ClearSpace and Repscroll both use exercise as a mechanism to reduce screen time, but they take different approaches. If you're trying to decide between them, this comprehensive comparison will help.
Overview
ClearSpace
ClearSpace is a screen time app that combines multiple strategies: breathing exercises, pushup challenges, and social accountability through friend groups and challenges.
Repscroll
Repscroll focuses purely on the exercise-for-screen-time model, using AI form correction to ensure quality reps before unlocking blocked apps.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ClearSpace | Repscroll |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + Premium | Free to download |
| Exercise Options | Pushups | Pushups, Squats, Planks |
| Form Checking | Kinematic tracking | AI form correction |
| Social Features | Yes (friends, challenges) | No |
| Breathing Option | Yes | No |
| Hard Lock | No | Yes |
| Emergency Access | No | Yes (with penalty) |
| Health Sync | Yes | Yes |
Exercise Implementation
ClearSpace
ClearSpace offers pushups as one option among several for earning screen time. The app uses kinematic tracking to count reps. You can also use breathing exercises as an alternative.
The social element is central: you can join friend groups, compare streaks, and participate in challenges. Seeing friends doing their pushups creates accountability.
Repscroll
Repscroll makes exercise the sole method of unlocking apps (no breathing alternatives). The AI doesn't just count reps - it evaluates form. If your pushup doesn't go low enough, it doesn't count.
You have three exercise options:
- Pushups: 2 reps = 1 minute
- Squats: 3 reps = 1 minute
- Planks: 5 seconds = 1 minute
The focus is on quality exercise and strict accountability rather than social features.
Strictness Level
ClearSpace
ClearSpace provides friction but isn't designed to be unbypassable. The breathing exercise alternative means you can always get through without physical exercise. The philosophy is more about building awareness and community support.
Repscroll
Repscroll's Hard Lock mode is designed to be strict. Once enabled:
- You cannot uninstall the app
- You cannot force-close to bypass
- You must complete the exercise to access blocked apps
The Emergency Scroll feature provides an escape valve, but with consequences: you owe extra exercises later or lose access for 24 hours.
Social vs Solo
ClearSpace: Social-First
ClearSpace believes social accountability drives behavior change. Features include:
- Friend groups where you can see each other's progress
- Challenges you can participate in together
- Streak tracking with social visibility
- The ability to see when friends are scrolling vs. exercising
This works well for people motivated by external accountability and friendly competition.
Repscroll: Solo Focus
Repscroll doesn't have social features. The accountability comes from:
- The app's strict enforcement (can't cheat)
- Your own commitment to the system
- Progress tracking in Apple Health
This works well for people who prefer self-driven change or find social features distracting.
Pricing
ClearSpace
- Free tier: Basic features with limitations
- Premium: Additional features, typically $4.99-9.99/month
Repscroll
- Feature-rich: Advanced AI form correction and constantly updated exercise library
Exercise Accuracy
ClearSpace
ClearSpace uses kinematic tracking for pushups, which works reasonably well for counting reps. Form checking exists but is less stringent.
Repscroll
Repscroll's AI form correction is more demanding. It evaluates:
- Range of motion (are you going low enough?)
- Body position (are you maintaining proper form?)
- Movement quality (no bouncing or half-reps)
This means harder to cheat but also better actual exercise.
User Experience
ClearSpace
Opening a blocked app shows options:
- Do breathing exercise (~15-30 seconds)
- Do pushups (counted via kinematic tracking)
- Check on friends
The interface emphasizes community and multiple paths to access.
Repscroll
Opening a blocked app shows:
- Select exercise type
- Place phone, complete exercise
- AI verifies form and counts reps
- App unlocks for earned duration
The interface is minimal and focused purely on the exercise transaction.
Who Each App Is Best For
Choose ClearSpace if:
- You're motivated by social accountability
- You want friends to see your progress
- You prefer having alternatives (breathing) to exercise
- You enjoy challenges and competition
- You don't need strict/unbypassable blocking
Choose Repscroll if:
- You need strict accountability (Hard Lock mode)
- You care about proper exercise form
- You want multiple exercise options (pushups, squats, planks) with more being added regularly
- You want advanced AI form correction
- You don't want social features/distractions
- You want quality reps, not just counted reps
What Users Say
ClearSpace Users:
"Seeing my friends doing their pushups motivates me to do mine. The community aspect really helps."
"I appreciate having the breathing option for when I'm in public and can't do pushups."
"The challenges are fun but sometimes I feel competitive pressure to check the app."
Repscroll Users:
"I can't cheat it. The form correction caught my half-reps and made me do real pushups."
"No social features means no distraction. I just want to exercise and get my time."
"Three exercise options is perfect. I can switch between pushups and squats based on what I'm feeling."
Combining Both
Some users use both apps:
- ClearSpace: For social accountability and seeing friends' progress
- Repscroll: For the actual app blocking with strict enforcement
This provides both community support and unbypassable structure.
The Bottom Line
Both ClearSpace and Repscroll use exercise to reduce screen time, but they serve different needs:
ClearSpace is better if social accountability motivates you and you want flexibility in how you earn screen time.
Repscroll is better if you need strict enforcement, care about exercise quality, want multiple exercise types with a constantly updated library, and prefer a focused app with advanced AI.
The best app is the one you'll actually use consistently. If you're not sure, try Repscroll first and see if the solo, strict approach works. If you find yourself missing social accountability, ClearSpace might be a good addition or alternative.
Ready to earn your screen time? Download Repscroll free and see if strict accountability works for you.