# Freedom vs Buffr

The clearest difference is rating: Buffr at 5.0 against Freedom's 4.4. Buffr also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 64%) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). Freedom's advantage is ratings volume (6K vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Freedom sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Buffr asks for nothing beyond the download.

Buffr holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 6K ratings behind it against 4, 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 100% of Buffr's.

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, Buffr monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | Buffr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buffr-rto-tracker/id6758641078/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 64.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 94 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [Kruppe Software, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874128038) |

## 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)


### Buffr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buffr-rto-tracker/id6758641078)

This app simplifies navigating return-to-office policies by tracking your office days and forecasting future compliance. It helps you meet weekly, monthly, or quarterly requirements with easy logging and customizable breakdowns.

**Highlights:** Track office days with a tap, Monitor RTO policy buffer, Forecast future compliance, Set default work days, View weekly/monthly breakdowns, Plan for absences

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is Buffr free?

Buffr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Buffr is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.4 out of 5 from 6K ratings, while Buffr averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Freedom or Buffr have ads?

Neither Freedom nor Buffr shows ads.

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

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, and Buffr monthly. Most recently, Freedom was updated on October 26, 2026 and Buffr on October 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*