Comparison

Scrollbye vs DepthWork

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

Head to head
About

Scrollbye

Features
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Stop losing hours to β€œjust 5 minutes.” ScrollBye blocks your most addictive apps β€” exactly when you need it. No guilt. No hacks. Just control. Break the scroll loop Social media is designed to keep you stuck. ScrollBye helps you step out on your terms. Block distracting apps, schedule focus time, and finally feel in control of your phone. What makes ScrollBye different? Most apps rely on willpower. ScrollBye removes the decision entirely. Set it once β†’ it works automatically. Smart App Blocking Block any app that steals your time β€” social media, games, anything. Scheduled Focus Time Create daily β€œno-scroll” periods that run automatically. No impulse unblocking Add friction between you and distractions β€” so you don’t relapse in 2 taps. Lightweight & fast No clutter. No complicated setup. Just works. Built for real life Working? Stay focused Studying? Remove distractions Sleeping? Stop late-night scrolling Living? Be present again Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

DepthWork

Features
Read full description

Most focus apps just count minutes. DepthWork measures the quality of your attention β€” built for ADHD minds, developers, and anyone who's tried every timer and still can't stay focused. Cal Newport called it deep work. We built the tool that measures whether you actually did it. Designed around peer-reviewed research on attention, habit formation, and flow states, DepthWork turns deep work into a system you can actually train. WHAT MAKES DEPTHWORK DIFFERENT Focus Depth Index (FDI) β€” a single 0–100 score that reflects how deep your focus really went, not just how long you sat there. Flow state detection β€” sessions that cross the ~25-minute uninterrupted threshold earn a rare Flow badge, inspired by CsΓ­kszentmihΓ‘lyi's research. Distraction timing matters β€” interruptions early in a session cost more than late ones, modeling the well-known 23-minute re-focus cost. Goal completion bonus β€” set a micro-goal before each session β€” completing it adds a significant bonus to your FDI score. Focus fitness tracking β€” watch your focus score grow week over week as your sessions get deeper. HOW IT WORKS Set your intention. A short pre-session goal primes your attention before the timer starts. Focus without interruption. The app silently tracks session quality in the background. Get your FDI score. Completion ratio, distraction decay, timing penalty, and goal completion combine into a meaningful number. Build the habit. Your FDI trend, flow badges, and weekly progress chart show how your attention actually improves β€” not just whether you showed up. ACHIEVEMENTS THAT MEAN SOMETHING Every badge marks a measurable point in your focus development β€” backed by the same research that powers the FDI score: First Synapse β€” your first focus session Myelin Builder β€” one week in, your routine is taking shape Habit Encoded β€” three weeks of practice, focus starts to feel automatic Neural Architect β€” one month in, focus is becoming part of who you are Flow Native β€” six months, flow sessions are a regular part of your week Zone Entered β€” your first fully uninterrupted session THE RESEARCH BEHIND IT 23-minute distraction recovery (UC Irvine attention research) Repeated, deliberate practice as the foundation of habit-building Goal completion as one of the most reliable reinforcement loops Strategically timed breaks to sustain attention Flow state thresholds drawn from CsΓ­kszentmihΓ‘lyi's work Pink and white noise at low volumes to support sustained attention PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account required All data stays on your device No tracking, no ads, no data sharing Works fully offline WHO IT'S FOR Knowledge workers tired of shallow productivity timers Students preparing for deep, sustained study Writers, designers, developers, researchers, and anyone who lives by their attention People with ADHD rebuilding focus after years of fragmented digital habits PRICING Try DepthWork Premium free for 7 days. After your trial, Premium continues at $1.99/month unless canceled. Cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the end of the trial. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription in your Apple ID account settings. Train your focus. Work deeper. Think clearer. A NOTE ON THE SCIENCE DepthWork is informed by widely cited attention and focus research, but it does not measure your brain directly β€” there are no EEG sensors or neural readings. The Focus Depth Index is a behavioral score derived from your session activity (interruption timing, goal completion, session length, and distraction patterns). It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose or treat ADHD or any other condition.

Screenshots

Scrollbye4 screens
DepthWork4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Scrollbye at 18.5 against DepthWork's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Scrollbye sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and DepthWork sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scrollbye ships an update every 2 weeks, DepthWork every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
Scrollbye versus DepthWork: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScrollbyeDepthWork
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 8 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.5 β€” better26.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size6 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKAREL ZAHRADNICEKJakub Nowakowski

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Scrollbye

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$19.991 Year
2 purchases

DepthWork

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year

Questions

Is Scrollbye free?
Scrollbye is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DepthWork free?
DepthWork is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Scrollbye or DepthWork have ads?
Neither Scrollbye nor DepthWork shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scrollbye or DepthWork?
Scrollbye ships an update every 2 weeks, and DepthWork every 8 days. Most recently, Scrollbye was updated on September 18, 2026 and DepthWork on October 4, 2026.

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