Unscroll vs CloseReels
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Unscroll
This app helps you become more aware of your scrolling habits in real-time. It provides live updates on your screen time directly on your lock screen and dynamic island, encouraging you to stop before you get lost in endless feeds. The goal is to help you regain control over your digital wellbeing without resorting to restrictive blockers.
- Live Activity timer on Lock Screen/Dynamic Island
- Real-time scrolling session awareness
- Track usage patterns over time
- Integrates with all social media feeds
- Morning and bedtime digital detox nudges
- Breathing mode for mindfulness
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Live screen time - for people who outsmart blockers. Targets that time blind feeling while scrolling. You don't hate social media. You hate how it makes you feel after 2 hours of mindless scrolling. You’ve probably tried: a. Screen Time Limits → but ignored them b. App blockers → too restrictive when you need them, inevitably you turn them off c. Deleting apps cold turkey → makes it difficult to keep up with friends, the news and the content you enjoy, so you re-download them after a month Why Unscroll works when app blockers don't: • Social media can be useful, but scrolling apps are designed to keep your attention for as long as possible. • Blockers create friction at the wrong time - when you actually need to check something. • Unscroll keeps you conscious WHILE you scroll, so you can stop when you decide, not when an app forces you. How it works: 1. Before you open Instagram: See how much you've already scrolled today (not after you've wasted 45 minutes and been caught in a comparison spiral) 2. While you're scrolling: A Live Activity shows your real-time scrolling session right on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island - keeping the rational part of your brain engaged (instead of letting autopilot take over) 3. All feeds in one place: Check what's new across all your social feeds in 5 minutes, not 5 x 20 mins 4. Track your patterns: Watch your usage drop naturally as awareness builds No restrictions: - No need to unplug and replace your iPhone with a dumbphone or brick - Less annoying than One Sec's friction, with sustained awareness instead of momentary interruption - Low-friction alternative to the standard blocking apps like (Opal, Jomo, Freedom, Clearspace) For people who want to: → Stop wasting hours doomscrolling Instagram reels and prevent brain rot → Eliminate TikTok scrolling addiction and reduce screen time → Reduce compulsive phone pickups and protect attention span → Be intentional about keeping up with friends and the news → Improve overall digital wellbeing and build healthier phone habits → Reduce FOMO and the effect of constant comparisons on your mental health and wellbeing → Get help with social media addiction → Replace scrolling with more time wellspent → Work toward some no-scroll streaks and screen-free time Works with all your distracting social feeds: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, Discord, Twitch, and any app you want to be more intentional with - including Mail, Messages, or news apps. You can even add screen time reminders to any websites you procrastinate on. More anti-distraction features: • Live Activity timer: Real-time awareness on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island during 'scroll aware sessions' • Morning and bedtime digital detox: the ideal times for less phone usage • Positive habit nudges: replace your screen time habits with something else, build habits of your choosing • Breathing mode: maximum mindfulness before every social session We do not sell your data or run ads. Your attention is precious. Built by someone who needs it: After 10+ years of struggling with my own social media habits, and using every screen time and app blocking tool out there, I built Unscroll. Not to quit social media, but to use it like a tool. Since I've Unscrolled my phone I've cut down my scrolling time 60-70%. Happy to share it with other people too :) —Cameron Terms of Use: https://unscroll.io/terms
CloseReels
This app helps users reduce mindless scrolling by interrupting usage and offering features to limit distracting applications. It provides strategies to regain focus and control over time spent on social media and other apps.
- Identify and limit distracting apps
- Shield reminder prompts for app usage
- Defer app opening times
- Activate strict focus mode
- Local data storage for privacy
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Effective Strategies to Stop Mindless Scrolling Free users can enjoy limited access to features 1-3: interrupting your mindless scrolling up to 30 times. Paid users benefit from unlimited usage and more powerful, effective features to help you stay focused. Limit distracting apps, like TikTok and Instagram, to enhance your productivity now! 1. Select Distractions Identify distracting apps like TikTok and set usage limits. 2. Shield Reminder A prompt will block apps when time is up, asking, "Why are you opening this again?" 3. Defer App Opening Set defer times to reduce impulsive app usage. 4. Activate Strict Focus Mode Block selected apps for 15 minutes to work uninterrupted. Exit focus mode when you're ready, helping you scroll with intention, not mindlessly. 5. Privacy & Data All data is stored locally on your device. We do not collect any user data. How much time do you spend scrolling through short-form content? 3 hours a day? 5 hours? Maybe even 10? Scrolling is fun, addictive, and easy—but it can quietly steal your time, leaving you feeling unproductive and frustrated. CloseReels is built for people who value their time. Whether you're a professional, business owner, student, or anyone who understands that time is precious, CloseReels helps you break free from mindless scrolling. We get it—scrolling addiction is tough to stop. That’s why SigmaGrind gently interrupts your scrolling every 5-20 minutes (fully customizable) to remind you to scroll with intent, not habit. Take control of your focus and time. With our Pro subscription, unlock Strict Focus Mode — a powerful tool to block endless scrolling cycles and keep you on track. Ready to scroll smarter, not harder? Download SigmaGrind today and reclaim your time. Terms of Use: By using this app, you agree to our Terms of Use, available at [https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/]
Screenshots
Verdict
Unscroll and CloseReels both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Unscroll's written reviews are positive against 45% of CloseReels's. CloseReels's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (155 vs 37). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Unscroll sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and CloseReels sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Unscroll holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 155 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Unscroll's written reviews are positive against 45% of CloseReels's.
Unscroll ships an update every 2 weeks, CloseReels daily. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Unscroll | CloseReels |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (37 ratings) — better | 4.6 (155 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 44.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 37 | 155 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 68 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Cameron Bogatez | Ho Yin NG |
Customer experience
Unscroll
CloseReels
Bugs and requests
Unscroll
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
CloseReels
Reported bugs
3 issues- UI elements not scaling correctly for iPhone SE
- App freezing and crashing issues
- Inconsistent unlock time limits
Requested features
3 requests- Configuration section to customize settings
- Ability to turn off notifications
- More transparent unlock system
In-app purchases
Unscroll
- Unscroll$4.991 Month
- Unscroll scholarship7 Days trial$6.691 Month
- Unscroll7 Days trial$7.491 Month
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- Unscroll scholarship7 Days trial$10.901 Month
- Unscroll7 Days trial$13.491 Month
- Unscroll scholarship7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Unscroll7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Unscroll scholarship7 Days trial$62.991 Year
- Unscroll7 Days trial$89.991 Year
CloseReels
- CloseReels Pro Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
- CloseReels Pro Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- CloseReels Pro Lifetime$129.99









