Roots: Screen Time Control Customer Service

Roots: Screen Time Control Positive Reviews

Trying to come back to earthI just wanted to say thank you so much for creating this app!!! About a month ago I filled out the form within the app for reduced payment (reasoning being saving up for college and I don’t have tons of spare cash for anything right now), and I got it! I think I pay 2.99 a month right and it’s so incredible. I wasn’t sure if it would help at first but I’ve been able to limit myself with the help of this app. I haven’t been able to make a significant reduction yet but I’m trying hard. I can feel it getting easier as the weeks go on. I used to spend maybe 5+? hours on TikTok. Now I spend around 2. I can feel myself not itching for it and getting anxious over it. I hope one day I’ll be able to get by without any withdrawal at all. Again, thank you so much for this app and I recommend you get it- this is going to save you in more ways than you can even begin to understand. Hoping to fully reconnect with earth at some point, thanks again.Vampxoxo1Version: 2.13

Great but could be betterUpdate: since my original review they have fixed some of the performance issues and the app has gotten significantly better! I still experience a couple here and there but overall I’ve had a great experience with this app and tell all my friends about it so they can cut down their screen time too. It’s literally been a life changer! Original: I like this app for what it does and the interface. It’s a phenomenal tool that has helped me so much with getting control of how much I use my phone. With that said, it has the potential to be the best app out there for cutting down screen time if they could fix all the bugginess that happens too frequently with the downtime blocking/unblocking, app picker, screen time tracking, etc… the free trial has been good but until they get the kinks ironed out not sure it’s worth paying the premium price yet. Hoping they can fix the issues so it’s a better experience for users!.Sierraqt97Version: 2.7.2

New to app but very excited and looks great!I wanted to be very intentional about leaving a review because of how appreciative I am that Roots has allowed me to access the premium features even though I cannot afford to do so without assistance. I am truly struggling with screen time addiction and just like .. I’m not sure.. I feel as though my life is very out of control. I feel like I’m wasting away and losing all my time to meaningless short bursts of a fake joy rather than engaging on a more profound level and working to obtain longer-lasting, more fulfilling ways to make the most of the little time we have on this earth. Anyways this is all just to say that, again, the app looks amazing and I’m excited to get started and I just want to say a very sincere thank you to those who made and work at Roots for allowing me to utilize the full potential of their app even though I cannot afford the premium otherwise. THANK YOU! 💜.JfowiegbcfwkVersion: 2.11.3

Great app with a great team behind it!I’ve only been using this app for a few days but I can already feel myself spending less time on my phone! The design is super simple and easy to understand which is great for my lifestyle as I don’t have the time to learn an unintuitive design. I was also able to get a student discount on the premium membership which I am eternally grateful with the development team for :) Suggestion wise, a dark mode for the app would be better for my eyes and sometimes, people have hectic schedules which make it hard to stick to a structured routine. In my case, I would find it super useful to have a “lock in” mode where I can turn it on, Roots will block my apps, then I can do my work, then go back to Roots, and turn it off. This way, I don’t have to worry about interruptions in my workflow or nights out. Just a suggestion though!! Keep up all the good work you guys do 🙏🙏💜💜.Henhen70Version: 2.6

Exactly what I needed to pass my PhD qualifying examFirst, I just want to say that the Roots founders are all incredibly kind, helpful, and responsive. I've never felt so acknowledged by an app's development team before. Second, this is the app that truly helped me finally kick my addiction to texting and social media. I was really worried that my excessive phone use was going to get in the way of completing my PhD qualifying exam, which is high stakes and, if I fail, I'd be asked to leave without ever becoming a PhD candidate. I'm so glad I took a chance on Roots because it helped me not only "pass" my exam, but ace it, all while adding other productive habits to my life. Roots helped me experience life outside of excessive phone use. The best part is that you set up your own goals for phone usage and pickups, so whenever you fall short you feel more motivated to stick to the goal next time. This app is great. Highly recommend!.JustrayyanVersion: 2.16

Be Gone, Doom Scrolling!Thanks to Roots I finally can take back control of my time and eliminate the habitual scrolling every time I reach for my phone. Almost everyone I know is guilty of grabbing their phone and immediately opening their go to social media app only to blink and realize they just wasted the last 15-30 mins scrolling through memes or sports highlights. I’ve setup multiple rules on roots to eliminate me even being able to open certain apps during dedicated times like first thing in the morning or in the evening when I’m winding down. I’ve also made it so it time constraints how much time I can spend on social media each day. Roots is the self control I wish I always had. Plus Monk Mode is incredible because even when you want to change the rules it won’t let you so you can’t give in to temptation. 10/10 thanks for giving me my time back, Roots!.BILLF'nMURRYVersion: 1.6

Completely changed how I use my phoneI’ve been using this app for a few years, and it’s completely changed how I use my phone. What brought me to Roots is how simple it is, no annoying bloat that a lot of blocking apps have. It has a bunch of really great features, but the one that keeps me subscribing is how it handles scheduled blocking. For distracting apps like instagram, I have it set to allow me 10-minute unblocks 3 times a day whenever I choose. Because I have it sent to “monk mode” difficulty, there’s no easy way to ignore it. Before I downloaded this app, I’d sometimes loose hours of my life scrolling. Now, there are days where I don’t open the apps at alll. It’s been wild to see how addicted to socials I was and incredibly satisfying to feel that ache completely disappear. Very grateful to the Roots team for this tool, highly highly recommend.Jacob.leroyVersion: 2.17

So far, so goodI’ve been using Roots for the past week, and so far I like it. As someone who is easily distracted by my phone, I was looking for a simple but effective solution for limiting certain apps when I want to focus and study. I found Apple’s Screen Time system to be too easy to bypass. I appreciate how easy it was to set up Roots, and I like the message behind it. The app allows you to not only block apps but also track how much time you’re spending on those common offenders. It was pretty eye opening for me to see how all the time that I spend anxiously checking messages, emails, or mindlessly surfing the web can really add up and take away from things which matter. I’m grateful that this app exists and I look forward to getting some good use out of it. One note: it would be nice if Roots had a dark mode..Ac5478Version: 2.7.3

Love the idea but this app is incredibly buggyWhen this app works, it’s great. But it has so many performance issues, and it can be very stressful to set it up. The app frequently needs to be reloaded. It often forgets that I paid for annual premium and I have to go through a process to sync my subscription. When selecting apps to block, the app freezes and has to reload, losing all progress made on setting up downtime or app limits. I’ve followed several of the workarounds for these known issues but some are really ridiculous workarounds. For instance, one is to copy each app name you need to block into Notes and then paste it into Roots. Imagine you want to block 70 apps. That’s a wild process. Also the app sometimes becomes completely non-responsive, so I delete the app and when I re-install, it loses all data so I have to completely set up my systems again. Their customer support is responsive and helpful and I have hopes this app will be awesome one day..MartianqueenVersion: 2.4

Best out there for app blockingI’ve tried so many apps to block social media and none of them work as well as Roots. I’ve tried many and any of the ones with “ignore” features became to easy to ignore. Another that flat out blocked apps was too difficult to setup. Roots is the perfect mix of easy to use and impossible to bypass when you want it to block. I’ll be honest in that I don’t utilize much of their mindfulness tools, but their Monk Mode is the best at ACTUALLY blocking with no workarounds. They’ve quickly fixed some of the startup bugs since I’ve been using the app, and I love that you can block individual websites in addition to apps. I also like that they have an emergency unblock feature (which can only be used a few times total) just in case something were to happen and I’d need those apps..SusCollinsVersion: 2.7.3

This app saved my mental healthI was struggling with setting boundaries with social media. I found myself scrolling for hours and being stuck in this shameful loop of wanting to stop myself, but not having the will power to just put the phone down. I stumbled across this app through an ad and something told me to give it a shot, and thank god I did. Having something externally push me to do something else has improved my anxiety, racing thoughts, and restlessness. I’ve been stuck in this endless of loop of wanting to stay informed, but consume TOO much information. Since using Roots, I’ve been able to get things done I’ve been avoiding and I feel so much relief. Additionally, customer service has been incredible. I cannot recommend this enough. Get this app!.Tina SicalidesVersion: 2.11.3

Lots of potential hereExcited to see an app like Roots now exists, to solve a plaguing problem. I'm on day 2 and so far I'm already seeing how it can help. Today I picked up my phone many times throughout the day, as I typically do, looking to check out IG or another social media outlet only to be blocked by Roots and had to think...hmm what do I do now. I'm hoping over time my brain will rewire itself to not need to pick up the phone so much and immediately default to more healthy habits. I really like the deep integration with Screen Time and the analytics that Roots provides out of the box. You're able to provide app exceptions as well which is good for cases when you use a sleep app, for example, and it shouldn't count against your screen time. There are a few bugs in the app that I'm sure will get worked out, given this is still a new app. Hopeful and excited here!.AlanwillVersion:

It helps a lot with ADHD symptomsI can’t find the words to express how Roots is saving my life. I’ve been using this app for three weeks, and my life has started to change. I have ADHD and two kids, and I’m also very addicted to social media, which has been ruining my life. I set a goal to leave social media, but I have to do it gradually because the addiction is very strong. I read a recommendation for Roots on Reddit and decided to install it. The first two weeks were difficult, but I was amazed at how I actually followed the app’s guidance and didn’t try to find ways to unlock my apps. Today is the day after the election, and I’m participating in the “Post-Election Detox” challenge—it’s such a relief. I’m not scrolling through news feeds, and my world is not in chaos today. Thank you so much 🙏.NastenadhaiaVersion: 2.2.4

The Accountability Partner You Never Knew You Needed….TLDR: Roots has simply been the most useful app on my phone from day one. Highly customizable and can be tailored to your daily routine. Can be paused or unblocked for short periods for breaks. The entire Roots team was very thoughtful about every single issue that could have been encountered. I found the answers quickly and was quickly directed to the solution. Does its job, keeps you accountable and disciplined, and is simple, clean, effective. Dark mode would be a nice addition is all. Otherwise the perfect blocker app. The Long: Roots has been an integral part of my daily routine. If you are an individual with pride in efficiency or routine or even having trouble keeping yourself accountable, then Roots is the app for you. As a medical student rotating and applying surgery and family caretaker myself, I often find myself in a cycle of revenge procrastination. That keeps me unfocused and regretful of not being mindful of my time used for studying or with family. Root helps you solve that. It keeps distractions out and keeps you focused on whatever it is that you need to do. It also gives you the ability to unblock for defined periods of time when you are taking breaks or if you are out and need to attend to more personal matters you are able to pause blocking for the day and resume when finished. It has been very evident that the team was deliberate and invested a lot of time and energy into developing the app. Every single problem that I have encountered in the app, whether it’s instability regarding the app picker or sometimes blocking not being active, can be found in the FAQ section with subsequent solutions that have ALWAYS worked. I legitimately have not had a genuine negative experience with the app nor the team behind it. In subsequent communications in learning how to better optimize the app for my personal use, the team has been very informative, educational, and importantly kind to help guide your experience to a better quality of life that isn’t centered around your phone. Download Roots and keep yourself accountable so you don’t waste precious time getting your next dopamine hit or mindlessly scrolling..ViKhangVoVersion: 2.7.3

Love this appI hadn’t ever tried an app for blocking apps like this before. In all honesty, I was going to just try the 7 day free trial and then cancel it because I doubted I would like it that much. Well, I accidentally forgot to cancel before the subscription was charged. But now, I am so glad I have it and purchased the premium subscription. I’ve been able to set solid boundaries between work apps and social media apps cutting my screen time in half each week. I had a few issues in the beginning, emailed support and they responded very quickly and troubleshooted with me to solve the problems. I have recommended this app to friends who have expressed concerns about too much screen time. Thank you for the great app!.DatGirlVeeVersion: 2.5

Best app I’ve triedWhere should I start. This app rocks. It’s simple, yet effective and has actually made a real impact on my screen time. Most other apps are way to expensive for me because of my financial situation given that I’m a full time student and unemployed but the Roots team has above and beyond customer service. They were understanding and flexible when it came to my financial situation which is very uncommon and really sets them apart. It truly feels like an app made to help you, the consumer, rather than an app that claims to help but is just using you for money. I’d seriously recommend Roots to anyone looking to curb their screen time, especially college students. Looks like I’ll be a Roots member for a long time to come!.Voltage9Version: 2.7.1

GET THIS APP!!!If you’re reading this review, it probably means you’re looking for an app to control your screen time - so get this one. This app has so many more features than the standard screen time application. It uses fun graphics and designs and is very user friendly. Since starting a few months ago, I’ve already knocked my daily average down by one hour. I’m a high school student, so I can’t really afford a subscription to the app while I’m saving for college. I reached out to Roots support and within a few days they offered me a free subscription for an entire year. I’m extremely grateful for their kindness towards me, and this shows that the people making this app care about you more than they care about money, unlike some other apps. I really like the downtimes feature. I used to wake up and doom scroll in the morning, but with the downtimes feature, I’m forced to get up earlier and be more productive. I also like the on-demand blocking, which helps me avoid distractions when I’m studying. Here are some features and fixes I’d like to see: - Digital dopamine tab: When I force close the app (i.e. swipe up on the app to completely close it instead of closing out normally), a “tutorial” explaining what digital dopamine is pops up every time. I’d like a “don’t show again” button if possible. - Home screen and lock screen widget: This might help hold users accountable as they can check their screen time usage without having to open the app. - Challenges feature: I do like the challenges feature, but I’d like to be able to make and complete my own customizable challenges and send an invite link to my friends if they are using the app. Perhaps this could be a feature hidden behind the premium paywall while the community challenges are not. Thank you to all of the people behind the scenes of the Roots app - you’re helping so many of us to be productive and do great things..Ah9617Version: 2.3

Everything you can ask for is in this appI’ve personally gone through many focus apps and most were lack luster or have unappealing UI. This app is amazing and has everything from the monk mode feature to tracking your daily phone usage. I could go on and on this app and how much it has to offer. But to really know is to download and try. As a student, it really helps focus and get the sleep need (I tend to be up all night on my phone). Also wanted to mention that the people behind this app truly cares. They are also ways l looking to improve the app and you can always can count on them to fix problems if they happen to appear..JL3746Version: 2.2.5

Huge ImprovementRoots has been a game changer for me and my family! Would recommend this to anyone looking to get away from the screen and back to life! The simple setup and encouragement to make better time choices has resulted in much more focus time and family time. It really helps to see how much time we are spending on our phones and how much we time could be getting back! Not only is the app great, the support is even better! I emailed them about adding premium to my account, since my wife already paid for it, and I got a response the same day! The entire request was closed within 48 hours, amazing!!.Cspartan114Version: 2.18

Finally Took Control of My Screen Time as a Student | Impressive Customer SupportFirst of all best customer support and they actually want you to get better and mindful, As a university student, I was really struggling with excessive phone usage. My screen time was very high and I couldn’t control it, which was affecting my focus and studies. After finding Roots, I started seeing improvement within just 3 days. It helped me build discipline and become more aware of my habits. They also gave me a one year membership scholarship as a student, which I truly appreciate. I highly recommend this app to any student trying to manage screen time better..RizviBlueVersion: 2.14.4

Productivity appI really have been enjoying roots! It's allowed me to stick to my 1h daily social media limit way better than the iPhone app limit ever has, as well as allowed me to set certain days in the tiem without social media (morning and evenign). In addition, they offer discounted memberships and beta programs - they are invested in making the digital world more balanced and collecting user feedback to improve user experience. I am really satisfied! Some functions I would like to see include focus time (timers for concentration in which other apps are blocked) and ability to change daily goals on a daily basis..Elenagf98Version:

BEST app blocker out there!!As a small biz owner with adhd - I waste too much time with phone distractions. This is the first app that has ACTUALLY made a difference in my daily life!! I love how customizable it is - you can set different blocking modes for different days/times/apps, and control how many unblocks/pauses you get. I also love the goals and progress tracking - really helps when you can see the data and how much time you’ve saved!! The team behind the app is also really helpful and responsive, so I’m confident that if I ever needed help, it would be easy to get!!! Highly recommend this - so worth it!!.SlimewarpVersion: 2.11

Good Screen Time ManagementRoots is a great app. It helps with regulating my screen time and it’s changed me for the better. One small problem though, it sometimes messes up on screen time calculations. One day, I was on my phone for what I think was about an hour and it said I was on for 5 hours before noon. So turns out, whenever I swipe from one app to another without going to Home Screen first, it still counts time on the app I swiped away from while calculating time from another app. Eventually, it doubles, triples, then sometimes quadruples my usual time whenever I have multiple apps up without completely closing out of them. Please fix this. Thanks..This is great, one issueVersion: 2.10

Free version - love itI never write app reviews, but roots is that good. I’ve tried countless methods and one other app to get myself to lower my screen time, but I just always find a way around it and it makes no difference. Roots is the first thing I’ve tried where, except for deleting the app, there is no workaround that I’ve found. It’s amazing and it has effectively reduced my time on bad apps a great deal in only a week or so. And I only use the free version - even with these limitations it works great. If you’re willing to pay for the pro, I’m sure it works even better, but it’s definitely ok to settle with free! Amazing app..JonShen17Version: 2.4.1

Easy way to improve screen timeI have found the Roots app to be so helpful at decreasing screen time and ending the endless scrolling before bed. I have it set up so that it blocks me starting at 9pm which has been so helpful for my sleep! You can earn unblocks but it’s just so helpful to see the chosen apps being greyed out or thinking twice about whether I do actually need to unblock a certain app for 5 minutes or if I can go find something more productive to do instead. Very grateful for the Roots app and excited to continue to be more mindful/improve my screen time!.AMcFarland515Version: 2.10

The best app to lower screen timeAs far as I know this is the only app on iPhone that is able to effectively block apps, by using iOS’ built-in screen time function. It is very effective and much harder to bypass the app blocking. There are lots of options for how and when to block apps but you do have to pay a subscription for some of the more advanced features. There are a few bugs but the team is always adding new functionality and improvements. I’ve lowered my screen time by hours each day with this app so I would highly recommend it..Rrh345Version: 2.6

Roots helped me stopped doom scrolling!I’ve had Roots for about a week and it’s already helped me reduce my screen time use!! I struggled with getting lost in doom scrolls on social media and the time restrictions on their apps just didn’t work, it was way too easy to hit “ignore.” When I open my phone, I automatically go to certain apps without thinking but when it’s my scheduled downtime, it forces me to take a second a choose another activity. I’m also grateful that Roots offers a student rate so I’m able to utilize this service while on a limited budget :).1678421767Version: 2.14.4

Amazing app with an amazing customer support team!I’ve been using this app for about 3 days and I’ve been using my phone less. A big improvement. I would rack up about 8 hours of screentime a day (horrible, I know) and for the past 3 days, my screentime has been around 3 hours. A good start! Also, at the moment I’m not able to pay for the full year subscription so they worked with me to get a discounted option right for me. They really work with you and want to support you on your goals! So overall an amazing company! Thank you, Roots!.Hey:DVersion: 2.4.2

Changed everythingI’ve been using the premium version for almost 2 months, and my screen time is down by half. This app has had a huge positive impact on my mental health in a way ScreenTime and will power never had. So far, I’ve only used unblocking when I really needed to, and when I’ve used my earned day off blocking, I got tired of the internet very quickly and put the blocking back on. Didn’t even use the whole day off! I am very grateful for the hard work and responsiveness that has gone into this app..MrsAngelaVersion: 2.10

Cheat Days?Love the app, and happy to have additional safeguards against doomscrolling. The free version allows for simple all-sweeping controls. Cheat day concept I think works for some, but I specifically got the app to reduce doomscrolling for election season. I’d earned a cheat day, with no option to opt out of it, and was greeted with the apps I’d specifically wanted to avoid during the roller coaster of this particular news cycle. In order to get my controls back, I uninstalled and reinstalled the app and also deleted the worst offending apps for the day. Not sure if it is an option, even in the paid tier to opt out of cheat days or bank them for later. Would love that. Otherwise, great app.A. Victoria B. PierceVersion: 2.2.4

Better than native iOS screen time, screen time way down!I read an article that introduced me to this app. I was already using screen time tools on my iPhone. This one has a much more intuitive and use friendly interface. you answer some questions first about what you will do instead of downtime and it serves as a nice reminder that there’s things in my life that are much more important than scrolling or playing games or checking email..Markypoo505Version: 2.0.4

Good app but needs improvementI got the app to reduce my screen time and it’s generally helped with that. ‘Monk Mode’ is so much better than what Apple offers natively - for my screen addiction I need the option eliminated that allows me to just enter a passcode to get more time :) However, I’d suggest Roots add an additional feature that makes it more difficult to adjust your app limit - it’s currently too easy to extend them if you have a weak moment and want to spend more time on an app than you set yourself. Maybe add a function where app limits can only be adjusted at a certain time of day?.AndrewchayesVersion: 2.3.1

Great App Compared To OthersGot Roots recently based on reviews. The app is significantly better compared to other screen time apps as other apps I’ve seen have many glitches with the screen time as well as the cost. Though, things I recommend to add is a widget that shows how much the screen time is. Although there is an iPhone widget, I think Roots should have a widget. Also, I think the customizable custom screen when time is reached should have more options, such as making a customizable screen yourself and putting your own quotes..GoalsforGodVersion: 2.3.1

Actually works for meI’ve tried a few different hacks and apps to limit screen time and never really been able to stick with it. This app is the first I’ve found that really works for me. What I like: - I love the design and friendly messaging - The way the app limits feature works is great to me, it’s just enough friction to make me think twice when I’m scrolling twitter - I also really like being able to set daily intentions What could be better: - Sometimes the home tab loads in a little slow or crashes (seems they are aware of the bug and working on it… although it doesn’t really impact the experience for me) Overall, I’m a big fan and have actually decided to upgrade to the premium version. Worth every penny, it’s beautiful and it works. [UPDATE: they fixed the bug I was seeing. Support was great].ThehikingfoolVersion: 1.2

The only thing to actually curb my screen time addictionI’ve been using apple’s screen time blocks for years with zero success in cutting down my screen time. Within one week of using Roots I have made actual habit changes on my screen time and have been able to stick to the goals that I set. You can customize times when you want your screen time blocked, which is extremely helpful and builds such great habits. I highly recommend Roots!.MorganfichterVersion: 2.11.2

Helps me be a more present parentSince I started using Roots, I feel like a more patient and present parent. Before, I found myself constantly distracted and endlessly scrolling, but now, with the app's gentle reminders and enforced breaks, I'm more engaged in my kids' activities and conversations. We've rediscovered the joy of playing board games, going for walks, and simply talking without the interruption of screens. This app has truly transformed our family dynamic, allowing us to connect on a deeper level..MamaG999Version: 1.7

Beautiful UX, effective, flexibleMuch better than the native app blocking on iOS. The UX is appealing and the data shows it has been effective almost immediately (though I’ve used the premium version for several weeks now). I like the scheduled and “start now” blocking options, the optional number of unblocks in a scheduled blocking time, the suggestion of doing something else instead of scrolling, the various challenges. Worth paying for premium, no question..ChristyadamsphdVersion: 2.10

Excellent customer serviceI enjoyed the product it works perfectly as intended, however financially at this time I couldn’t justify the cost (it is very affordable for a year long subscription) and I accidentally let the trial run out to where I was charged for a year. Clint was extremely helpful and responsive in getting my money refunded, it is a breath of fresh air compared to the usual customer service experience with apps or any company really. Highly recommend..JE6298Version: 2.6

Amazing for social media addiction/habitI have had issues with automatically spending house on Instagram and feeling like I am wasting my time. I tried multiple other apps but they were to easy to go around and turn off the limits (which I did almost daily cause it was a borderline addiction). This app has been instrumental the last week in reducing my screen time 3-4 hours and helping me feel more in control of my time and life. So grateful I found this 💜.GganbdgafshdVersion: 2.4.2

This app is amazing! I have more time again!I have been using this app for the past couple months to see if it would help me reduce my social media usage. And it has! Because it physically keeps me from doom scrolling by blocking the app entirely, I’ve been spending a lot less time on my phone and more time with my family, friends, and my studies. It’s been such a game changer for me to get my work done and put down my phone to do other tasks I need to do..Lilpanda102Version: 2.4

Dramatically better than using Screen Time aloneRoots takes the data gathered by Apple Screen Time and makes it much more useful. One of my favorite features is being able to exclude apps from my reports, so my stats aren’t skewed if I use CarPlay to listen to a podcast for an hour. Roots also gives some teeth to app blocking, so I’ve actually stopped using them as much, instead of just clicking through Apple’s Screen Time warnings..Southern Film FanaticVersion: 2.10

Life changerI have been using the function of all day blocking where I have to manually unblock social media apps in order to open them. I never realized how often I'd mindlessly open these apps; just the wait time of a few seconds before opening them has been nothing short of life changing, as it makes me cognizant of what I am doing. Highly recommend this app for anybody who knows they are on their phones too much..The sloppy bobVersion: 2.7.3

Helps me be more present!Roots has been a game changer for me! As a stay at home mom, sometimes I struggle to prioritize my screen time especially during the morning when it’s easy to pop on a show for my toddler. Not only has Roots help hold me accountable for the amount of time I spend on my phone, it in turn has helped me limit screen time with my toddler now that I am more aware. It has helped get us outside more and I’m so thankful for that! Highly recommend..K GenoVersion: 1.7

I wanted to love itI got a free 30 day trial and had every plan to buy the app. It worked great at substantially reducing my screen time but some of the bugs, I can’t really move past. The white list feature is great but I found that it was blocking apps that I white listed (like Phone and Messages). It also isn’t wholly accurate. Roots said I spent 15 hours on Instagram when I had the app blocked for almost 8 hours of the day. And I fell asleep listening to a meditation and it said I used that app for 9 hours. It’s hard to gauge how you’re really doing with bugs like that..Christy MKVersion: 2.1

An Amazing AppI’ve been using this app for a little while now and it’s been a game changer. My screen time has always been high and I’ve tried many ways to fix it, but none of the other options seem to work. However, ever since I got Roots, my screen time has decreased significantly and I’ve been able to live my life off my phone. I seriously cannot recommend this app more if you have ever struggled with screen time..Chris_24673Version: 2.18

Great appI’ve been using roots for a little over a year now and I have nothing but nice things to say about it! It’s helped me cut down my screen time significantly and it’s a much better screen time tracker than Apple. Of course there’s some bugs but they’re easily fixable and their support and customer service is incredible! Highly reccomend!.Bugs NordickVersion: 2.17

Really well doneI like this app alot, I tried many alternatives and I believe this one is the diamond in the rough. I love the app limit and monk mode.Mamdouh07Version: 2.14.3

An honest reviewRoots is an awesome screen time saving app. Despite having to deal with apple’s ecosystem and bugs that come with it, they manage to make screen timeblocking fairly easy! The 4 stars would become 5 if Roots had a dark mode option, and more customization for the blocking screen (custom images, icons, etc.).NordicW1Version: 2.14.4

Wonderful App, and Wonderful ServiceRoots is a wonderfully designed app that makes productivity and concentration, that much easier. By blocking out distracting apps, I was able to rewire my dopamine reward system in an efficient, effective manner; allowing me to perform at my best, and spend time doing things I love. In addition to a user-friendly interface, the customer service is nothing shorty of extraordinary, as they re extremely kind, understanding, and compassionate when dealing with any matter. In short, if you are looking to turn your life away from screens, and ready to take control of the things that truly matter, then download roots and see just how it transforms your daily habits..Emmanuel_O2025Version: 2.14

Positive change!Love the app :) I really appreciate how Roots sets me up to pause to consider my priorities rather than making me feel like it’s working against me (other strategies made me try to ‘sneak’ past the lock). And basic screen use reports are too late and shame based. Roots decreased my mindless scrolling and made me feel good about progress. Totally worth paying for having that time back!.RM1234567Version: 2.11.3

PerfectionI think it’s h tg e better app to be more productive amd the owner are super friendly. I LOVE THIS APP.Edouard qo3dVersion: 2.10

Very supportiveVery supportive. It’s a simple app to help you reduce your screen time and the developers are also nice and can help you if you cannot afford premium. Would definitely recommend it!.Apple-hater0_oVersion: 2.7.2

Awesome appThis app has changed my life and given me my sanity back and reduced anxiety so much. I highly recommend to everyone even if you don’t think you need it..Swish.mamaVersion: 2.7.2

GoatedYeah very good, definitely rate it.MinecraftgodVersion: 2.7.1

Amazing App, Amazing Customer Service.This app is really helping me get my mental health back! And the customer service is outstanding. Absolutely one of a kind company..JakeP977Version: 2.6

Amazing appBest app ever! Amazing founder too; thank you Clint Jarvis!.User3749284Version: 2.5

Best app for reducing screen timeOnly app that actually made me stay off my phone. Great customer service too. :).AdhdshawtyVersion: 2.3.1

The best app for helping me reduce screen timeAfter using Roots for a few weeks, I’ve seen a significant reduction in the amount of time I spend on my phone. The ability to customize downtimes and app access means I can block the apps that I waste time on (social media), while still being able to access the apps I need for work, travel or leisure (audiobooks or music) without them counting against my screen time. I love that you can customize the apps depending on your goals. The app is beautifully designed and simple to set up and use..H2h1980Version: 2.3

Really great appBeen looking like something like this for awhile. Free version has basic time blocking features that are still very helpful, with no expiry date on free use. I may get a premium subscription for additional features. I really like the option to exclude certain apps from the total screen time calculation as I leave some things (like my kids Spotify music while driving, or a cooking app) open for awhile and would skew my daily reports on iPhone, which made me less incentivized. Great job guys..Avk65976Version: 2.1

Decent but buggyMy time limit was buggy and didn’t get reset after a day. Also couldn’t delete my account because I didn’t set a password and signed up with my Apple ID. I couldn’t find a way to initially set a password as the update password function needed a “previous password”..JihhgyhhhjjVersion: 2.2.4

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Roots: Screen Time Control Negative Reviews

The glitches are too muchI have a pretty bad phone addiction, and I got Roots to support me by offering the time limits for apps and also blocked off time. I paid for the subscription so I could have monk mode and the most access to Roots’ offerings. I had to stop using app specific time limits because I would find myself locked out of apps that I needed after only being awake for three minutes. It would tell me that I timed out of my four hours of time limit for a work necessary app at 6:03 AM when I hadn’t even opened that app. the screen would have the accurate time for my screen usage, but the time limit would be locked anyways. And here I am sitting on my lunch, hoping to have 15 minutes of downtime before heading back into my stressful workday to find that my apps are locked once again when I have no active time limit, and no active blocked out time running. I paid around $30 to find my phone bricked more often than not and while it has significantly reduced my phone time, I also want to be able to use my phone when I find it appropriate. I really hope that these issues can be fixed, and I will be seeking some sort of refund or at least some amount of cheat days added to my account because I should not have to use an entire cheat day that I earned by following my goals because I want to be on my phone for 15 minutes and I’m finding myself locked out. It does not seem fair to the user and I am very dissatisfied with that..AlexGunter17Version: 2.2.5

Login issues with Premium SubscriptionI have an active roots subscriptions through August 22. I have not used the app in a while but since I am taking a class this summer I wanted to take advantage of my subscription. I am unable to login using my Apple ID and when I use the option to sign in via email and use the password reset option, it says there is no account that exists under my email address. It is extremely frustrating to pay for a premium service and be unable to use it. There are no answers on the website and the customer service form is a joke. I have tried a reboot of the app, deleting and redownloading, and restarting my phone and nothing works. I feel like they just took my money and since I turned off the automatic renewal decided they no longer need to service my account..RebeccaMW788Version: 2.18

Love the concept…unnavigable appI’ll start by saying this app has definitely decreased by screen time. Full stop. Is that because I’m just hyper aware that I’m being tracked? Maybe but a win is a win. Unfortunately, it’s often extremely incorrect. It will say absurd stats like. Today I apparently used my clock app for over an hour. I have done some reading and that appears to be Apple’s fault but it does kind of defeat the purpose if it routinely is off by several hours (and not in a way that I can detect a pattern and just measure from a baseline). I could maybe even deal with that if the app itself was useable. I’m pretty tech savvy and find this app bafflingly difficult to understand/ navigate. I mean, near impossible. I’ve been using it now for months and still I struggle..Ellis1879Version: 2.7.2

Was great… than it stopped working properlyInitially this app was great for helping me get off of my apps and getting my work done, but now I’m deleting it because it became unusable. An update occurred and the app completely stopped functioning properly. I gave myself 4 hours of social media time a day. I tend to be awake late at night and don’t go to bed until the next day starts, and suddenly less an ONE HOUR into the day my apps are blocked and nothing I try will fix it. It’s not worth the headache to try and figure out what is wrong with it and I will not be redownloading. It doesn’t work anymore and it’s ridiculous. It was working great before and now it doesn’t work at all. Thank you for at least getting me through finals, but I’m sad to have to let it go now..KK2134Version: 2.17

Effective but buggyThis app is great in design and concept, and I appreciate how thought-through all the options and customizations are. That said, it is buggy to the point of being unusable. My main complaint is that it constantly logs time towards by block app total when I’m not using any blocked apps. I dunno if it’s counting apps that are on in the background or maybe notifications on my Home Screen or watch or something. But every other day it’ll tell me I’ve hit my limit when my phone isn’t even open, which shouldn’t possible. It also does this thing where when in block mode for some reasons the auto fill search suggestions in safari don’t work. So weird..Dan OrkinVersion: 2.14.4

New Mandatory SubscriptionI have been using this app for months. It was free, and yes, it was moderately helpful. They did offer a subscription for “full access,” but I only used my 2 free blockers. One day, I realized the app wasn’t blocking my social media, which led to doomscrolling and more stress. I opened the app, and all of a sudden I HAVE to pay. There is no more free option. It just feels cheap and deceitful to have it free and then, without warning, have the free option disappear (which was already SO limited). It just feels like the app was meant to help, and all of a sudden they take it away for a cash grab, trying to insist that I pay for the help..ShinosaurusVersion: 2.14.4

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