Comparison

Step Guard vs Doomscroll Totem

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Step Guard

This app transforms your steps into screen time, locking distracting apps and websites until you reach your daily step goal. It encourages physical activity by making movement the key to accessing your phone.

Highlights
  • Set daily step or walk goals
  • Lock selected apps and websites
  • Automatic unlock upon goal achievement
  • Syncs with Apple Watch and Apple Health
  • Group challenges for accountability
  • Detailed movement insights (Premium)
Features
Read full description

Turn your steps into screen time. Step Guard locks the apps and websites that distract you and unlocks them only when you've hit your daily step goal — turning a walk into the key to your phone. Whether you want to cut mindless scrolling, build a walking habit, or just move more without thinking about it, Step Guard makes distance the price of admission. How It Works Set a daily step or walk goal that fits your routine Choose which apps and websites to lock Walk to unlock them automatically as you hit your goal Track your progress with simple, clear insights Syncs automatically with Apple Watch and Apple Health Compete With Friends Create a group, share your progress, and stay accountable with people working toward the same goal. Free vs Premium Free: Set a daily step or walk goal Lock up to 2 apps, with a custom goal for each Basic progress tracking Automatic unlock when you hit your goal Premium: Lock unlimited apps and websites Detailed movement insights Compete with friends in shared groups Priority customer support Early access to new features Premium is available as a 3-Month, Annual or Lifetime plan — pick whichever fits you, all unlock the same full experience. Step Guard uses Apple's Screen Time API to monitor and block the apps and sites you choose. Setup takes under a minute, and it all runs on your device — your browsing data never leaves your phone. Take control of your screen time, one step at a time. Privacy Policy: https://stepguard.fit/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Doomscroll Totem

Features
Read full description

Sometimes focus does not need another dashboard. It needs one clear line: put the phone down and leave it there. Doomscroll Totem is a simple focus timer for the moments when your phone keeps pulling you back. Start a session, set your phone down, and step away. If you pick it up, lock it, or switch apps, the session fails. Doomscroll Totem will not magically fix your attention. It just adds enough friction to help you keep a promise to yourself. Use it for work, study, reading, sleep, meals, conversations, or any pocket of time you want back. Pomodoro mode helps you work in focus and break cycles. Optional idols add a little consequence without taking the whole thing too seriously: protect one by staying away from your phone. Set the timer. Put the phone down. Give your attention somewhere useful.

Screenshots

Step Guard4 screens
Doomscroll Totem4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Step Guard at weekly against Doomscroll Totem's fortnightly. Doomscroll Totem's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Step Guard sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Doomscroll Totem sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Step Guard ships an update weekly, Doomscroll Totem fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Step Guard versus Doomscroll Totem: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStep GuardDoomscroll Totem
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEugene OndoraJean-Philippe, Loys, Pierre LEFLOT

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Step Guard

Subscriptions3
  • StepGuard Weekly$4.997 Days
  • StepGuard Monthly$8.991 Month
  • StepGuard Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access2 variants$19.99
8 purchases

Doomscroll Totem

One-time8
  • Wooden Idol$0.99
  • Terracotta Tiki$0.99
  • Rock Guardian$4.99
Show 5 more
  • Bronze Bull$4.99
  • Ruby Cat$9.99
  • Silver Hypnotist$9.99
  • Gold Watcher$14.99
  • Diamond Oracle$14.99

Questions

Is Step Guard free?
Step Guard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Doomscroll Totem free?
Doomscroll Totem is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Step Guard or Doomscroll Totem have ads?
Neither Step Guard nor Doomscroll Totem shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Step Guard or Doomscroll Totem?
Step Guard ships an update weekly, and Doomscroll Totem fortnightly. Most recently, Step Guard was updated on September 18, 2026 and Doomscroll Totem on September 10, 2026.

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