# Freedom vs Parkbench

The clearest difference is monetization model: Parkbench at freemium against Freedom's subscription. Parkbench also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). Freedom's advantage is ratings volume (6K vs 5). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and Parkbench sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Parkbench holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 6K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, Parkbench every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | Parkbench |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews) | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkbench-app-blocker/id6761879071/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 64.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 94 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [GADForge LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/916019631) |

## 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)


### Parkbench

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkbench-app-blocker/id6761879071)

This app helps you reduce screen time by blocking distracting apps and websites. Instead of opening them, you'll see a calming park scene that grows with your focus. Set schedules and time limits to protect your quiet hours.

**Highlights:** Block apps and websites, Visual focus timer with growing park, Customizable schedules, Time limits for apps, NFC tag integration, Privacy-focused design

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parkbench Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Parkbench Premium | $27.99 | per year |
| Parkbench Premium, Lifetime | $84.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is Parkbench free?

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

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

Parkbench is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6K ratings, while Parkbench averages 4.8 from 5 ratings.

### Do Freedom or Parkbench have ads?

Neither Freedom nor Parkbench shows ads.

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

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, and Parkbench every 5 days. Most recently, Freedom was updated on October 27, 2026 and Parkbench on October 24, 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.*