Star Writer vs ScreenZen
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Star Writer
Create mesmerizing psychedelic art with this drawing tool. The speed of your finger movements directly influences the flow of energy in your creations. Explore endless visual possibilities by adjusting star sizes.
- Psychedelic imagery creation
- Finger-drag responsive energy flow
- Adjustable star sizes
- Intuitive drawing interface
Read full descriptionHide full description
Star Writer is the essential tool for creating beautiful psychedelic imagery. The flow of energy through your drawing is directly responsive to how fast you drag your finger across the screen. Adjust the size of your stars for endless possibilities!
ScreenZen
This app offers multiple strategies to help you reduce screen time and control app usage. Features include delayed app opening, timed scrolling interruptions, and customizable app limits. It also provides options for strict blocking, settings protection, and encourages mindful breaks.
- Delayed app opening
- Scrolling interruption
- Set app goals and limits
- Configurable daily schedules
- Strict app blocking
- Screen time tracking for distracting apps
- Settings protection locks
Read full descriptionHide full description
Multiple strategies to reduce your screentime 1. Delay before opening your app: A bit of time before choosing if you need to open your distracting app. You can have the wait time increase each time you open your app. 2. Interrupt your scrolling: Check your distracting apps for short periods of time so you don't get sucked in. 3. Set an app goal and optionally block when you reach your limit. 4. Configurable for different days of the week and time by app. 5. Messages like "Is this important" before opening your app. 6. See your screen time for only your distracting apps. Don't worry about Google Maps bloating up your time. 7. Strict block your apps: Either for time ranges, after a certain number of opens or ScreenTime. 8. Locks on Settings to prevent you from changing your settings when you want to open an app. 9. Breathing and other activities to encourage you not to need to open the app while waiting for it to unlock. 10. Streaks to encourage you not to exceed your limits or override your settings.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Star Writer at none against ScreenZen's 4. Star Writer also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.4). ScreenZen's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 42 months) and ratings volume (52K vs 6). On price, rating, ads and device support 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. ScreenZen sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Star Writer asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Star Writer against 4.9 for ScreenZen. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScreenZen has 52K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Star Writer's written reviews are positive against 93% of ScreenZen's.
Star Writer ships an update every 42 months, ScreenZen every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Star Writer | ScreenZen |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better | 4.9 (52K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | 93.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 52K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 42 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #135 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 159 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rainbow Brainskull LLC | ScreenZen LLC |
Customer experience
Star Writer
ScreenZen
Bugs and requests
Star Writer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
ScreenZen
Reported bugs
3 issues- Unlock button not working as expected
- App stops working after some time
- Compatibility issues with iOS 16 update
Requested features
4 requests- Add more customization options
- Integrate with productivity/to-do apps
- Add more pause/break options
- Improve website blocking functionality
In-app purchases
Star Writer
No in-app purchases
ScreenZen
- Kind Tip$5.00
- Generous Tip$10.00
- Amazing Tip$20.00
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Fantastic Tip$40.00
