Comparison

Dumb Phone (dp) vs Rory

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

Rory

This app uses an AI judge to enforce your custom screen time limits. Record voice pleas to request extra time, and the AI will evaluate your case, granting or denying your request based on your reasoning.

Highlights
  • Custom limits for apps, websites, and categories
  • Voice-based plea recording with transcription
  • AI-powered verdicts with reasoning
  • Plea history tracking
  • Community verdict gallery
  • Integrates with Apple Screen Time
Features
Read full description

You set the limits and Rory, a strict but fair AI screen time judge, enforces them. When you hit your daily screen time limit, you can record a voice plea explaining why you need more time. Rory listens, evaluates your case, and delivers a verdict in seconds. Approved pleas unlock extra minutes, denied pleas mean you should go touch grass. Rory adds friction where you need it most – the moment you're about to spiral into another hour of mindless scrolling. Having to say your reason out loud forces you to be honest with yourself, and most of the time you'll realize you don't actually need more time. Features - Custom limits for apps, websites, and categories - Voice-based plea recording with real-time transcription - AI-powered verdicts with transparent reasoning - Plea history so you can track your patterns - Community verdict gallery so you can see what other people tried and failed - Works with Apple Screen Time, no workarounds, no jailbreak All features described above require a submission. Terms of Use: https://ptxrlabs.com/rory/terms Privacy Policy: https://ptxrlabs.com/rory/privacy

Screenshots

Dumb Phone (dp)4 screens
Rory4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Rory at 5.0 against Dumb Phone (dp)'s 4.6. Dumb Phone (dp)'s advantage is ratings volume (3.9K vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). 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 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Rory sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Rory 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 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update every 2 weeks, Rory every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Dumb Phone (dp) versus Rory: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDumb Phone (dp)Rory
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (3.9K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings3.9K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.1 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size375 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael TigasPTXR Labs LLC

Customer experience

Dumb Phone (dp)

All ratings3,844 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews857 reviews
Positive68.3%
Neutral5.3%
Negative26.5%

Rory

All ratings4 ratings
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

Rory

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 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-time4
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$24.99
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$29.99
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$39.99
Show 1 more
  • Dumb Phone Pro Lifetime$49.99
2 purchases

Rory

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly plan$4.991 Month
  • Yearly plan$34.991 Year

Questions

Is Dumb Phone (dp) free?
Dumb Phone (dp) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rory free?
Rory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dumb Phone (dp) or Rory?
Rory is rated higher. Dumb Phone (dp) averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.9K ratings, while Rory averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Dumb Phone (dp) or Rory have ads?
Neither Dumb Phone (dp) nor Rory shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dumb Phone (dp) or Rory?
Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update every 2 weeks, and Rory every 2 months. Most recently, Dumb Phone (dp) was updated on October 29, 2026 and Rory on October 15, 2026.

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