Clearspace vs minimalist phone

Clearspace

• People who want friction before social apps rather than a hard block
• Phone users who want a time budget for each scrolling session
• Anyone motivated by accountability partners, streaks and exercise challenges

minimalist phone

• People who open social apps out of habit and want friction first
• Android users who want a text-only launcher in place of app icons
• Buyers who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription

Clearspace

• Clearspace publishes no pricing page; the only prices found are in-app purchases on the app stores.
• The US App Store lists three purchases named Clearspace Premium at $44.99, $49.99 and $59.99 without saying how they differ.
• The iOS app is for iPhone only and there is no Mac or Windows app; on a computer Clearspace runs as a Chrome extension.
• The Google Play listing leaves out the schedules and accountability partners that the iPhone listing describes.

minimalist phone

• There is no free plan: after the 7-day trial you choose a monthly, yearly or lifetime purchase.
• No prices are published on the vendor's site. The US App Store lists several amounts for each plan, and Google Play shows a range of $0.29 to $59.99 per item.
• The iPhone app requires iOS 17 or later and is not offered for iPad; there is no desktop or browser version.
• Hiding apps and notifications, monochrome mode and short-video blocking are listed for Android but not on the iPhone page.

Clearspace

Pause before opening

A selected app opens only after a short centering exercise such as a deep breath, which gives you a moment to decide whether to go in at all.

Session limits

You tell Clearspace how long you want to spend in an app, and it pulls you out when that time is up.

Blocking and schedules

Distracting apps can be blocked outright, and schedules set the windows when chosen apps may be used.

Screen time challenges

Screen time challenges are meant to train your attention, and exercise modes make you do pushups, squats or steps to earn scrolling time.

Accountability and reporting

On iPhone, trusted accountability partners help you keep to your goals, and streaks and budgets summarize your screen time.

Chrome extension

Blocks or limits websites with the same pause-before-opening step, hides social media feeds and offers a Reader Mode that strips a page down to its text.

minimalist phone

Icon-free home screen

A text-only list of apps takes the place of the icon grid. On Android the app is a launcher that replaces the default home screen; on iPhone the layout is built from text-based widgets.

App and website blocking

Block chosen apps and websites for a few hours, or put apps into a detox mode that the Android page says can run for 30 days.

Mindful launch delay

A 15-second pause before a chosen app opens, intended to interrupt the habit of opening apps without thinking.

In-app reminders

Set a time limit each time you open an app. A reminder appears while you are in it, and you are pushed out when the time is up.

Blocking schedules

Recurring windows in which chosen apps are blocked, for work, study or sleep. The vendor's iOS page lists them, while its App Store description still says they are coming soon.

Notification filter and monochrome mode

On Android you can hide apps and their notifications and show selected apps in black and white. The Google Play listing also mentions blocking short videos.

Clearspace

• Free$0

  The app is a free download. The store listings do not spell out what the free version includes.

• Clearspace Premium (Monthly)$6.99

  per month, US App Store in-app purchase

  Premium paid month to month. The listing does not itemize what Premium adds.

• Clearspace Premium (Annual)$44.99

  per year, US App Store in-app purchase

  Premium billed yearly. The listing also shows purchases named Clearspace Premium at $49.99 and $59.99 with no billing period.

• Clearspace Premium Family$79.99

  US App Store in-app purchase; billing period not shown

  A family version of Premium. The listing gives neither the billing period nor the number of people covered.

minimalist phone

• Monthly Plan$2.99 or $4.99

  per month, US App Store; two amounts listed

  Subscription with a 7-day free trial. The listing shows $4.99 and $2.99 and does not say which one a new subscriber pays.

• Annual Plan$9.99 or $19.99

  per year, US App Store; two amounts listed

  Yearly subscription with a 7-day free trial, listed at $19.99 and $9.99.

• Lifetime access$29.99 to $69.99

  one-time, US App Store; four amounts listed

  One-time purchase listed at $29.99, $49.99, $59.99 and $69.99. It is charged immediately, with a 7-day refund in place of a trial.

Clearspace

• Annual discount

  Annual Premium costs about 46% less than monthly

  The US App Store lists Clearspace Premium at $44.99 a year against $6.99 a month, which comes to $83.88 over twelve months.

minimalist phone

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime access for a one-time payment

  A lifetime option is sold alongside the monthly and yearly plans. The US App Store lists it at $29.99 to $69.99, and the vendor says it is charged immediately with a 7-day refund.