Comparison

Dumb Phone (dp) vs betterpal

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 colorful icons with simple buttons for essential apps. Create custom launchers for different contexts and utilize Detox Mode to block non-essential applications, helping you break digital habits and regain focus.

Highlights
  • Minimalist launcher creation
  • Customizable app launchers
  • Detox Mode for app blocking
  • Dark and Light minimalist styles
  • Control Center widgets for quick switching
  • Reduces digital distractions
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

betterpal

Easily capture and organize details about people you meet. Save names, context, and important notes to build and maintain your relationships effectively. Search and visualize your network with intuitive tools.

Highlights
  • Fast contact entry
  • Detailed notes and context
  • Tagging and connection organization
  • Network visualization
  • Searchable contact history
Features
Read full description

Betterpal helps you remember the people you meet. Capture names quickly, jot down important details, and keep your relationships organized in one simple, fast app. Whether you’re meeting someone at work, at an event, or in everyday life, Betterpal makes it easy to save context that matters - how you met, what you talked about, and anything you want to remember later. Everything stays searchable, clean, and always with you. Features: - Fast, one-tap entry for new people and notes - Notes, context, and personality details - Tags, connections, and quizzes to organize and remember the people you meet - Network and map view for visualizing your network - Designed for speed and clarity Remember people better. Privacy Policy: https://www.betterpal.app/privacy EULA Terms: https://www.betterpal.app/terms

Screenshots

Dumb Phone (dp)4 screens
betterpal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: betterpal at 100% against Dumb Phone (dp)'s 68%. betterpal also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). Dumb Phone (dp)'s advantage is ratings volume (3.9K vs 11). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and betterpal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

betterpal 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 3.9K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Dumb Phone (dp)'s written reviews are positive against 100% of betterpal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update fortnightly, betterpal every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Dumb Phone (dp) versus betterpal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDumb Phone (dp)betterpal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (3.9K ratings)5.0 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.9K — better11
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.115.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size375 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael TigasBetterpal LLC

Customer experience

Dumb Phone (dp)

All ratings3,906 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.3%
Written reviews863 reviews
Positive68.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative26.4%

betterpal

All ratings11 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 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

betterpal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Dumb Phone (dp)

Subscriptions7
  • 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 4 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
One-time3
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$24.99
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$29.99
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$49.99
3 purchases

betterpal

Subscriptions2
  • BetterPal Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • BetterPal Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Betterpal Premium Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Dumb Phone (dp) free?
Dumb Phone (dp) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is betterpal free?
betterpal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dumb Phone (dp) or betterpal?
betterpal is rated higher. Dumb Phone (dp) averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.9K ratings, while betterpal averages 5.0 from 11 ratings.
Do Dumb Phone (dp) or betterpal have ads?
Neither Dumb Phone (dp) nor betterpal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dumb Phone (dp) or betterpal?
Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update fortnightly, and betterpal every 5 days. Most recently, Dumb Phone (dp) was updated on November 9, 2026 and betterpal on October 30, 2026.

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