# The Aster vs BePresent

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Aster at none against BePresent's 24. The Aster also leads on ads (none vs shown). BePresent's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (68K vs 1). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BePresent sells 23 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. The Aster asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Aster holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BePresent has 68K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The Aster ships an update every 2 months, BePresent every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Aster | BePresent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-aster/id1618024082/reviews)** | [4.8 (68K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bepresent-screen-time-control/id1644737181/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **68K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 68.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#29** |
| Size | 149 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scp 1717 Vine Street Bar, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712145562) | [Screen Detox Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1644737183) |

## What reviewers say

### The Aster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-aster/id1618024082)

Discover exclusive offerings, events, and experiences at a private members' club designed with the warmth and sophistication of a boutique hotel. This app allows members to explore the club's amenities and daily life.

**Highlights:** Explore club offerings, Discover events and happenings, Access exclusive experiences, Seamless member experience, Boutique hotel-inspired design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### BePresent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bepresent-screen-time-control/id1644737181)

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Free · Productivity, #35 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time through app blocking, gamified challenges, and real-life rewards. It encourages users to reduce phone usage, improve productivity, and enhance mental well-being by making digital detox engaging and beneficial.

**Highlights:** App Blocking Sessions (Individual, Group, BEAST MODE), Set Daily Goals and Build Streaks, Monetary Stakes for Commitment, Weekly Leaderboards and Friend Challenges, Earn Real-Life Rewards (e.g., subscriptions, classes), Hourly Scrolling Awareness Reminders, Time Tracking and Daily Reports

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (23)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly (Mid Tier) | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly (1-Week Free Trial) | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly (1-Week Free Trial) | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly (1-Week Free Trial) | $14.99 | per month |
| Annual | $24.99 | per year |
| Annual (Mid Tier) | $24.99 | per year |
| Annual (1-Week Free Trial) | $24.99 | per year |
| BePresent Pro (Annual) | $24.99 | per year |
| Free Trial for BePresent Pro | $24.99 | per year |
| Monthly (1-Week Free Trial) | $24.99 | per month |
| BePresent Pro (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| BePresent Pro Family | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual (1-Week Free Trial) | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual (High Tier) | $44.99 | per year |
| Annual (1-Week Free Trial) | $49.99 | per year |
| BePresent Family | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual (3-Day Free Trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual (30-day Trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual (1-Week Free Trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual (2-week Free Trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| BePresent Pro Family (iCloud) | $99.99 | per year |
| Annual (1-Week Free Trial) | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps reduce screen time
- 👍 Gamification and rewards system
- 🤝 Ability to compete with friends
- 🕰️ Provides helpful notifications and reminders
- 💡 Innovative approach to tackling phone addiction

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent screen time tracking
- 🔒 Inability to selectively block apps
- 💰 Paywall for advanced features
- 🤖 Condescending and passive-aggressive notifications
- 🔧 Buggy and glitchy performance

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues
- Inaccurate screen time reporting
- Inability to restore purchases
- Persistent app blocking even after uninstallation
- Setup process getting stuck on permissions

**Requested features**

- Allow selective app blocking
- Exclude certain apps from screen time tracking
- More customization options for notifications
- Expand to iPad and other devices
- Improve overall stability and reliability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Aster free?

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

### Is BePresent free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Aster or BePresent?

The Aster is rated higher. The Aster averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while BePresent averages 4.8 from 68K ratings.

### Do The Aster or BePresent have ads?

BePresent shows ads; The Aster does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Aster or BePresent?

The Aster ships an update every 2 months, and BePresent every 5 days. Most recently, The Aster was updated on October 4, 2026 and BePresent on October 15, 2026.

---

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