Freedom vs ScrollBuddy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Freedom
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.
- Block distracting apps and websites
- Schedule blocking sessions
- Sync across all devices
- Block the internet
- Locked Mode for habit commitment
- Focus sounds
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Block distracting apps and websites so you can focus, be more productive, and build better screen time habits. We've built the world's best app and website blocker, trusted by over 3 million individuals and teams to deliver focused attention for the things that matter most. During a Freedom session, when you attempt to open an app or website on your blocklist, Freedom blocks the app from opening and displays a peaceful green screen - reminding you that you're currently free of that distraction. Freedom users report gaining an average of 2.5 hours of productive time every day. They're more fulfilled, happier with work and family life, and have a healthier relationship with their technology. Schedule a Freedom app blocking session to start automatically when you need it – for complete, seamless control over distractions. Because Freedom works across all your devices, you'll feel confident knowing you're in complete control. We call it mindful productivity. There's no limit to the number of devices (including phones, tablets, and computers) you can connect to Freedom, so you can block apps and websites regardless of where you are or what you're doing. You'll stay focused, productive, and distraction-free. "Our favorite distraction-killing app blocker." – Lifehacker "One antidote to the always-on life is Freedom…" – Time Magazine "As Freedom shows, the solution to the problems created by technology isn't anti-technology, but more and better technology." – Huffington Post "Freedom has garnered celeb fans like Dave Eggers, Nick Hornby, Seth Godin, and Nora Ephron." – Mashable PEACE OF MIND - COVER EVERY DEVICE - For one price, Freedom covers all your devices (phones, tablets, and computers) with our powerful distraction-blocking technology. TURN OFF THE NOISE - BLOCK APPS and WEBSITES - Block distracting apps and websites for as long as you want. Select from a pre-made blocklist or create a custom blocklist of your time-consuming distractions. EXPERIENCE TOTAL PEACE - BLOCK THE INTERNET - Block the internet with a single button. Enjoy peace, quiet, and focus, away from all distractions. Freedom won't block important texts or calls, so you can enjoy offline time knowing you can be reached if need be! SMART COVERAGE - SYNC ACROSS YOUR DEVICES - Distractions aren't limited to your phone! Sync block sessions to your phones, tablets, and computers. There's no limit to the number of devices you can use. CREATE GOOD HABITS - USE POWERFUL SCHEDULING - Schedule your blocks now, later, or create recurring blocks to help make focus and productivity a habit. LOCKED MODE - Use Locked Mode to commit to breaking bad digital habits and addictions. FOCUS SOUNDS - Free audio tracks give you an assortment of music, café, office, and nature sounds to help you stay focused and productive, no matter where you are. We're excited about helping you be the best version of yourself. We're continually building new tools - and they're always included in your subscription. We've also got a great Perks program which offers discounts on top productivity products. SUBSCRIPTION PRICING AND TERMS We’re confident that you’ll love Freedom, but just so you can be sure, we offer a 7-day free trial of Freedom Premium. After that it’s only $39.99 per year. Many Freedom users tell us it pays for itself within a few days! These prices are for United States customers. Pricing in other countries may vary and actual charges may be converted to your local currency depending on the country of residence. Your Freedom subscription will automatically renew at the end of each term and your credit card will be charged through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can turn off auto-renew at any time from your iTunes account settings. Terms and Conditions - https://freedom.to/terms Privacy Policy - https://freedom.to/privacy Thank you!
ScrollBuddy
This app helps break addictive scrolling habits by introducing friction and scheduled limits. It allows you to set time budgets for your favorite social apps, offering gentle nudges and optional accountability with a partner. Focus on your well-being and reclaim your time with a kinder system.
- Scheduled time windows for app usage
- Daily time budgets for apps
- Kind block screens when time is up
- Limit multiple social apps in one place
- Micro-escape timers for breaks
- Optional buddy accountability
- Smart nudges and warnings
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Your apps start the day shut. You write up to three tasks, and finishing one earns thirty minutes with them. That is the whole loop. The apps you named are blocked from midnight, before you have to decide anything. Willpower at seven in the morning is a bad plan. A choice you already made is a good one. Then you write the day. One to three tasks, no more. SB, the buddy in the app, helps you turn a vague intention into something you can start, and asks about the one that is too big to begin. Once the page is sealed, that is the day. Finishing a task mints a pass: thirty minutes with your apps, and then they close again. Before a task counts as done, SB asks one honest question about it. "Done, really? What did the gym session actually look like?" Nobody checks your answer. That is the point. Passes bank, up to five. Spending one takes a moment. SB asks what it is for, the apps open for thirty minutes, and they shut again quietly when the time is up. An unspent pass is a good day. In the evening the bell rings at the hour you chose. SB tells the day back to you in your own words: what got done, what you said about it, what did not happen, and how much closer you are to this month's goal. Then he asks what tomorrow is for, and you write the next page before you sleep. The month has one goal, with a finish line you can count. Twelve gym sessions. Four chapters. Ten applications sent. Tasks either serve it or they do not, and the book keeps the tally. ScrollBuddy was built by one person. Your first full day is on the house: plan it, live it, finish it, and write tomorrow. After that it costs money to keep going: a small subscription, monthly or yearly, or a single purchase that keeps it for good. The prices are shown in the app before you decide. If it does not help, walk away free, no hard feelings. There is no account and no login. Your goal, your tasks, your honest answers and your day count live on your phone and nowhere else. There is no partner to disappoint, no leaderboard, and nobody reading your day but you. Blocking uses Apple's Screen Time permission. ScrollBuddy never sees which apps you open or what you do inside them.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Freedom at 64% against ScrollBuddy's 0%. Freedom also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (5.9K vs 9). ScrollBuddy's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Freedom sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and ScrollBuddy sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 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 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Freedom's written reviews are positive against 0% of ScrollBuddy's.
Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, ScrollBuddy every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Freedom | ScrollBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (5.9K ratings) — better | 3.9 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 64.2% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5.9K — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 — better | 26.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 93 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eighty Percent Solutions | Aaron Vinod |
Customer experience
Freedom
ScrollBuddy
Bugs and requests
Freedom
Reported bugs
3 issues- Blocks unintended apps/websites
- Fails to block certain apps like Facebook, Instagram
- Doesn't work in low power mode on iOS
Requested features
4 requests- 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)
ScrollBuddy
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Freedom
- Monthly Subscription$8.991 Month
- Freedom Monthly$12.991 Month
- Freedom Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year
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- Yearly Subscription1 Year trial$39.991 Year
- Freedom Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Freedom Forever$199.00
ScrollBuddy
- Weekly Premium$1.997 Days
- Monthly Premium$3.991 Month
- ScrollBuddy Monthly Premium$12.991 Month
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- Yearly Premium7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- ScrollBuddy Annual Premium$29.991 Year
- Good buddy$4.99
- Great buddy$9.99
- Best buddy$17.99
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- Lifetime Premium$49.99









