# Freedom vs AppBlock

The clearest difference is monetization model: AppBlock at free with in-app purchases against Freedom's subscription. Freedom's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (64% vs 54%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Freedom sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and AppBlock sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AppBlock holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.9K and 6.7K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Freedom's written reviews are positive against 54% of AppBlock's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Freedom ships an update every 9 days, AppBlock every 5 days. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | AppBlock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (5.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews) | **[4.6 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appblock-block-apps-websites/id1515753232/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5.9K | **6.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **64.0% of reviews** | 54.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 90 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [MobileSoft s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/998289700) |

## What reviewers say

### Freedom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228)

This app helps you block distracting apps and websites to improve focus and productivity. Schedule blocking sessions across all your devices to build better screen time habits and reclaim productive hours.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps and websites, Schedule blocking sessions, Sync across all devices, Block the internet, Locked Mode for habit commitment, Focus sounds

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| Freedom Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Freedom Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Freedom Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Freedom Forever | $199.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective at blocking distractions
- 👍 Customizable blocklists
- 🔒 Locked mode prevents bypassing
- 💡 Cross-device sync
- 👍 Helpful for productivity and focus

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent blocking, doesn't always work as expected
- 🐛 Scheduled sessions don't always start automatically
- 🐛 Buggy, crashes frequently
- 🔒 Easy to bypass by disabling VPN or deleting app
- 👎 Limited app blocking on iOS

**Reported bugs**

- Blocks unintended apps/websites
- Fails to block certain apps like Facebook, Instagram
- Doesn't work in low power mode on iOS

**Requested features**

- Allow specific app whitelisting
- Add time limit/usage tracking features
- Improve scheduling options (e.g. by day, not just time)
- Better integration with mobile OS features (e.g. iOS Screen Time)


### AppBlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appblock-block-apps-websites/id1515753232)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting applications and websites. It offers customizable schedules and strict modes to reduce screen time, improve focus, and support healthier digital habits.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Block time-wasting websites, Control screen time, Customizable blocking schedules, Strict mode to prevent bypassing restrictions, Detailed statistics on screen time usage, Focus sessions for work and study

**Features:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| AppBlock Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Effective at blocking apps
- 🚀 Helps reduce screen time and improve productivity
- 💡 Strict mode prevents bypassing of restrictions
- 🔒 Difficult to uninstall the app
- 🎉 Game-changer for managing phone addiction

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Blocking not always consistent or reliable
- 🔓 Easy to bypass restrictions by disabling Screen Time permissions
- 💰 Premium version required for full functionality
- 🤔 Confusing or limited free version
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Scheduled blocks not always activating properly
- App crashing or becoming unresponsive
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between modes

**Requested features**

- Add ability to block Safari and other browsers
- Implement syncing across devices
- Provide more granular control over blocking schedules
- Show remaining time for app limits
- Make strict mode truly unbreakable


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is AppBlock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Freedom or AppBlock?

AppBlock is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.9K ratings, while AppBlock averages 4.6 from 6.7K ratings.

### Do Freedom or AppBlock have ads?

AppBlock shows ads; Freedom does not.

### Which is updated more often, Freedom or AppBlock?

Freedom ships an update every 9 days, and AppBlock every 5 days. Most recently, Freedom was updated on September 26, 2026 and AppBlock on September 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.*