Timeshifter vs Mobile Passport Control
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Timeshifter
This app provides personalized plans to combat jet lag based on circadian science. It offers practical advice for light exposure and avoidance to help you adjust to new time zones quickly and reduce symptoms like insomnia and sleepiness.
- Personalized jet lag plans
- Circadian Time™ advice
- Practicality Filter™
- Pre-travel adjustment advice
- Push notifications for advice
- Automatic detection of short trips
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Reduce jet lag with personalized plans based on the latest sleep and circadian science. Timeshifter creates a plan for every flight and time zone, tailored to your chronotype, sleep pattern, itinerary and personal preferences. Used by NASA astronauts, F1 teams, NBA players, Olympic athletes and frequent travelers - and rated "as good as it's going to get" by The New York Times. - The Wall Street Journal: "Indispensable" - Condé Nast Traveler: "Say goodbye to jet lag" - WIRED: "Will help reset your [circadian] clock" - Travel + Leisure: "Game-changer" WHAT YOU GET Jet lag plans that show exactly when to seek light, when to avoid it, when to sleep and when to nap, and how to use melatonin (optional) and caffeine correctly (optional) - hour by hour. PROVEN RESULTS Based on ~130,000 post-flight surveys: - 96.4% of travelers who followed their plan avoided severe jet lag entirely. - Travelers who ignored the advice were 6.2x more likely to experience severe jet lag - and 14.1x more likely to experience very severe jet lag. YOUR FIRST PLAN IS FREE Your first jet lag plan is free, with no commitment. After your free plan, you can buy plans as you go for US$9.99 per plan, or subscribe for unlimited plans at US$24.99. KEY FEATURES - Circadian Time™: advice timed to your circadian clock - Practicality Filter™: adjusts advice to the "real world" - Quick Turnaround®: automatically detects short trips - Pre-travel advice: start adjusting before departure - Push notifications: view advice without opening the app JET LAG MYTHS VS. CIRCADIAN SCIENCE Jet lag cannot be fixed with generic sleep advice, exercise, hydration, dietary supplements, special diets or fasting. None of these reset your circadian clock quickly to a new time zone. Light is the key time cue that resets your circadian clock. Individually-timed light exposure and light avoidance - based on your chronotype, your normal sleep pattern and your itinerary - is the only way to adjust to a new time zone quickly. Get the timing wrong and jet lag gets worse. Getting that timing right is complex and unintuitive, which is why generic advice fails. Timeshifter works as your jet lag calculator and planner, doing that timing for you. WHY WE MADE TIMESHIFTER We built Timeshifter to make circadian science accessible and help you apply it to reduce jet lag. It targets the underlying cause of jet lag - the disruption of your circadian clock - and reduces the symptoms that come with it, including insomnia, daytime sleepiness, fatigue and digestive discomfort. Timeshifter was developed with Dr. Steven W. Lockley, a Harvard Medical School faculty member for over 20 years and former neuroscientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He is an international authority on circadian rhythms and sleep, with more than 30 years of clinical research experience in humans, and works with NASA astronauts and mission controllers, F1 teams, NBA players, national soccer teams and Olympic athletes. Whether you are crossing one time zone or ten, on a long-haul flight or a quick turnaround, Timeshifter gives you a jet lag plan built for that trip. Download Timeshifter and make jet lag history on your next flight. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Timeshifter is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and is intended for healthy adults 18 years of age or older. Timeshifter is not intended for pilots and flight crew on duty. Terms of Use: www.timeshifter.com/legal/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: www.timeshifter.com/legal/privacy-policy
Mobile Passport Control
This official app expedites your U.S. arrival by allowing you to digitally submit your travel information and answer inspection questions. Capture photos of your group and receive a virtual receipt to present to Customs and Border Protection officers at select locations.
- Digital travel document submission
- Answer CBP inspection questions
- Group profile creation
- Securely stored travel information
- Virtual receipt generation
- Photo capture for verification
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Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is an official application created by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that streamlines your CBP inspection process at select U.S. entry locations. Simply complete your travel information, answer CBP inspection questions, capture a photo of yourself and of each member of your group, and follow the instructions provided on your receipt. Important Notes: • MPC does not replace your passport; your passport will still be required for travel. • MPC is only available at supported CBP entry locations. • MPC is a voluntary program which can be used by U.S. Citizens, certain Canadian Citizen Visitors, Lawful Permanent Residents, and returning Visa Waiver Program applicants with an approved ESTA. More information regarding eligibility and supported CBP entry locations can be found on our website: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control MPC can be used in 6 simple steps: 1. Create a primary profile to save your travel documents and biographic information. You can add and save additional eligible people to the MPC app so that you can submit together from one device. Your information will be securely stored on your device to be used for future travel. 2. Select your CBP port of entry, terminal (if applicable), and add up to 11 additional members of your group to include in your submission. 3. Answer CBP inspection questions and certify the truthfulness and accuracy of your answers. 4. Upon arriving at your selected port of entry, tap the “Yes, Submit Now” button. You will be asked to capture a clear and unobstructed photo of yourself and of each other person that you included in your submission. 5. Once your submission is processed, CBP will send a virtual receipt back to your device. Follow the instructions on your receipt and be prepared to present your passport and other relevant travel documents. 6. The CBP Officer will complete the inspection. If further information is required, the CBP Officer will let you know. Please note: The CBP Officer may ask to capture an additional photo of you or your group members for verification.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mobile Passport Control at none against Timeshifter's 3. Mobile Passport Control also leads on ratings volume (651K vs 2.7K) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Timeshifter's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 63%) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, ads, chart position 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
Both are free to download. Timeshifter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. Mobile Passport Control asks for nothing beyond the download.
Mobile Passport Control holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mobile Passport Control has 651K ratings behind it against 2.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 92% of Timeshifter's written reviews are positive against 63% of Mobile Passport Control's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Timeshifter ships an update weekly, Mobile Passport Control fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.
| Parameter | Timeshifter | Mobile Passport Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (2.7K ratings) | 4.9 (651K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 91.8% of reviews — better | 62.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.7K | 651K — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #32 — better | #54 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 62 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Timeshifter Inc. | US Customs and Border Protection |
Customer experience
Timeshifter
Mobile Passport Control
User reviews
Timeshifter
From 2.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Effective at reducing jet lag
- 💡 Personalized recommendations
- ⏱️ Helpful notifications
- 🔍 Explains the science behind the recommendations
Room to improve
- 🕰️ Difficult to follow recommendations during travel
- 🤒 Melatonin not always readily available
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
Mobile Passport Control
From 651K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Saved time at customs
- 🚀 Seamless and fast process
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Intuitive app
- 🔒 Secure and official app
Room to improve
- 🐛 App not working or glitchy
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with new passports
- 🐛 Location services not working
- 🐛 Submission issues
- ❌ App not accepted at some airports
Bugs and requests
Timeshifter
Reported bugs
2 issues- App crashing or getting stuck on a white screen
- Issues with account login and data loss
Requested features
3 requests- Ability to adjust plan for unexpected schedule changes
- Integration with fitness trackers or sleep apps
- Recommendations for meal timing and nutrition
Mobile Passport Control
Reported bugs
3 issues- Incorrect date/time due to time zone issues
- Passport scanning not working properly
- Crashes or freezes when submitting form
Requested features
4 requests- Add support for NEXUS
- Allow saving traveler profiles
- Provide better instructions and guidance
- Display real-time status of MPC lanes at airports
In-app purchases
Timeshifter
- Timeshifter$24.991 Year
- discounted jet lag plan$4.99
- jet lag plan$9.99
Mobile Passport Control
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Timeshifter free?
Is Mobile Passport Control free?
Which has better reviews, Timeshifter or Mobile Passport Control?
Do Timeshifter or Mobile Passport Control have ads?
Which is updated more often, Timeshifter or Mobile Passport Control?
Which is more popular, Timeshifter or Mobile Passport Control?
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