ActionDash vs ScreenZen (2026): which should you pick?

Pick ActionDash if

• Fits if you want to see and cap your phone use on Android
• Works for people who want a focus mode without paying up front

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use iPhone or a computer, because it is Android only
• Watch out: website blocking depends on Android's Accessibility Service
• Watch out: the cost of any paid tier is unconfirmed, as no pricing page exists
• Watch out: the email manager sends Gmail data to the vendor's servers, which the site says are encrypted

Pick ScreenZen if

• Fits if you want a screen time blocker without another subscription
• Works for people who'd rather slow social apps down than delete them

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you'd rather not grant the Accessibility permission on Android, which website blocking relies on
• Skip it if you're outside the US and want halo, since it ships to the US only
• Skip it if you work on Linux or in a browser, as the apps are for phones, Mac and Windows only
• Watch out: halo costs $49 and needs iOS 16.4 or Android 12.0 or later
• Watch out: the Windows version is a direct download from the site, and no integrations are listed

ActionDash

• Android only; the vendor lists no iPhone or desktop version.
• No pricing page exists, and the Play listing does not show a price for the in-app items, so the cost of any paid tier is unconfirmed.
• Website blocking relies on Android's Accessibility Service, as the Play listing explains.
• The email manager sends Gmail data to the vendor's servers, which the site says are encrypted.

ScreenZen

• The app is funded by donations; its in-app purchases are optional tips, listed from $5 to $40 on the US App Store.
• The halo companion device costs $49, ships to the US only and works with iOS 16.4 or later and Android 12.0 or later.
• The Windows version is a direct download from ScreenZen's site, while the Mac version shares the App Store listing with the iPhone and iPad app.
• On Android, website blocking relies on the Accessibility permission.

ActionDash

Screen time breakdown

Shows usage per app, notification counts and unlock frequency, with trends over days, weeks and months.

Focus mode

Pauses distracting apps in one tap, and can switch on by schedule for work, study or bedtime.

App usage limits

Sets a daily time limit for any app and notifies you as you approach it.

Sleep mode

Schedules a sleep window that disables apps, according to the Play listing.

Inbox cleanup

Connects to Gmail to show top senders, unsubscribe from newsletters and bulk-delete old mail.

ScreenZen

Delay before an app opens

A wait is added before a distracting app opens, and it can lengthen with each open. A message of your choice, such as a question to yourself, is shown meanwhile.

Interrupted sessions

Apps can be opened for short periods only, so each session ends with a prompt to decide whether to keep going.

Limits and strict blocks

Set a daily goal per app and optionally block it at the limit. Strict blocks can apply to time ranges, after a number of opens or after a set screen time.

Schedules by day and time

Settings can differ by day of the week and time of day for each app, for example stricter rules during work hours or at bedtime.

Lock mode

Settings can be locked so they cannot be changed on impulse, and the site says lock mode can prevent uninstalling the app.

halo companion device

An optional Bluetooth device, sold separately, that blocks chosen apps while the phone is inside its radius of up to 50 ft, such as a bedroom.

ActionDash

Pricing could not be confirmed. See actiondash.com.

ScreenZen

• ScreenZen$0

  The complete app: delays, limits, strict blocks, schedules and lock mode. Optional tips of $5 to $40 are listed on the US App Store.