Roots is not just another screen time app. We're the first to quantify the digital dopamine you get from using your phone, and we help you build a better relationship with your phone from the ground up.
Hey everyone! 👋
Clint here, founder of Roots - I'm excited to share what we've been working on, and offer you a sweet discount for you to try it out.
🌳 What is Roots?
Roots helps you build a better relationship with your phone — by quantifying your digital dopamine, helping you replace time spent scrolling with better things, and adding a little friction to those troublesome apps.
💡 What problem do we solve?
Our phones are incredible tools, but they can also be very addicting. We help you build a thoughtful relationship with your phone — so you can scroll less, be more present, and unlock time for better things.
✅ How is Roots different?
There are other screen time apps, and Apple even has some built in tools that can help, but we're different, and here's why:
- Monitor Digital Dopamine (not all screen time is equal)
- Block apps with Monk Mode (limits you can't skip)
- Track your Balance Score (like a sleep score for your phone)
- Set up Scroll Replacements (for me, it's reading and walking outside)
- Build a streak and earn cheat days (scroll away, guilt free)
🎯 Who is Roots for?
We all struggle with our phone screen time, but we've found Roots adds the most value for working professionals, parents, remote workers, and health enthusiasts who want to:
- Unlock more time
- Boost productivity
- Improve your wellbeing
- Strengthen relationships
- Get better sleep
📱Does it actually work?
Our average user is saving 2 hours per day thanks to Roots. We have a lot of people who have tried countless other apps, and tricks to limit screen time — and they're telling us Roots is the first thing they've actually been able to stick to.
💰Special offer for Product Hunt:
Try Roots free for 7 days, plus get 50% off our paid plan (so, only ~$2.50 per month) with discount code "PH50".
Plus, we offer free and discounted subscriptions through our needs-based program for students, teachers, and other folks who need a little help.
❓Frequently asked questions:
- What exactly are digital dopamine hits? The best way to describe it simply is to think of all the taps, scrolls, notifications, and attention grabbing content you engage with — all of these little things can trigger the little dopamine 'hit'.
- What if it doesn't work for me? We offer a free trial, and 100% money-back guarantee
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@clinjar Roots sounds like a fantastic solution for cultivating a healthier relationship with our phones, Clint! 🌱 I liked the focus on digital dopamine and thoughtful app usage. Waiting to see how Roots helps users reclaim their time and boost well-being. Great work!
@shadmannazim Awesome to hear that you like the app focus, and appreciate the positive feedback! We hope you can check it out and let us know what you think!
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Hey @clinjar, your app is tagged as "coming soon" on the App store, with an expected release on Dec 31st 2024. Do I missed something ?
@leonardsellem thanks for the note! We are "coming soon" in some EU countries at the moment, but we are planning to launch soon (hopefully well before Dec!). Thanks for your interest, and we're excited for you to try it out when we go live in France!
Hi all makers and creatives! I’m Pontus, Co-Founder & Head of Design at Roots and I'm thrilled to introduce what we are building to you all! I thought I'd share a bit about our design vision and principles as you get familiar with Roots for the first time 🌳
I could start by saying that simplicity is one of our core principles, which it is, but I want to highlight an even more important focus: Supportive. It's tough to get off our phones, it truly is, and I've struggled with this for many years as well. It often starts with a bit of scrolling and ends up consuming all of you. That's why we aim to deliver an experience that feels supportive in facing this challenge. All the way from our tree illustration, representing your daily balance score, to the way we communicate, provide information, and gently nudge you to put down your phone – all without negativity or disruption.
We strive for a product experience free from unnecessary complexities, ensuring the highest quality of interactions to move you through Roots seamlessly.
Lastly, we infuse playfulness into our design with thoughtful details like animations and transitions. Currently, our app has a light and fresh look, but we’re excited to bring you a lovely dark mode soon. Until then, our website offers a dark, cinematic vibe, perfect for showcasing vivid visuals and depth. Check it out at http://getroots.app and explore the details we’ve crafted so far – I think you’ll like it!
We're just getting started, so if you have any thoughts or questions, especially on the design side, I'm here for you! I can't wait to continue this journey with you all as we will launch in Europe very soon too!
Thanks a lot for your support! 🚀
/Pontus
@jo_jo26 Very excited that this resonates with you! Totally agree with you and absolutely, we are here to help you get the best sleep you've ever had hopefully haha! A great simple setup is to have a phone downtime at 9-11pm right before bed, blocking out social media etc!
@jo_jo26 That sounds awesome! Totally get what you mean! FOMO, fear of missing out, from social activity once reduced is definitely one of the struggles we try to help with and there are several ways you can setup your limits so that it doesn't overwhelm you in this habit change. We're here if you want any further tips!
@jo_jo26 Compromising is definitely a part of it but maybe even more so to be kind to ourselves and not make a too big of a first step. So starting small instead with a little less screen time per day and then increase week by week. Curious on how it goes!
I've been one of those guys. Spending hours on socials thinking I am networking while the work I have to get done keeps on sitting, or my life partner is just doom-scrolling instead of making a closer connection. Tried all competitors, iOS screen time, and honestly - all were bulshit. Roots changed my perception on how to connect with the world, that's not in our screens and helped me cure my addiction to constantly check what's going on, as honestly - if it was important somebody would call me. Couldn't recommend Roots more!
@denisjeliazkov Thanks so much for your support and appreciation Denislav! Your story is so relatable to so many of us! We are certainly on a big mission here to find better balance in life with less scrolling and more presence in life. Super exciting, thanks again! 🙏
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Love this! We definitely all need it. And I love the name too. Back to the Roots :)
@jasmina_stamenovic Thanks so much Jasmina! So excited it resonates with you, and our name! :) Would love your thoughts when you get into it – here for you if you have any questions!
@anastasiia_stepko Hi Anastasiia, thanks for your note! Really love your Pomodoro timer by the way, looks amazing!
@clinjar can probably break it down even more for you but from my design side of things, UI is definitely a big part of an experience being excellent as it very quickly becomes complicated and confusing otherwise.
Digital Dopamine monitoring is a key differentiator as all screen time shouldn't be treated equally since they do affect us differently. Daily balance score is powerful to see how balanced your days are in terms of time on or off your phone, and if you stick to your goals. Scroll replacements is also a big one, as with every habit, you often need to replace a bad one with a new one - Like calling your mom and check in with her on the latest in her life instead of watching another Instagram reel.
@anastasiia_stepko Thank you for the note! I think Pontus did a great job with some of the differences but I'll add a few more thoughts!
We think that any great market will have several leaders (think UPS & Fedex, Calm & Headspace, Zoom & Teams, etc). In this case, and many other markets, there is some overlap in the top rated solutions.
We think the brand, approachability, and design are key differentiators, in addition to the unique features Pontus mentioned — digital dopamine tracking, daily balance score, monk mode, and scroll replacements.
A lot of the screen time apps have a similar goal (to get you off your phone!), but it's fun to see all the different ways various teams are approaching the problem.
We believe the market is big enough to support several big players, and would love for you to give Roots a try and see what you think.
@kehui_guo Thanks a lot Kehui! Much appreciated and so much more to come! We hope that you will enjoy Roots, let us know if you have any thoughts or questions! 🌳
The concept of digital dopamine is intriguing. How does Roots measure and quantify it, and what kind of insights can users gain from this data? Any plans to expand beyond iOS? Congrats on the launch, Clint & Pontus!
@kyrylosilin thanks for the note and good questions!
The best way to think about quantifying digital dopamine is — all of the little taps, scrolls, and notifications that happen on your device as you use it. We also have a more detailed write up about it here: https://www.getroots.app/posts/c...
The insights you can gain from it include:
- understanding which apps have the biggest impact on you each day (not just based on screen time)
- watching your overall digital dopamine trend over time as a key indicator of your balance with your phone
We use the apple screen time api so all data is completely private and stays on your device.
Last but not least, we do have plans to expand internationally and will be launching in EU and most other countries we aren’t currently live in before the end of the year (if not sooner!)
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Quite a set of interesting and thoughtfully designed features to help reduce screentime.
Is it odd that I am bugged by the fact that the app is called Roots, but instead of showing the roots, it shows everything else other than the roots of the tree 🌳 in terms of branding. 😅
Also, what inspired the name "Roots"?
@naomigarcia Hi Naomi! First off, I love your clever Beeyond startup name! Looks bee-utiful 🐝
Thanks a lot for your comment and that's an interesting reflection!
We have a lot of ideas on how to expand our brand representation but we landed on a tree rather than roots for a possibly more appealing look - At least I have never seen any too fancy looking roots 😄
Our name however is originated very much in what it means, to go back to our roots reminding us of the vital connection to the Earth, acknowledging a time before we spent our days staring at screens and the importance of spending time outside. Actually, one of our upcoming ambitions is to lean even more into this aspect of not just spending less time on screens, but more time outside in nature.
The underlying community we all need Is also a big part of this — the roots of trees being interconnected, and allowing them to communicate, and grow together — like our community striving for better balance in life
I hope that you will like Roots, would love to hear your thoughts once you get into it! 🙏
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The Monk Mode is perfect for blocking out distractions. Great job, Clint!
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