Roots
Atlanta
What it is
Roots is an iPhone screen-time app for setting boundaries around phone use and making room for offline activities. It gives users a daily Balance Score based on phone use and tracks progress over time. App and website blocking can be set through limits or scheduled downtime, with Monk Mode for stricter blocking. Weekly reports and Digital Dopamine offer screen-time insights, including comparisons of different apps’ impact. Users can set goals for screen time and phone pickups, build streaks, and earn rewards. The free plan includes two blockings, a Balance Score, Scroll Replacements, and Screen Time Insights. Roots Plus adds unlimited blockings and features such as Locked Editing, uninstall protection, App Groups, and Pauses. Plus costs $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year; a 7-day free trial is available, and customers can request a full refund within 30 days of their first payment. Roots says usage and browsing data stays on the device and is not visible to the company. The app is for iOS; Android is listed as coming soon.
For and against
For
- Daily Balance Score tracks phone-use progress.
- Blocking includes limits, downtime, and Monk Mode.
- Weekly reports and app-impact comparisons are available.
- Usage and browsing data stays on the device.
Against
- Free plan is limited to two blockings.
- Roots Plus costs $9.99 monthly or $59.99 yearly.
- Available for iOS; Android is listed as coming soon.
The verdict
Roots combines usage insights, blocking controls, and goals in an iPhone app, with a free plan limited to two blockings. Users considering Plus can choose monthly or yearly billing and try it for seven days.
Who it suits
Roots may suit iPhone users who want tools for limiting screen time, setting phone-pickup goals, or scheduling downtime. Its maker also identifies professionals, parents, students, remote workers, health enthusiasts, and couples as potential users.
Plans and prices
Roots Plus (Monthly)
Unlimited Blockings · Monk Mode · Digital Dopamine · Block now
Read 8 Oct 2026 · getroots.app
Roots Plus (Yearly)
Unlimited Blockings · Monk Mode · Digital Dopamine · Block now
Read 8 Oct 2026 · getroots.app
Roots Free
Balance Score · Scroll Replacements · Screen Time Insights · 2 Blockings
Read 8 Oct 2026 · getroots.app
On the record
- Balance Score
- The app provides a daily Balance Score based on phone use and visualizes progress over time.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Blocking
- Roots offers app and website blocking through limits, scheduled downtime, and a stricter Monk Mode.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Company mission
- Roots says its mission is to empower people to live a balanced life in a digital world.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Developer
- The App Store listing names MWM as the developer.apps.apple.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Free tier limit
- The Roots Free plan includes two blockings, while Roots Plus includes unlimited blockings and the additional listed features.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Goals and rewards
- Users can set screen-time and phone-pickup goals, build streaks, and earn rewards.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Insights
- Screen-time insights include weekly reports and a Digital Dopamine feature that compares the impact of different apps.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker’s FAQ says Roots uses Apple’s iOS Screen Time API.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker identifies professionals, parents, students, remote workers, health enthusiasts, and couples as audiences Roots can help.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Platform availability
- The App Store listing says Roots is only for iPhone, and the maker’s pricing page labels its Android app as coming soon.apps.apple.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Roots says it uses Apple’s iOS Screen Time API so app usage and browsing data stays on the device and is not visible to Roots.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Roots describes itself as a screen-time app that helps people set phone boundaries and make more time for offline activities.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Roots links to an Intercom Help Center with articles covering usage, troubleshooting, and billing and subscriptions.intercom.help · read 8 Oct 2026
- Trial and refund
- Roots offers a 7-day free trial and says customers can request a full refund within 30 days of their first payment.getroots.app · read 8 Oct 2026
