# Liberate vs Refocus

Liberate and Refocus both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 93% of Refocus's written reviews are positive against 46% of Liberate's. Refocus also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 868) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Liberate's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Liberate sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Refocus sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Liberate against 4.8 for Refocus. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Refocus has 12K ratings behind it against 868, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of Liberate's written reviews are positive against 93% of Refocus's.

Liberate ships an update every 2 weeks, Refocus weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Liberate | Refocus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (868 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/liberate-screen-time-control/id1214636633/reviews) | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refocus-app-blocker-and-lock/id1645639057/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 868 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | 45.9% of reviews | **93.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jordan Carney](https://appshunter.io/developer/549518152) | [Labi, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/455469767) |

## What reviewers say

### Liberate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/liberate-screen-time-control/id1214636633)

This app helps users reduce web distractions by blocking access to specified websites for a set period. It offers a simple, three-step process to create a blacklist and set an end date for blocking, encouraging users to be more productive.

**Highlights:** Block websites in Safari, Set end dates for blocking, Create custom blacklists, Reduce web distractions, Increase productivity

**Features:** Safari Extension

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Simple app
- 💰 Cheap
- ✅ Works well
- 🔒 Blocks websites effectively
- 📆 Allows setting time limits

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔧 Limited customization options
- 🔓 Easy to bypass
- 🚫 Doesn't block in Chrome
- 🚫 Doesn't block apps
- 🚫 Only blocks in Safari

**Reported bugs**

- Not blocking websites as configured
- Stopped working after iOS 18.4 update
- Incompatible with iOS 18.4

**Requested features**

- Allow setting different block times for each website
- Add password protection
- Implement allow lists instead of block lists
- Add iCloud sync and automation features
- Provide more blocking options (e.g. block by keyword)


### Refocus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refocus-app-blocker-and-lock/id1645639057)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers various methods to limit screen time, set schedules, and track your usage, promoting better focus and productivity.

**Highlights:** Block any app or website, Strict Mode with multiple unblocking challenges, Set app timers and time limits, Schedule blocking for specific times, Location-based blocking, Screen time analytics, macOS app available

**Features:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refocus Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $8.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro (Family) | $12.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| Reset Strict Mode | $1.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $5.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $10.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $50.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🚀 Effective at blocking distractions
- 💡 Customizable blocking schedules
- 🔒 Prevents mindless scrolling
- 🚀 Improved productivity and focus

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔓 Too easy to bypass the blocking
- 💰 Some features require paid subscription
- 🔓 Ability to delete app and remove restrictions

**Reported bugs**

- Blocking issues after phone restart
- Inconsistent behavior when pausing/unpausing sessions
- Crashing when trying to block apps in certain categories

**Requested features**

- Passcode or biometric lock to prevent bypassing
- More advanced blocking options (e.g., math problems to unblock)
- Ability to purchase a one-time license instead of subscription
- Notification warnings before blocking sessions end
- Search function to find apps to block more easily


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Liberate free?

Liberate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Refocus free?

Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Liberate or Refocus?

Refocus is rated higher. Liberate averages 4.7 out of 5 from 868 ratings, while Refocus averages 4.8 from 12K ratings.

### Do Liberate or Refocus have ads?

Refocus shows ads; Liberate does not.

### Which is updated more often, Liberate or Refocus?

Liberate ships an update every 2 weeks, and Refocus weekly. Most recently, Liberate was updated on October 24, 2026 and Refocus on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*