# Freedom vs Lifeback

The clearest difference is monetization model: Lifeback at free with in-app purchases against Freedom's subscription. Freedom's advantage is ratings volume (5.9K vs 79) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). On price, rating, 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 Lifeback sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.00 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 4.5 for Lifeback. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 5.9K ratings behind it against 79, 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 53% of Lifeback's.

Freedom ships an update every 9 days, Lifeback every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | Lifeback |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (5.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews) | **[4.5 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeback-screen-time-control/id6636464956/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.9K** | 79 |
| Positive reviews | **63.6% of reviews** | 52.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#191** | — |
| Size | 90 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [Control. Alt. Delete. LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762687184) |

## What reviewers say

### Freedom

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

**Currently charting:** #191 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)


### Lifeback

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeback-screen-time-control/id6636464956)

This app enhances your phone's screen time settings to help you focus better and achieve your goals. It offers app restrictions and time limits to reduce distractions and boost productivity. Many users report significant reductions in screen time and improved mental well-being.

**Highlights:** App restrictions and time limits, Focus reports and progress metrics, Instant app blocking, Scheduled blocking via calendar, Temporary unblocking for breaks, Hard mode for maximum protection, Shortcut integration for automation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $3.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $4.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $5.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $6.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $7.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $8.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $9.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $10.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $11.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $12.00 | per month |
| Promo Yearly Plan | $40.00 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $40.00 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $99.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Productivity boost
- 👍 Helpful for focus
- 🙌 Life-changing
- 💪 Effective for reducing distractions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- ⚠️ Unreliable app behavior
- 💰 Subscription issues

**Reported bugs**

- App closing unexpectedly
- Focus mode not working as expected
- Inconsistent app behavior

**Requested features**

- Better unblock functionality
- Improved notification system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is Lifeback free?

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

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

Lifeback is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.9K ratings, while Lifeback averages 4.5 from 79 ratings.

### Do Freedom or Lifeback have ads?

Neither Freedom nor Lifeback shows ads.

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

Freedom ships an update every 9 days, and Lifeback every 6 days. Most recently, Freedom was updated on September 24, 2026 and Lifeback on August 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.*