SETL vs ScreenZen
One is free on everything. One is built for the hour you lose.
Price
Built around
Automatic bedtime blocking
Nights off, planned ahead
Sleep left, on your Lock Screen
Rewards for keeping nights
Devices
ScreenZen details from its own site, checked September 2026. SETL prices are launch prices.
How SETL and ScreenZen differ
ScreenZen is free. Its site calls it "the only free screen time app for iOS, macOS, Windows and Android", supported by donations, with waits before apps open, daily limits and scheduled blocks.1
That is a genuinely strong offer, and if budget is the deciding factor you should try it.
SETL is paid, iPhone only, and narrower on purpose: everything in it exists to protect the hours around your bedtime, then your focus during the day.
See where both sit among the best screen time apps for iPhone.
Sources
Which one fits you
Bedtime is the battle
You want one app that guards the night, plans your exceptions, and makes keeping it feel like progress.
Price decides it
You want a capable blocker at no cost, across a laptop and a phone.
Free is hard to beat
Pay for SETL because the night matters most to you, not because free tools do nothing. See what you get.
SETL vs ScreenZen: FAQs
Is ScreenZen really free?
Yes. ScreenZen says it is completely free and donation supported, across iOS, macOS, Windows and Android, checked September 2026.
Why pay for SETL if ScreenZen is free?
Because SETL is built for one job: the hours around your bedtime, with planned nights off, a Sleep Reserve widget and rewards for nights you keep.
Which is better for sleep?
SETL is designed for bedtime first. ScreenZen can schedule blocks too, but its design covers screen time generally.
Does ScreenZen work on iPhone?
Yes, and also on macOS, Windows and Android. SETL is iPhone only for now.
How much is SETL?
SETL is $39.99 a year, $5.99 a month or $2.99 a week, with 7 nights free on yearly. See pricing.
Your phone can go to sleep first.
Join the SETL waitlist. Get up to 7 nights free when we launch.