# Freedom vs 3 Minute Journal

The clearest difference is monetization model: 3 Minute Journal at free with in-app purchases against Freedom's subscription. 3 Minute Journal also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). Freedom's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (6.1K vs 12). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Freedom sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and 3 Minute Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 — 4.4 for Freedom against 4.6 for 3 Minute Journal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 6.1K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Freedom's written reviews are positive against 63% of 3 Minute Journal's.

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, 3 Minute Journal every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | 3 Minute Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (6.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews) | **[4.6 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3-minute-journal/id1621951579/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.1K** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **64.3% of reviews** | 62.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 94 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [YATB LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621951581) |

## 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)


### 3 Minute Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3-minute-journal/id1621951579)

Record your thoughts and reflections using your voice. This app transcribes your audio entries into text, offering both formats for a faster and more engaging journaling experience. Reflect on what's annoying, beautiful, or what you're thankful for daily.

**Highlights:** Voice recording for journal entries, Automatic audio transcription to text, Daily prompts for reflection, Dual audio and text formats, User-friendly interface, Promotes mindfulness

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 Minute Journal Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| 3 Minute Journal Pro | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is 3 Minute Journal free?

3 Minute Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Freedom or 3 Minute Journal?

3 Minute Journal is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.4 out of 5 from 6.1K ratings, while 3 Minute Journal averages 4.6 from 12 ratings.

### Do Freedom or 3 Minute Journal have ads?

3 Minute Journal shows ads; Freedom does not.

### Which is updated more often, Freedom or 3 Minute Journal?

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, and 3 Minute Journal every 2 days. Most recently, Freedom was updated on October 30, 2026 and 3 Minute Journal on October 6, 2026.

---

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