# iDEA vs Spool

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iDEA at none against Spool's 8. iDEA also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (14.4 vs 17.6). Spool's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spool sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. iDEA asks for nothing beyond the download.

iDEA ships an update monthly, Spool weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iDEA | Spool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (174 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-screen-time-control/id6749428484/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **174** |
| Positive reviews | — | 70.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Size | 4 MB | 406 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.4** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Acenes LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573869591) | [Spooli Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830399976) |

## What reviewers say

### iDEA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-delay-egress-alarm/id1573869589)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Spool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-screen-time-control/id6749428484)

This app helps you break free from excessive screen time by making you pause and justify your phone usage. It uses research-backed techniques to disrupt habit loops and offers instant blocking for apps and websites to help you reclaim focus and improve mental clarity.

**Highlights:** Justify phone usage before scrolling, AI-powered trigger insights, Identify peak phone usage times, Instant app and website blocking, Reclaim focus and mental clarity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spool Features Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Spool Weekly Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Full Access: Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Spool Premium Annual | $25.00 | per year |
| Full Access: Limited Time Offer | $34.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Yearly | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iDEA free?

iDEA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Spool free?

Spool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do iDEA or Spool have ads?

Spool shows ads; iDEA does not.

### Which is updated more often, iDEA or Spool?

iDEA ships an update monthly, and Spool weekly. Most recently, iDEA was updated on October 20, 2026 and Spool on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*