# Roots: Screen Time Control

> App Blocker & Dopamine Detox

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6446800962](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6446800962)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id6446800962`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** MWM
- **Category:** Productivity
- **Rating:** 4.80 / 5 (2,649 ratings)
- **Version:** 2.21
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-16
- **First published:** 2023-08-28
- **Size:** 379 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-21
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roots-screen-time-control/id6446800962)
- **Website:** [https://www.getroots.app/](https://www.getroots.app/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://www.getroots.app/privacy-policy](https://www.getroots.app/privacy-policy)

## Description

Roots is the #1 screen time app. Set boundaries with your phone, unlock more time, and build a healthier relationship with technology with features like better app limits, downtime scheduling, daily goals, a balance score, and more.

Highlights include app and website blocking by time or opens, mindful downtime, Monk Mode, personalized dopamine detox challenges, daily progress tracking, screen time trends, and private on-device data storage via Apple's Screen Time API. Privacy guaranteed.

## Rankings

- #35,001 — Overall
- #35 — self control
- #54 — screen
- #57 — screen time tracker
- #59 — control
- #63 — parental control

## Review summary

Users praise Roots for reducing screen time and improving focus, especially for students, thanks to its design, flexibility, and responsive support. However, recurring issues limit its appeal: frequent bugs and instability in blocking and tracking; unreliable unblock flows; inaccurate usage reporting; and pricing concerns over paid tiers and trial prompts. When functioning well, it’s a powerful, customizable tool, but reliability and cost are the top drawbacks echoed across reviews.

### Pros

- Significantly reduces screen time and boosts focus, helping with studying and productivity.
- Highly customizable, with multiple modes, strictness levels, and goal-based blocking.
- Strong support from the Roots team; founders are helpful and responsive.
- Great design and user experience; easy to use and effective blocking.
- Helpful for students and accessible, with scholarships and affordable options.

### Cons

- Bugs and instability frequently affect blocking and time tracking, sometimes making it unusable.
- Pricing concerns: free options dwindling, paywalls, and high premium costs (sometimes cited as around $60/year).
- Unblocking and blocking features sometimes fail or require reloads; app can be slow or glitchy.
- Time tracking can be inaccurate, counting time when not using blocked apps or misreporting usage.
- Intrusive prompts and forced trial experiences (unescapable pro trial, hard-to-exit free trials).

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Derot - Screen Time Control](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6784308174) — 5.00 / 5
- [Reduce Screen Time - MindRot](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6758914060) — 5.00 / 5
- [Braindead: Screen Time Control](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6752108016) — 4.40 / 5
- [DetoxBrain: Screen Time, Focus](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6791557269) — 4.90 / 5
- [Control Dopamine: Screen Time](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6761228537)
- [The Reset: Screen Time Control](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6761280235)
- [Unplugged: Screen Blocker](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6737567827) — 5.00 / 5
- [Detox: Screen Time App Blocker](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6761635511)
- [Focus Lock: Limit Screen Time](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6762333818)
- [Detoxify App Blocker](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6799068857)
- [Dopfast: App Blocker & Detox](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6761462176)
- [Awaytime: Screen Time Control](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6758746654)

---

Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6446800962)