# Freedom vs PERSISTENT Reminder

The clearest difference is rating: PERSISTENT Reminder at 5.0 against Freedom's 4.4. PERSISTENT Reminder also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and device support (4 vs 2). Freedom's advantage is ratings volume (5.9K vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 PERSISTENT Reminder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PERSISTENT Reminder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 5.9K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, PERSISTENT Reminder every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | PERSISTENT Reminder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (5.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/persistent-reminder/id6754955844/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.9K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 64.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 93 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [Kyle Hayes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1843989059) |

## 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)


### PERSISTENT Reminder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/persistent-reminder/id6754955844)

This minimalist tool helps you remember important tasks by displaying them as persistent notifications. See your goals on your Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, Mac desktop, Home Screen widgets, and Apple Watch complications. It's a focused approach to accomplishing your goals without alarms or complex lists.

**Highlights:** Persistent notifications, Live Activity display, Dynamic Island integration, Mac desktop reminders, Home Screen widgets, Apple Watch complications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is PERSISTENT Reminder free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Freedom or PERSISTENT Reminder?

PERSISTENT Reminder is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.9K ratings, while PERSISTENT Reminder averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Freedom or PERSISTENT Reminder have ads?

Neither Freedom nor PERSISTENT Reminder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Freedom or PERSISTENT Reminder?

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, and PERSISTENT Reminder every 5 weeks. Most recently, Freedom was updated on October 13, 2026 and PERSISTENT Reminder on September 30, 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.*