearing in list
  • Apps opening through Shortcuts app
  • Compatibility issues with older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to hide App Library
  • More widget customization options
  • Customizable widget labels
  • Detox mode for specific apps
  • Support for more third-party apps

Bloom

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes when selecting apps for blocklist
  • Settings fail to save consistently

Requested features

2 requests
  • More flexible session scheduling options
  • Thinner, more discreet physical card

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Dumb Phone (dp)

Subscriptions8
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 month)$2.991 Month
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 month)$3.991 Month
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 month)$5.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 year)$9.991 Year
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 year)$12.991 Year
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 year)$14.991 Year
  • Dumb Phone Pro (1 year)$19.991 Year
  • Dumb Phone Pro Family (1 year)$24.991 Year
One-time3
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$24.99
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$29.99
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$39.99
None

Bloom

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dumb Phone (dp) free?
Dumb Phone (dp) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bloom free?
Bloom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dumb Phone (dp) or Bloom?
Bloom is rated higher. Dumb Phone (dp) averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while Bloom averages 4.8 from 2.4K ratings.
Do Dumb Phone (dp) or Bloom have ads?
Neither Dumb Phone (dp) nor Bloom shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dumb Phone (dp) or Bloom?
Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update fortnightly, and Bloom fortnightly. Most recently, Dumb Phone (dp) was updated on September 24, 2026 and Bloom on September 24, 2026.

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