minimalist phone vs ScreenZen

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

ScreenZen

• People who want a screen time blocker without paying a subscription
• Adding a pause before social apps instead of removing them
• Keeping phones out of use in the bedroom with the optional halo device

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ScreenZen

No public discounts listed.