# Freedom vs Screen Time Control

The clearest difference is rating: Freedom at 4.4 against Screen Time Control's 3.9. Freedom also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (5.9K vs 7). Screen Time Control's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (80% vs 64%). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Freedom sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Screen Time Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Freedom holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 5.9K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Freedom's written reviews are positive against 80% of Screen Time Control'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, Screen Time Control every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | Screen Time Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews)** | [3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-limitup/id6599848430/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.9K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 64.0% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#200** | — |
| Size | 90 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [Perpetio OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465591634) |

## What reviewers say

### Freedom

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

**Currently charting:** #200 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

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)


### Screen Time Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-limitup/id6599848430)

This app helps you master your screen time and boost productivity by tracking usage, blocking distracting apps, and setting custom goals. It offers personalized insights and challenges to encourage healthier digital habits and a better online-offline balance.

**Highlights:** Smart screen time tracking, App blocking for focus sessions, Customizable time limits, App impact scoring, Friendly competition and challenges, Detailed usage analytics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is Screen Time Control free?

Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Freedom or Screen Time Control?

Freedom is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.9K ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 3.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do Freedom or Screen Time Control have ads?

Screen Time Control shows ads; Freedom does not.

### Which is updated more often, Freedom or Screen Time Control?

Freedom ships an update every 9 days, and Screen Time Control every 3 weeks. Most recently, Freedom was updated on September 26, 2026 and Screen Time Control on June 20, 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.*