# Freedom vs Lerf

The clearest difference is rating: Lerf at 5.0 against Freedom's 4.5. Lerf also leads on monetization model (free vs subscription) and review sentiment (100% vs 64%). Freedom's advantage is ratings volume (6.1K vs 15). 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 Lerf sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lerf holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 6.1K ratings behind it against 15, 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 Lerf's.

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, Lerf every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | Lerf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (6.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews) | **[5.0 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lerf-screen-time-app-blocker/id6772977644/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.1K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 94 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [Grant Hergenroeder](https://appshunter.io/developer/1729593612) |

## 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)


### Lerf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lerf-screen-time-app-blocker/id6772977644)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking distracting applications during specific periods. It offers flexible blocking modes and ambient sounds to support relaxation, study, or sleep. The focus is on protecting your time and peace without intrusive tracking.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Set custom session timers, Easy and Strict blocking modes, Ambient soundscapes, Designed for minimal interaction, Protect personal time

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lerf Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Lerf Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Lerf Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Lerf Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Lerf Yearly | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

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

### Is Lerf free?

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

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

Lerf is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.1K ratings, while Lerf averages 5.0 from 15 ratings.

### Do Freedom or Lerf have ads?

Neither Freedom nor Lerf shows ads.

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

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, and Lerf every 5 days. Most recently, Freedom was updated on November 7, 2026 and Lerf on October 31, 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.*