Comparison

Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness vs Unlock Mate

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

Head to head
About

Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by encouraging intentional usage of social media and other apps. It prompts you to set a purpose and duration before opening selected apps, and provides reminders to keep you focused. Reclaim your time and reduce mindless scrolling.

Highlights
  • Intentional app opening prompts
  • Set app usage duration
  • Mid-session intention reminders
  • Automatic app closure
  • Combats procrastination
  • Based on CBT principles
Read full description

In 2024, Oxford made “brain rot” the word of the year. The term means long, mindless scrolling on social media. But are social media really that bad? They still help us work, connect, and study. We believe the key is balance. Taskfulness helps you keep valuable interactions while limiting the doomscrolling. The results: our members save 28-36% of their screen time daily, without missing out. Want intentional screen time? Try Taskfulness free for 7 days. Built on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy principles.


 HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick an app 
 Select the apps that steal most of your time. For example, Instagram, WhatsApp, Reddit, Gmail, etc. 2. Set intention 
 Each time you open a chosen app, Taskfulness will pop up and ask: “Why do you need it?” and “For how long?”. Once you enter the reason, the app opens. 3. Stay focused* 
 Use the app for the duration you set. Mid-session, you’ll get a quick reminder of your original intention. When time’s up, the app closes automatically. 
 *works only with Reminders on WHY TASKFULNESS
 - No deleting accounts: Use social media intentionally. - Saves time: Our users reclaim an average of 28-36% or 14 hours of screen time per week. - Strong against procrastination: Combats reactiveness, time blindness, and distractions. - Built with expertise: Created by founders with ADHD, based on CBT, and approved by psychologists for effectiveness and safety. Let’s make your screen time short and focused! Taskfulness team. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Unlock Mate

This app helps you track why you unlock your phone, reducing distractions and boosting productivity. Log reasons instantly via tap or voice, gain insights into your usage patterns, and set smart reminders to stay focused.

Highlights
  • Instant reason logging
  • Voice input for logging
  • Productivity insights and charts
  • Smart reminders
  • Lock screen widget
  • Habit formation tools
Features
Read full description

Unlock Mate: Never Forget Why You Picked Up Your Phone Boost your productivity and mindfulness by tracking every time you unlock your phone. Unlock Mate helps you remember exactly why you reached for your device, reducing distractions and keeping you focused on what truly matters. Key Features: Instant Reason Logging: Quickly note why you unlocked your phone with just a tap or voice command. Voice Input: Use advanced speech recognition to log reasons hands-free and on-the-go. Productivity Insights: Visualize your unlock patterns and reasons with intuitive charts. Smart Reminders: Set custom alerts to stay on task and avoid unnecessary phone checks. Lock Screen Widget: Log reasons directly from your home screen for seamless tracking. Habit Formation: Build better digital habits by understanding your unlock triggers. Dark Mode: Easy on the eyes for late-night productivity. Multiple Languages: Stay productive in your preferred language. Privacy-First: All your data stays securely on your device. Ad-free experience for uninterrupted focus Stop wondering where your time goes when you pick up your phone. With Unlock Mate, you'll always know why you unlocked your device, helping you stay on track and boost your productivity. Download Unlock Mate now and transform every phone unlock into a mindful, productive moment! EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness4 screens
Unlock Mate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Unlock Mate at none against Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness's shown. Unlock Mate also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (81 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Unlock Mate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness has 81 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness ships an update every 3 weeks, Unlock Mate every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness versus Unlock Mate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLimit Screen Time・TaskfulnessUnlock Mate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (81 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings81 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size127 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCodescale GmbHCouplements UG (haftungsbeschrankt)

Customer experience

Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness

All ratings81 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral3.7%
Negative12.3%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative19.5%

Unlock Mate

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Upgrade button hangs and says Restore Purchase
  • Restore Purchase does not save anything
  • Frequent notifications even when not using phone
  • Notifications are delayed
  • Cannot delete the app
Show 15 more
  • Freezes on screen time app selections
  • Keyboard won't go away on AI screen
  • Text exceeds phone size during setup
  • Button at bottom of setup screen not visible
  • App freezes and won't open apps even with time left
  • New version ruined core feature
  • Dark mode gone with update
  • Settings go to default mode
  • Option to click 'I don't need it' disappeared
  • Intention check disappeared
  • App blocked unexpectedly
  • Autocorrect not working for purpose text
  • Long purpose text doesn't fit text box
  • Spelling errors in setup guide
  • Spelling errors in notification messages

Requested features

17 requests
  • Option to grandfather in old members
  • Better remedy for subscription model change
  • Fix bugs with frequent notifications
  • Clarify age ranges at sign up
  • Reintroduce pared-down free version
Show 12 more
  • Add timer alerts for when time is up
  • Option for unlimited mindful phone usage
  • Create a future task list
  • Improve notification messaging
  • Desktop version of the app
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to save or autocomplete intentions
  • Option to reorder intention/tag rows
  • Autocorrect for text input
  • Improve text box for long reasons
  • Neutral feeling for reflection menu
  • Fix spelling errors in setup guide

Unlock Mate

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness

Subscriptions8
  • Taskfulness Weekly7 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Taskfulness Monthly7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Taskfulness Monthly1 Month trial$7.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Taskfulness Monthly7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Taskfulness Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Taskfulness Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Taskfulness Annual7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Taskfulness Annual1 Month trial$79.991 Year
3 purchases

Unlock Mate

Subscriptions2
  • Unlock Mate Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Unlock Mate Pro Yearly7 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$9.99

Questions

Is Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness free?
Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Unlock Mate free?
Unlock Mate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness or Unlock Mate?
Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness is rated higher. Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness averages 4.4 out of 5 from 81 ratings, while Unlock Mate averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness or Unlock Mate have ads?
Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness shows ads; Unlock Mate does not.
Which is updated more often, Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness or Unlock Mate?
Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness ships an update every 3 weeks, and Unlock Mate every 2 days. Most recently, Limit Screen Time・Taskfulness was updated on October 14, 2026 and Unlock Mate on October 1, 2026.

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