Comparison

Dumb Phone (dp) vs DateSmith Light

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

DateSmith Light

Enhance your iPhone's lock screen with a beautifully formatted date display. This app specializes in the premium space above your clock, offering customizable formats and reliable midnight updates. Track important events with a countdown mode and enjoy a minimalist, privacy-focused design.

Highlights
  • Custom date widget for above lock screen clock
  • Multiple widget formats
  • Personalized date formats
  • Countdown mode for events
  • Automatic midnight updates
  • Privacy-focused design
  • Battery efficient
Features
Read full description

DateSmith Light: YOUR LOCK SCREEN DATE PERFECTED DateSmith Light delivers what other widget apps don't - a beautifully formatted date display specifically designed for the premium space above your lock screen clock. With reliable midnight updates and customization options, DateSmith Light enhances your iPhone with information you need at a glance. ABOVE-CLOCK PERFECTION Unlike generic widget apps, DateSmith Light specializes in the coveted space above your lock screen clock. Our elegant date formats complement your iPhone's design language while delivering essential information at a glance. RELIABLE MIDNIGHT UPDATES DateSmith Light employs sophisticated background processing technology that ensures your date always updates precisely at midnight - even if your phone is asleep. Say goodbye to yesterday's date lingering on your lock screen! PERSONALIZATION OPTIONS Choose from multiple date format styles or switch to countdown mode to track days until an important event. Make your lock screen truly yours with the perfect date display that fits your needs. MINIMALIST DESIGN We focus on doing one thing perfectly - showing today's date in a clean, elegant format that enhances your lock screen. No clutter, no distractions, just the information you need. KEY FEATURES - Custom date widget designed specifically for the space above your lock screen clock - Multiple widget formats available for home screen and other widget areas - Personalized display with customizable date formats - Countdown mode to track days until important events - Automatic midnight updates with advanced background technology - Simple configuration - set it up once and forget it - One-time purchase - no subscriptions, no recurring fees - Extremely battery efficient design - 100% privacy focused - no data collection, no analytics - No internet connection required - Minimal storage footprint PRIVACY FIRST DateSmith Light is designed with your privacy in mind. We don't collect any data, require unnecessary permissions, or need an internet connection to function. Your date is your business. SIMPLE SETUP 1. Long press on your lock screen 2. Tap 'Customize' 3. Tap the widget area above the time 4. Find and select the DateSmith Light widget 5. Tap 'Done' DateSmith Light - The date widget that works your way.

Screenshots

Dumb Phone (dp)4 screens
DateSmith Light4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DateSmith Light at none against Dumb Phone (dp)'s 12. DateSmith Light also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 69%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Dumb Phone (dp)'s advantage is ratings volume (3.8K vs 2). 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. Dumb Phone (dp) sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. DateSmith Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DateSmith Light holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dumb Phone (dp) has 3.8K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Dumb Phone (dp)'s written reviews are positive against 100% of DateSmith Light's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update fortnightly, DateSmith Light weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Dumb Phone (dp) versus DateSmith Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDumb Phone (dp)DateSmith Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (3.8K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.8K — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size590 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael TigasBenjamin Staab

Customer experience

Dumb Phone (dp)

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

DateSmith Light

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

DateSmith Light

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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

DateSmith Light

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dumb Phone (dp) free?
Dumb Phone (dp) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DateSmith Light free?
DateSmith Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dumb Phone (dp) or DateSmith Light?
DateSmith Light is rated higher. Dumb Phone (dp) averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while DateSmith Light averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Dumb Phone (dp) or DateSmith Light have ads?
Neither Dumb Phone (dp) nor DateSmith Light shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dumb Phone (dp) or DateSmith Light?
Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update fortnightly, and DateSmith Light weekly. Most recently, Dumb Phone (dp) was updated on September 24, 2026 and DateSmith Light on June 6, 2026.

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