Comparison

StayGray vs Grayscale

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

Head to head
About

StayGray

This app helps reduce screen time by automatically switching your device to grayscale. You can customize when color is allowed, set schedules, and track your progress in reducing usage.

Highlights
  • Automatic grayscale switching
  • Customizable color exceptions
  • Scheduled monochrome periods
  • Location-based color activation
  • Progress tracking for screen time
  • Color breaks for temporary color access
Read full description

StayGray automatically switches your iPhone to grayscale, so apps feel less magnetic and you scroll less. Your screen stays black and white by default, and you decide when color is allowed. WHY GRAYSCALE Colorful interfaces are built to grab your attention. Take the color away and the little “reward hit” gets weaker, which makes it easier to stop the endless checking without blocking any apps. CONTROL WHEN COLOR IS ALLOWED • Schedules: set work hours, evenings, or bedtime for monochrome • App exceptions: keep Maps, Camera, Photos, or any app in color • Locations: turn color on automatically at home, at work, or at the gym • Color breaks: switch to full color for a bit, then go back to gray automatically TRACK YOUR PROGRESS See how your habits change over time and estimate how much screen time you save by staying in black and white. PRIVACY FIRST No accounts. No ads. No tracking. StayGray does not collect, store, or transmit personal data. Privacy policy: https://www.staygray.app/privacy/en.html Terms: https://www.staygray.app/terms/en.html

About

Grayscale

This app helps you focus by converting websites to black and white within Safari. Reduce visual distractions and make your browsing experience calmer by default. It offers simple, private control through a Safari extension.

Highlights
  • Convert websites to grayscale in Safari
  • Whitelist domains to keep them in color
  • One-tap control via Safari extension
  • Lightweight and private design
  • Reduces visual noise and stimulation
Features
Read full description

Grayscale helps you stay focused by making websites appear in black and white in Safari. Use it to reduce visual noise, make feeds less stimulating, and keep your browsing calmer by default. Features: - Turn websites grayscale in Safari - Keep selected domains in color with a whitelist - One-tap control from the Safari extension - Simple, lightweight, and private Privacy: Grayscale collects absolutely nothing. No tracking, no analytics, no account. Set it once, enable the Safari extension, and browse with less distraction.

Screenshots

StayGray4 screens
Grayscale4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: StayGray at Free against Grayscale's $1.99. Grayscale's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

StayGray is free to download; Grayscale costs $1.99 up front. StayGray sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Grayscale asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
StayGray versus Grayscale: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStayGrayGrayscale
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating3.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB3 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMATTHIAS NEUWIRTHIliane Zedadra

Customer experience

StayGray

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Grayscale

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

StayGray

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
  • StayGray Plus$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • StayGray Plus: Lifetime$24.99
None

Grayscale

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StayGray free?
StayGray is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Grayscale free?
Grayscale costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do StayGray or Grayscale have ads?
Neither StayGray nor Grayscale shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StayGray or Grayscale?
StayGray ships an update fortnightly, and Grayscale fortnightly. Most recently, StayGray was updated on October 24, 2026 and Grayscale on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons