Comparison

Time Study Buddy vs Screen Time Control

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Time Study Buddy

Streamline your time study process with this mobile application, designed to sync seamlessly with your desktop software. It offers specialized support for California County Social Services and Public Health programs. This tool is available at no cost to existing county customers.

Highlights
  • Parallel time study entry
  • Automatic data mirroring
  • Desktop software integration
  • Specialized county program support
  • Free for existing customers
Features
Read full description

Too busy to do your time study? You can now use this app to do so. It works in parallel with your existing desktop software. Entries in one are automatically mirrored in the other. This app is free for our existing county customers. We currently offer specialized products for two programs within California: County Social Services, and County Public Health MAA/TCM We host the hardware and software and county workers complete their time studies using either this app or on their desktop computer. For more information find us on the web or contact help@timestudybuddy.com

About

Screen Time Control

This app helps you reduce screen time by requiring a photo of your pet to access distracting apps. It uses image recognition to verify your pet and tracks your progress in reclaiming lost hours. Multiple modes are available for focused work or social accountability.

Highlights
  • Pet photo verification for app access
  • Block any distracting app
  • Screen time tracking and stats
  • Streak tracking for habit building
  • Multiple CatKey support
  • Loop, Focus, and Contract modes
Features
Read full description

CatNap puts your cat (or dog) in charge of your distracting apps. Pick the apps that eat your day, turn on CatNap mode, and they stay blocked until you get up, find your pet and scan them. That's the Cat Tax. HOW IT WORKS 1. Create a CatKey: a few photos of your pet, so CatNap knows who they are. 2. Choose the apps to block with Apple's Screen Time. 3. Start CatNap mode. When you want in, scan your pet: CatNap's AI checks the photo against your CatKey, so only your pet opens your apps. CATNAP MODES Loop: your apps stay blocked, each scan opens them for the stretch of time you pick, then they lock again. Focus: block your apps for one session. Contracts: start a session with friends as witnesses. End it early and they get a notification. EMERGENCY SKIPS Can't find your cat? Every month comes with a few Emergency Skips, and sharing CatNap can earn a bonus one. Every skip goes in your Cat Journal. PET ALARM Set an alarm that only stops when you scan your pet. Getting out of bed to find them is the point. SCHEDULES Block apps on a schedule, or start from a preset. CAT JOURNAL AND STATS Every scan and session is saved, with your screen-time totals and your streaks. FRIENDS Add friends by username and see where you land on the weekly leaderboard. Works with cats and dogs. Optional NFC tags can stand in for a scan. CatNap requires a subscription or purchase to use premium features, plans detailed below: PREMIUM PLANS ($2.99/week, $9.99/month, $39.99/year, $24.99/year discount): - More blocked apps - More CatNap sessions a day - More pets - More alarms - Your full Cat Journal The $2.99/week plan and the $39.99/year plan each start with a 3-day free trial. By downloading this app, you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy: Terms: apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy: trycatnap.com/privacy Support: format.partners/support Contact: hello@format.partners CatNap uses Apple's Screen Time to block apps and AI image recognition to check pet scans, which can make mistakes. It is made for managing your own screen time and is not a parental control app.

Screenshots

Time Study Buddy4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Screen Time Control at 4.7 against Time Study Buddy's 3.0. Screen Time Control also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (18 vs 2). Time Study Buddy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Time Study Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Screen Time Control holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screen Time Control has 18 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Time Study Buddy's written reviews are positive against 80% of Screen Time Control's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Time Study Buddy ships an update every 4 months, Screen Time Control fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Time Study Buddy versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTime Study BuddyScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.7 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better80.0% of reviews
Number of ratings218 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFiscal Experts, Inc.Format Partners LLC

Customer experience

Time Study Buddy

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Screen Time Control

All ratings18 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

None

Time Study Buddy

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions4
  • CatNap - Premium Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • CatNap - Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • CatNap - Premium Annual Coupon$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • CatNap - Premium Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Time Study Buddy free?
Time Study Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Time Study Buddy or Screen Time Control?
Screen Time Control is rated higher. Time Study Buddy averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.7 from 18 ratings.
Do Time Study Buddy or Screen Time Control have ads?
Neither Time Study Buddy nor Screen Time Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Time Study Buddy or Screen Time Control?
Time Study Buddy ships an update every 4 months, and Screen Time Control fortnightly. Most recently, Time Study Buddy was updated on November 3, 2026 and Screen Time Control on October 30, 2026.

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