# Screen Freedom vs Friend Controls

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Friend Controls at 640 against Screen Freedom's 6. Friend Controls also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). Screen Freedom's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 84%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screen Freedom sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Friend Controls sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Screen Freedom holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Friend Controls has 640 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Screen Freedom's written reviews are positive against 84% of Friend Controls's.

Screen Freedom ships an update every 6 weeks, Friend Controls every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screen Freedom | Friend Controls |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-freedom/id1642737751/reviews)** | [4.7 (640 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friend-controls-screen-time/id6651826679/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **640** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 83.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Emancipas, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642737753) | [Ryan Moazzami](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552062516) |

## What reviewers say

### Screen Freedom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-freedom/id1642737751)

This app helps you reduce phone usage by partnering with a friend for accountability. Set screen time goals for specific apps, and they'll automatically block when you reach your limit. Your friend is notified if you try to break the goal, offering support or even the ability to deny your request.

**Highlights:** Partner accountability for screen time, Set app-specific time limits, Automatic app blocking, Friend notifications for goal breaks, Friend can deny requests to exceed limits, Track individual and partner streaks, View historical goal achievement data

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium - Yearly | $9.99 | per year |


### Friend Controls

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friend-controls-screen-time/id6651826679)

This app helps you manage your screen time by setting daily limits for app usage. When you reach your limit, friends can approve or deny your requests for additional time, putting accountability in their hands.

**Highlights:** Set time limits for apps, Schedule app block-out times, Request extra screen time from friends, Approve or deny time requests with messages, Monitor screen time reduction

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Access | $2.99 | per month |
| Weekly Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Access | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Access | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Access | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly Access | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $44.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screen Freedom free?

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

### Is Friend Controls free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Screen Freedom or Friend Controls?

Screen Freedom is rated higher. Screen Freedom averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Friend Controls averages 4.7 from 640 ratings.

### Do Screen Freedom or Friend Controls have ads?

Neither Screen Freedom nor Friend Controls shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screen Freedom or Friend Controls?

Screen Freedom ships an update every 6 weeks, and Friend Controls every 9 days. Most recently, Screen Freedom was updated on October 24, 2026 and Friend Controls on October 25, 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.*