Comparison

Rotcut vs Daybreak

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

Head to head
About

Rotcut

This app helps you break free from mindless scrolling by introducing friction and a reward system before you can access distracting apps. Complete focus tasks to earn unlock currency and spend it to access your chosen apps for a limited time, building healthier digital habits.

Highlights
  • App blocker using Apple Screen Time
  • Earn energy points for focus tasks
  • Push-up and step counter for energy
  • Focus timer and meditation timer
  • Daily streaks and progress tracking
  • Home screen widget for energy and streak
Features
Read full description

Rotcut - Block Apps, Earn Your Screen Time Go From Mindless Scrolling to Intentional Use Your phone is designed to keep you hooked. Every spare second pulls you back into the feed, and before you know it an hour is gone. Rotcut breaks that loop. Instead of opening a distracting app on autopilot, you pause, complete a quick focus task, and earn the right to unlock it. Distraction stops being free, and your attention becomes something you choose to spend. This is not another screen time tracker that just shows you numbers and hopes you feel bad. Rotcut puts real friction and a real reward system between you and the apps that drain your day. How It Works 1) Choose the apps that steal your time, like social media, video, or games 2) Complete focus tasks to earn energy, your unlock currency 3) Spend energy to unlock blocked apps for a limited time 4) Build daily streaks, watch your stats climb, and shrink your scroll loops over time When your unlock time runs out, the block comes back on automatically. You stay in control, not the algorithm. What's Inside - App blocker: shield any apps you choose using Apple Screen Time. Your selection stays private and never leaves your device - Energy points: earn unlock currency by doing something real instead of scrolling - Push-up counter: drop and earn, with on-device motion tracking that counts your reps - Step counter: get up and move to bank energy - Lock in and focus timer: deep work sessions that reward you for staying off your phone - Meditation timer: calm down and reset - Touch grass: a nudge to step outside and reconnect with real life - Panic button: an instant reset for the moments you feel the pull hardest - Daily streaks: keep your momentum alive day after day - Personalized plan: a quick setup tailors your tasks and goals to your habits - Progress and stats: see your streak, energy earned, tasks completed, and history you can be proud of - Daily reminders: gentle nudges to keep your focus on track - Home screen widget: your energy and streak at a glance Good For 1) Reducing compulsive social media use 2) Breaking doomscrolling and short video habits 3) Building more intentional, mindful screen time 4) Staying focused on work, study, or the people in front of you 5) Creating friction before distraction takes over Why Rotcut Is Different Most apps try to block you and hope willpower does the rest. Rotcut gives you a system. You earn your access, you feel the trade, and over time the habit loop weakens. You still have to do the work, but Rotcut gives you the structure, the friction, and the motivation to actually follow through. No account or login is required to get started. Just open the app and begin. Start small. Stay consistent. Take your attention back. If you have ideas or questions, email us at hello@kopontech.com Full access requires a subscription. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Daybreak

This app automatically blocks distracting applications overnight and keeps them locked in the morning until a focus session is completed. It helps users prioritize their morning routine before accessing social media, games, or news.

Highlights
  • Automatic overnight app blocking
  • Morning focus session requirement
  • Customizable distraction selection
  • Simple, automatic scheduling
  • Emergency access with limits
  • Live Activities and Dynamic Island support
Read full description

Your phone should not be the first thing that takes your attention each morning. Daybreak automatically blocks the distracting apps you choose overnight and keeps them blocked after you wake. Dedicate time in the morning to complete a focus session before those apps become available for the day. HOW DAYBREAK WORKS 1. Choose your distractions Select the social media, video, news, games, or other apps that tend to cloud your mornings. 2. Set your schedule Choose when your apps lock for the night and when your morning focus period becomes available. Daybreak applies the schedule automatically, without requiring you to remember to turn it on. 3. Focus before distractions When you wake up, your selected apps remain blocked until you complete your chosen focus session. After completing it, your apps become available for the rest of the day. BUILT FOR PROTECTED MORNINGS • Automatic overnight and morning app blocking • A clear morning streak • Emergency access for unexpected situations • Live Activities and Dynamic Island support • A simple schedule that runs automatically • Screen Time controls powered by Apple’s Family Controls framework FRICTION WITH A PURPOSE Daybreak does not try to compete with distracting apps for your attention. It creates a clear boundary before the morning begins: focus first, then regain access. Emergency access remains available, but it includes deliberate limits so that it stays an exception rather than becoming the default. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your schedule, selected apps, and focus history are stored on your device. Daybreak does not upload your selected-app information to a remote database. An account is optional. Daybreak can be used without signing in. EARLY ACCESS Every part of Daybreak is available free during its launch while the app is refined with early users. Optional one-time early-support purchases grant lifetime access to Daybreak’s current and future features. There is no recurring subscription during this early-access release. Daybreak requires Screen Time permission to block the apps you select. Permission can be removed from your device settings.

Screenshots

Rotcut4 screens
Daybreak4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Daybreak at free with in-app purchases against Rotcut's subscription. Rotcut's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Rotcut sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Daybreak sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Rotcut against 5.0 for Daybreak. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rotcut ships an update every 4 days, Daybreak every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Rotcut versus Daybreak: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRotcutDaybreak
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJustine LadladRyan Setiawan

Customer experience

Rotcut

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Daybreak

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Rotcut

Subscriptions3
  • RotCut Pro - Monthly$9.991 Month
  • RotCut Pro - Annual$19.991 Year
  • RotCut Pro - Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • RotCut Pro - Lifetime$49.99
3 purchases

Daybreak

One-time3
  • Supporter$9.99
  • Champion$19.99
  • Founding Member$39.99

Questions

Is Rotcut free?
Rotcut is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Daybreak free?
Daybreak is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Rotcut or Daybreak?
Rotcut and Daybreak are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Rotcut or Daybreak have ads?
Neither Rotcut nor Daybreak shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rotcut or Daybreak?
Rotcut ships an update every 4 days, and Daybreak every 2 weeks. Most recently, Rotcut was updated on October 7, 2026 and Daybreak on October 2, 2026.

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