Dumb Phone (dp) vs TakeTime
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
TakeTime
This app helps you avoid distractions by requiring a brief learning activity before accessing blocked apps. You can create custom learning modules from PDFs and images, or use pre-made content to stay focused and productive.
- Block distracting apps
- Complete learning activities
- Create custom study modules
- Convert PDFs to learning content
- Simple and fast UI
- Designed for focus
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Study before you scroll. TakeTime blocks distracting apps and makes you complete a quick study question before you can keep using them. Trying to stop wasting time on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or games? TakeTime helps turn those moments into SAT prep, AP review, LeetCode practice, flashcards, or questions from your own class materials. Perfect for SAT prep AP exam review LeetCode and coding interviews College classes High school courses Language learning Flashcards Quiz practice PDF study guides Lecture slides and notes How TakeTime helps Block distracting apps Choose the apps you want to limit using Apple Screen Time. Answer before unlocking When you hit your limit, TakeTime gives you a short learning activity before you can continue. Learn in quick reps Read a short explanation, answer a quiz, review a flashcard, or practice a question in under a minute. Upload your own material Add PDFs, notes, screenshots, slides, and worksheets. TakeTime turns them into quizzes and study modules. Share PDFs into TakeTime Send study materials from Files, Safari, Google Drive, Canvas, Notion, or other apps using the iOS Share Sheet. Stay consistent TakeTime helps you study during the moments when you normally get distracted. Examples Review SAT grammar before opening TikTok Answer an AP Bio question before scrolling Instagram Practice a LeetCode pattern before watching YouTube Review lecture slides before opening Snapchat Turn a PDF study guide into quick quiz questions Privacy TakeTime uses Apple’s Screen Time API. App blocking runs on your device, and your browsing history never leaves your phone. Uploads are processed to generate questions and learning cards. Screen Time permission is required for app blocking. All features described require a subscription. Terms of Service: https://taketime.app/terms.html Support: https://www.taketime.app/support.html Privacy Policy: https://www.taketime.app/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Dumb Phone (dp) at free with in-app purchases against TakeTime's subscription. Dumb Phone (dp) also leads on ratings volume (3.9K vs 20) and iOS requirement (16.1 vs 26.0). TakeTime's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 68%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Dumb Phone (dp) sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and TakeTime sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Dumb Phone (dp) holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dumb Phone (dp) has 3.9K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of Dumb Phone (dp)'s written reviews are positive against 100% of TakeTime's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dumb Phone (dp) | TakeTime |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (3.9K ratings) — better | 4.5 (20 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 68.4% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3.9K — better | 20 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 375 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Tigas | Tenille Hyun |
Customer experience
Dumb Phone (dp)
TakeTime
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
TakeTime
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Dumb Phone (dp)
- 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 moreShow fewer
- 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 Lifetime$24.99
- Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$29.99
- Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$49.99
TakeTime
- TakeTime Pro Weekly Discount$4.997 Days
- TakeTime Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
- TakeTime Pro Weekly3 Days trial$9.997 Days
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- TakeTime Pro Yearly Discount3 Days trial$24.991 Year
- TakeTime Pro Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
- 5 Upload Credits$2.99
Questions
Is Dumb Phone (dp) free?
Is TakeTime free?
Which has better reviews, Dumb Phone (dp) or TakeTime?
Do Dumb Phone (dp) or TakeTime have ads?
Which is updated more often, Dumb Phone (dp) or TakeTime?
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