Comparison

Dumb Phone (dp) vs Arlam

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

Highlights
  • Minimalist launcher creation
  • Customizable app launchers
  • Detox Mode for blocking apps
  • Dark and Light minimalist styles
  • Control Center widgets
  • Essential app shortcuts
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

Arlam

Read full description

Arlam junta en un solo sitio lo que normalmente exige cuatro apps distintas: tareas, temporizador de enfoque, bloqueo de distracciones y progreso real, sin dashboards que limpiar ni rachas que se rompen por un mal día. TAREAS, SIN RUIDO Organiza lo que tienes que hacer hoy y mañana, sin listas infinitas ni categorías que nunca usas. Planea la noche anterior y despierta sabiendo por dónde empezar. ENFOCAR Sesiones de trabajo con temporizador tipo pomodoro y presets pensados para cada tipo de tarea. La cuenta atrás te acompaña en la pantalla de bloqueo. Mientras trabajas, Arlam tapa las apps que más te distraen, no solo te avisa. BLOQUEO DE APPS Elige qué apps quieres que desaparezcan durante tus sesiones de enfoque, con un horario fijo o con un límite diario. Para salir hay que pararse a pensarlo, y con el modo difícil no hay salida hasta terminar. RACHA CON DÍAS DE SALVACIÓN Las rachas normales se rompen por un solo mal día y la motivación se va con ellas. En Arlam eliges de antemano tus días más flojos de la semana y un poco de esfuerzo basta para que cuenten. Un mal día no te hace perder semanas de constancia real. PROGRESO REAL Un vistazo honesto a tus horas de enfoque y tus días activos, mes a mes, sin gráficas que solo sirven para impresionar. PRIVACIDAD Tus datos son tuyos. Sin analítica de terceros, sin venta de datos, y puedes borrar tu cuenta y todo su contenido al momento desde Ajustes. ARLAM PRO Lo esencial es gratis. Con Pro desbloqueas el bloqueo sin límites (más horarios fijos, límite diario y una lista de apps por preset), el modo difícil, presets de enfoque ilimitados y el tiempo de uso de la semana y del mes. 7 días de prueba gratis. Después, 6,99 € al mes o 49,99 € al año. La suscripción se renueva automáticamente salvo que la canceles al menos 24 horas antes de que termine el periodo, desde los ajustes de tu Apple ID. Política de privacidad: https://arlam.net/privacidad.html Condiciones de uso: https://arlam.net/terminos.html

Screenshots

Dumb Phone (dp)4 screens
Arlam4 screens

Verdict

The call

Dumb Phone (dp) and Arlam are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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 Arlam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update fortnightly, Arlam every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Dumb Phone (dp) versus Arlam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDumb Phone (dp)Arlam
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (3.9K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews68.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings3.9K — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.116.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size375 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael TigasFELIPE PATINO CASTILLO

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

Arlam

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
2 purchases

Arlam

Subscriptions2
  • Arlam Pro Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Arlam Pro Annual7 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is Dumb Phone (dp) free?
Dumb Phone (dp) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arlam free?
Arlam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Dumb Phone (dp) or Arlam have ads?
Neither Dumb Phone (dp) nor Arlam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dumb Phone (dp) or Arlam?
Dumb Phone (dp) ships an update fortnightly, and Arlam every 2 weeks. Most recently, Dumb Phone (dp) was updated on November 8, 2026 and Arlam on November 6, 2026.

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