Zeno vs Stayed
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Zeno
This app links physical activity to phone usage, allowing users to earn app time by walking. It helps reduce screen time by creating a positive feedback loop where movement unlocks access to chosen applications.
- Steps-to-Minutes Conversion
- App Selection
- Morning Block Window
- Credit Dashboard
- Apple Health Integration
- Privacy First
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Your steps unlock your apps. It's that simple. Free forever for early adopters! Zeno is a unique screen time app that connects your physical movement to your phone usage. Walk 1,000 steps, earn 10 minutes of app time. No complicated systems. No harsh blocking. Just a simple trade that helps you move more and scroll less. --- THE PROBLEM 5-6 hours. That's how much time you spend on your phone each day. Most of it happens on autopilot - opening Instagram in bed, scrolling TikTok between tasks, falling into YouTube rabbit holes. You've tried Screen Time limits. You've tried willpower. They don't work because they fight against your brain instead of working with it. --- A DIFFERENT APPROACH Zeno doesn't punish you for wanting to use your phone. Instead, it asks one simple question: Have you moved today? • Walk 1,000 steps → Earn 10 minutes of app time • Walk 3,000 steps → Earn 30 minutes • Walk 10,000 steps → Earn 100 minutes Your body becomes the unlock key. Every step counts toward the apps you actually want to use. --- HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose Your Apps Pick 2-3 apps that drain your time and focus. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X - whatever your "brain rot" apps are. 2. Set Your Window Block access during your most vulnerable hours. Morning? Evening? You decide when you need protection most. 3. Walk to Unlock Zeno reads your steps from Apple Health. As you move, you earn credits. Spend credits to unlock your apps. 4. Stay Accountable See exactly how much time you've earned versus spent. Gentle nudges help you walk more when credits run low. --- WHY ZENO IS DIFFERENT Unlike other blockers that rely on willpower alone, Zeno creates a positive feedback loop: - Want to scroll? Go for a walk first. - The walk improves your mood and focus. - By the time you've earned your time, you often don't need it. - And if you do use it, you've already done something good for yourself. This isn't about restriction. It's about earning. --- PERFECT FOR • Morning doomscrollers who reach for their phone before getting out of bed • Students and professionals who lose hours to social media • Anyone managing ADHD who needs gentle friction, not harsh rules • People who want to move more but struggle to find motivation • Anyone tired of Screen Time limits they ignore after 5 seconds --- FEATURES • Steps-to-Minutes Conversion — Simple 1,000 steps = 10 minutes formula • App Selection — Choose which apps require credits to unlock • Morning Block Window — Protect your most vulnerable hours • Credit Dashboard — See exactly what you've earned and spent • Apple Health Integration — Automatic step counting, no extra devices needed • Privacy First — All data stays on your device. No accounts required. --- THE ZENO PHILOSOPHY Named after the ancient philosopher who taught that small, consistent actions lead to wisdom, Zeno believes the same about your attention. You don't need to quit social media. You don't need extreme digital detoxes. You just need a simple trade: movement for screen time. Walk first. Then scroll. --- PRIVACY BY DESIGN We don't want your data. We want you to walk more and scroll less. No servers are storing your information. Read our full privacy policy - https://coda.io/d/_dh90kqvCMi1/Zeno-Privacy-Policy_suHlQDRA --- Download Zeno and start earning your screen time today.
Stayed
This app helps you build focus habits by blocking distracting applications and creating custom screen time sessions. It provides detailed activity reports and smart reminders to keep you on track without guilt.
- Block distracting apps
- Customizable focus sessions
- Detailed activity reports
- Smart accountability reminders
- Habit-building focus
- Utilizes Apple's Screen Time API
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STAYED - take back your time. Most screen time apps just block and guilt you. Stayed is different. Build real focus habits that stick, on your schedule, your terms. Block What Distracts You: Choose exactly which apps to block during your sessions. No workarounds, no cheating. Real blocking powered by Apple's Screen Time API. Sessions That Fit Your Life: Create time-based or recurring sessions around your real routine: mornings, evenings, deep work, or full days. Edit, pause, or adjust anytime. Know Where Your Time Goes: Detailed activity reports show your real screen time by app, by day, by week. No sugarcoating. Stay on Track: Smart reminders keep you accountable before and during sessions, so you never lose momentum. Built for Habit, Not Guilt: Stayed doesn't punish you for slipping. It helps you understand your patterns and improve, one session at a time. Your phone is a tool. Start using it like one.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Zeno at 8 against Stayed's 1. On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Zeno against 5.0 for Stayed. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zeno has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | Zeno | Stayed |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (8 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | — | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Karthik Sivacharan Loganathan | Mikail Gadzhikhanov |
In-app purchases
Zeno
No in-app purchases
Stayed
No in-app purchases









