Comparison

ClearSpace vs Refocus

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

Head to head
About

ClearSpace

This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by making your device less addictive. It offers tools to block distractions, manage app time, and build better digital habits. Achieve greater focus, productivity, and mental well-being by reducing impulse opens and doomscrolling.

Highlights
  • Block and limit distracting apps
  • Manage social media doomscrolling
  • Set schedules for app usage
  • Build better digital habits
  • Engage in attention-building challenges
  • Minimalist and straightforward design
  • Accountability partners for goals
  • Detailed screen time reporting
Features
Read full description

Controlling Screen Time is critical for mental health, focus, productivity, and relationships. Social media and other addictive apps can easily distract you from your goals. Clearspace helps you control screen time by giving you the tools to fight phone addiction by making your phone less addictive. Clearspace blocks distractions while retaining utilities. Say goodbye to impulse opens and social media doom scrolling. You don’t need to quit cold turkey or buy a dumb phone in order to get your scrolling in check. Instead of a new device, Clearspace gives you the freedom to make sober minded decisions about your usage allowing you to get control of your screen time. Attention is a precious resource, protect it with Clearspace features: - Block and Limit apps: block any apps you find distracting and limit screen time. - Social Media Doomscrolling: app time limits enable session management makes sure you don’t scroll for too long. - Focus management: set schedules for when to use apps - Habit change: dopamine is less powerful when you pause before opening an app which eventually creates a virtuous habit loop to make habits more atomic. - Screen Time Challenges: train your attention by engaging in challenges that strengthen your ability to focus. - Minimalist Design: the app is straightforward. We don’t want to take your attention away, instead we give it back to you. - Screen Time Accountability: have trusted accountability partners help you stick to your goals. - Screen Time Reporting: Streaks and budgets give you a better look at your screen time data in a way that helps you improve. - Digital Wellbeing: Align your intentions with your usage of your phone. Alignment can be helpful in health journeys battling anxiety and adhd. Blocking Apps helps you control impulse clicks. Users find that Clearspace helps them: - Reduce social media impulse opens - Focus on deep work and engage in flow state activities Social Media Doomscrolling is the cause of excessive screen time for many people, with Clearspace users report that: - Phone Addiction subsides - Dopamine craving for apps is less powerful Digital Minimalism is a new health wave that Clearspace enables for users: - Limiting apps in alignment with your intention - Mindfulness practices encourage a more balanced approach to phone usage Digital Wellbeing is a large and growing consideration in the health and wellness spaces. Clearspace users have found it helpful in dealing with: - Anxiety - ADHD - Depression - Socializing Research demonstrates that negative habits are hard to change through willpower alone, but that small, recurring nudges are effective at reshaping default patterns of behavior. Enter Clearspace. The idea is simple: - Select an app that you want to use less - When you click on a selected app, decide - proceed after a deep breath or opt out? - Over time, you'll notice you are in control of the usage Controlling Screen Time is essential for digital wellbeing, freedom from phone addiction, and maintaining focus. Clearspace empowers users with app limits, screen time control, and an app blocker to combat social media distractions. By aligning intentions with usage, Clearspace fosters healthier habits and a mindful approach to technology. Its minimalist design ensures attention is not diverted, enabling users to reclaim their time and break free from the grips of excessive screen time. With features such as screen time reporting, accountability partners, and challenges, Clearspace offers the tools needed to reshape default patterns of behavior and reduce the powerful hold of dopamine-driven app cravings. Embrace Clearspace as your ally in the journey towards a balanced digital lifestyle. Clearspace is a diet program for your digital consumption. A reminder to breathe before making decisions. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://getclearspace.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-05fb16506a294132acee914a8f6e5331

About

Refocus

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers various methods to limit screen time, set schedules, and track your usage, promoting better focus and productivity.

Highlights
  • Block any app or website
  • Strict Mode with multiple unblocking challenges
  • Set app timers and time limits
  • Schedule blocking for specific times
  • Location-based blocking
  • Screen time analytics
  • macOS app available
Features
Read full description

Refocus is an app blocker & website blocker that helps you limit screen time on apps! Refocus is easy to use, yet has powerful screen time control features: ▶ Various ways to restrict or lock apps and block websites. Choose what helps you focus! Block any app or site — from social media and games to messaging and news. ▶ "Strict Mode" feature prevents you from unblocking. Set a passcode, or use an NFC tag, or wait a duration (ex. 30 seconds), or do a copy text challenge, or utilize Pomodoro (limit unblocking to 5 times per day, for 25 minutes each, with a 5-minute cooldown between each unblock). ▶ Block for a specific duration (ex. app timer for 30 minutes). ▶ Block at specific times (ex. every weekday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). ▶ Set app limits (ex. after 10 minutes of using Instagram, block it). Set an app time limit! ▶ Block at the location you pick — whether it be home, work or school. ▶ View your daily, weekly and monthly Screen Time analytics. Use Refocus as a screen time tracker! ▶ Mac app that also lets you block apps and websites on macOS. ▶ And more! --- Visit www.refocusapp.co for more information. Terms of Use: - https://refocusapp.co/terms-of-use

Screenshots

ClearSpace4 screens
Refocus4 screens

Verdict

The call

ClearSpace and Refocus both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 93% of Refocus's written reviews are positive against 69% of ClearSpace's. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. ClearSpace sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Refocus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for ClearSpace against 4.8 for Refocus. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8.8K and 11K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of ClearSpace's written reviews are positive against 93% of Refocus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ClearSpace ships an update every 2 weeks, Refocus weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
ClearSpace versus Refocus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterClearSpaceRefocus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (8.8K ratings)4.8 (11K ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.5% of reviews93.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8.8K11K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size80 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperclearspaceLabi, LLC

Customer experience

ClearSpace

All ratings8,800 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.4%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews609 reviews
Positive69.5%
Neutral12.2%
Negative18.4%

Refocus

All ratings11,296 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews2,150 reviews
Positive93.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative4.0%

User reviews

ClearSpace

From 8.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helps reduce screen time
  • 🚀 Effective at limiting app usage
  • 💡 Breathing exercise and quotes are helpful
  • 🤖 Tracks app usage well
  • 🤔 Makes users more mindful about phone usage

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and laggy performance
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔓 Allows bypassing restrictions
  • 🤖 Limited to one app in free version
  • 🤔 Breathing exercise can be annoying

Refocus

From 11K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to set up and use
  • 🚀 Effective at blocking distractions
  • 💡 Customizable blocking schedules
  • 🔒 Prevents mindless scrolling
  • 🚀 Improved productivity and focus

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
  • 🔓 Too easy to bypass the blocking
  • 💰 Some features require paid subscription
  • 🔓 Ability to delete app and remove restrictions

Bugs and requests

ClearSpace

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when trying to block apps
  • Notification issues and UI glitches
  • Inconsistent tracking of app usage
  • Problems with phone number verification

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow blocking multiple apps in free version
  • Add more exercise options beyond just breathing
  • Provide more customization options
  • Integrate with other fitness/health tracking apps
  • Improve website/app blocking capabilities

Refocus

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Blocking issues after phone restart
  • Inconsistent behavior when pausing/unpausing sessions
  • Crashing when trying to block apps in certain categories

Requested features

5 requests
  • Passcode or biometric lock to prevent bypassing
  • More advanced blocking options (e.g., math problems to unblock)
  • Ability to purchase a one-time license instead of subscription
  • Notification warnings before blocking sessions end
  • Search function to find apps to block more easily

In-app purchases

8 purchases

ClearSpace

Subscriptions8
  • ClearSpace Premium (Monthly)$6.991 Month
  • Clearspace Premium Student$9.991 Year
  • ClearSpace Premium (Annual)$44.991 Year
Show 5 more
  • Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$44.991 Year
  • Clearspace Premium3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Clearspace Premium Family$79.991 Year
12 purchases

Refocus

Subscriptions8
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Refocus Pro (Family)7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro1 Month trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial3 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro1 Year trial$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time4
  • Reset Strict Mode$1.00
  • Reset Strict Mode$5.00
  • Reset Strict Mode$10.00
Show 1 more
  • Reset Strict Mode$50.00

Questions

Is ClearSpace free?
ClearSpace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ClearSpace or Refocus?
Refocus is rated higher. ClearSpace averages 4.7 out of 5 from 8.8K ratings, while Refocus averages 4.8 from 11K ratings.
Do ClearSpace or Refocus have ads?
Both ClearSpace and Refocus show ads.
Which is updated more often, ClearSpace or Refocus?
ClearSpace ships an update every 2 weeks, and Refocus weekly. Most recently, ClearSpace was updated on September 24, 2026 and Refocus on September 24, 2026.

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