# Freedom vs Turning

The clearest difference is monetization model: Turning at freemium against Freedom's subscription. Freedom's advantage is ratings volume (5.9K vs 35) and rating (4.4 vs 4.1). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Freedom sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Turning sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Freedom holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 5.9K ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Freedom's written reviews are positive against 68% of Turning'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, Turning every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | Turning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews)** | [4.1 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/turning-app-blocker-for-study/id6449270376/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.9K** | 35 |
| Positive reviews | 63.6% of reviews | **67.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 90 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [HUSTLERS Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643475993) |

## 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)


### Turning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/turning-app-blocker-for-study/id6449270376)

Manage your smartphone usage to boost focus and build better habits. This app helps you intentionally use only the apps you need, when you need them, with features like a 24-hour lock system and a deep focus mode for stricter control. Track your progress and gain insights to reduce screen time and improve productivity.

**Highlights:** 24-hour app lock system, Deep Focus Mode with per-app limits, Categorize helpful and distracting apps, Personalized usage statistics tracking, Digital buddy 'Turny' for mood feedback, Build healthy smartphone habits

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly plan | $7.99 | per month |
| Yearly plan | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly plan | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime plan | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is Turning free?

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

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

Freedom is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.9K ratings, while Turning averages 4.1 from 35 ratings.

### Do Freedom or Turning have ads?

Neither Freedom nor Turning shows ads.

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

Freedom ships an update every 9 days, and Turning every 10 days. Most recently, Freedom was updated on September 24, 2026 and Turning on September 23, 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.*