Comparison

Rot Stop vs Descreened

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

Head to head
About

Rot Stop

Block distracting apps on iOS with custom schedules, usage limits, or NFC tags. This privacy-focused tool helps you regain focus by creating real-world friction against digital distractions. A virtual pet thrives on your focus habits.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • NFC tag integration
  • Custom schedules
  • Usage limits
  • App groups for contexts
  • Virtual pet habit tracker
Features
Read full description

Rot Stop is a privacy-first iOS app that helps you stop digital rot by blocking distracting apps using NFC tags, schedules, usage limits, or any combination. No subscriptions. No cloud. How Rot Stop Works - Choose the apps you want to block: social media, games, shopping, or anything distracting. - Create multiple groups for different contexts (work, study, sleep) - (Optional) NFC tags: scan a physical tag to lock or unlock. Real-world friction you can't tap through. - Schedules: auto-lock apps at specific times and days (work hours, bedtime, weekends) - Usage limits: auto-block apps after a daily time threshold - Mix and match: add a schedule and an NFC tag to the same group Your Pet Rot Stop includes a virtual pet that mirrors your habits. Lock apps daily and your pet stays happy. Skip a day and it starts to worry. Miss a full week and it reverts to an egg. Why NFC? Your focus is protected by something you can't tap through. Schedules and limits work automatically, but for the moments you want full control, an NFC tag creates a physical pause between impulse and action.

About

Descreened

Features
Read full description

Descreened blocks distracting apps and websites on your terms — unlock with a challenge, or turn on strict mode and wait it out until the next day. No account, no sign-up; everything runs on your device with Apple Screen Time. Start with a 3-day free trial. BLOCK • Apps and websites — individually, or grouped (social media, games, news) • On a schedule and/or with a daily time limit • Switch on strict mode — no unlocking once blocked; forced to wait it out* * You still get 3 emergency unlocks (15 minutes each) every 30 days. UNLOCK METHODS • Breathing • Push-ups • Squats • Steps • Completed to-dos • PIN code • NFC tag • QR code • Apple Health goals SEE YOUR USAGE • Screen time • Pickups • Notifications HEALTH • See how your screen time lines up with your Apple Health data • Spot day-to-day patterns across sleep, activity, heart rate, and steps • Computed privately on your device — your health data is never shared WHY DESCREENED • No lengthy sign-up process • Runs on-device with Apple Screen Time • Anonymous analytics only — your data stays yours Make your phone work for you — not the other way around. SUBSCRIPTION Descreened is an auto-renewing subscription: a 3-day free trial, then $1.99/month. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at the end of the free trial and renews monthly unless canceled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://descreened.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://descreened.com/terms

Screenshots

Rot Stop3 screens
Descreened4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rot Stop at none against Descreened's 1. Rot Stop also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 11 days). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Descreened sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Rot Stop asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rot Stop ships an update every 4 days, Descreened every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Rot Stop versus Descreened: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRot StopDescreened
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (14 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings14 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB98 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPablo EderHayden Rhodea LLC

In-app purchases

None

Rot Stop

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Descreened

Subscriptions1
  • Descreened3 Days trial$1.991 Month

Questions

Is Rot Stop free?
Rot Stop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Descreened free?
Descreened is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Rot Stop or Descreened have ads?
Neither Rot Stop nor Descreened shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rot Stop or Descreened?
Rot Stop ships an update every 4 days, and Descreened every 11 days. Most recently, Rot Stop was updated on October 24, 2026 and Descreened on October 8, 2026.

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