BePresent vs One Thing
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BePresent
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.
- 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
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BePresent is the #1 app to control your screen time and supercharge your productivity, mental health, and quality of life. Experience life beyond the screen as you reclaim Your Time and earn rewards that improve your life with BePresent! 25 years. That’s the average time you will spend on your phone. With a combination of app blocking, gamification, social competition with friends, and real-life rewards, you will reclaim YEARS of your life like thousands of BePresent members already have. We know you’ve tried to solve this problem before. But we’re not like other screen time apps. ▶ WHAT USERS ARE CELEBRATING ◀ • “I was able to go from 7+ hours per day to less than 2 hours! 10/10 would recommend” - Andrew M. • “FINALLY an app that actually curbs my screen addiction instead of time limits that I just ignore!” - Gina V. • “I’ve tried everything but nothing has worked. I almost gave up before I used BePresent! Thank god I tried it as I’ve reduced my screen time by over 3 hours a day!” - Jack W. Download now to experience life to the fullest. Instead of annoying app blockers or time limits, BePresent makes it fun and easy to stay off your phone. ▶ FEATURES ◀ [ BePresent App Blocking Sessions - Individual, Group, & BEAST MODE ] • Dive into Present Sessions! Dedicate breaks from screens, whether it's a focused study session or a no-phone night out. Team up with friends for Group Sessions and joint tech time-outs. Share updates, cheer, and keep one another accountable—all from within the app. Need a stringent break? Enter BEAST MODE, ensuring unwavering commitment [ Set Daily Goals and Build Your Streak ] • Choose your digital boundaries. Maintain your streak by sticking to set screen time limits. Back your commitment with a monetary stake — overshoot, and that stake's gone. Customize reminders and design your journey to digital well-being. [ Compete on Weekly Leaderboards and Challenge Your Friends] • Show off your productivity prowess by competing against others on weekly leaderboards. Advance tiers so you’ll feel like a productivity superhero every day. Practicing mindful phone habits has never been so motivating and rewarding! [ Earn Real-Life Rewards ] • The ultimate motivation - earn points you can redeem for real-life rewards by limiting your screen time. Best of all, your rewards will also improve your life. Learn to meditate with a premium Headspace subscription. Redeem free workout classes with ClassPass. Schedule discounted therapy sessions with BetterHelp. Earn these rewards and more all by staying off your phone. [ Never Doomscroll Again ] • Set hourly scrolling awareness reminders so you never lose track of time doomscrolling again [ Time Tracking & Daily Reports ] • Measure the moments you're truly present. Access daily and weekly breakdowns, complemented by a comprehensive day-before report, amplifying your adherence to reality. [ Improve Your Well-Being ] • By reducing screen time, you'll improve your overall well-being and gain access to educational content that explains how reducing screen time can benefit you in multiple ways. Learn how to manage ADHD better, improve your mental health, and be more present with your loved ones, all while improving your sleep and becoming less distracted. [ Complete Privacy and Data Security ] • Data dignity, delivered. All of your data is private and safe with Apple’s Screen Time API. We do not have access to any specific content you access on your iPhone, and none of your personal data ever leaves your device. ▶ WE'RE HERE FOR EVERY QUERY ◀ Questions or feedback? Reach us at https://www.getpresentapp.com/ or shoot an email at contact@getpresentapp.com. Let's journey to mindful tech use together. Note: All rewards are sponsored by BePresent and our partners. Apple does not sponsor any of the in-app rewards. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.getpresentapp.com/privacy-policy
One Thing
This app helps you build positive habits by blocking distracting apps until you complete a chosen meaningful activity. It uses AI-powered verification and progress tracking to keep you motivated and accountable.
- Daily meaningful activity selection
- Smart app blocking
- AI-powered camera verification
- Progress tracking and streaks
- Flexible scheduling
- Family controls integration
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Stop scrolling. Start living. One Thing flips phone addiction on its head. Instead of fighting dopamine-driven habits, this app channels them — blocking distractions until you complete one meaningful activity each day. Exercise, read, meditate, do deep work, or practice an instrument. Finish first, then earn back access. The result? A daily digital detox that builds real habits, reduces mindless scrolling, and gives you hours of focus back. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION All features require an active subscription after the free trial period. HOW IT WORKS (Subscription Required) Pick one activity every morning: gym, reading, meditation, studying, journaling, running, walking, or any productive pursuit. Until it's done, distracting apps stay locked. No willpower needed. The environment does the work. SMART BLOCKING (Subscription Required) System-Level Control: Native iOS Screen Time integration locks apps at the deepest level Personalized Filters: Select exactly which apps to restrict based on individual triggers Flexible Scheduling: Set weekly routines, daily challenges, or immediate timed blocks Usage Caps: Limit daily or weekly opens and minutes for specific apps Emergency Unlock: Safety valve for moments when access is genuinely urgent AI-POWERED VERIFICATION (Subscription Required) Photo Proof: Snap a picture and GPT-4 Vision confirms whether the activity was actually completed Works Everywhere: From gym selfies to reading sessions, the AI adapts to any habit No Cheating: Intelligent analysis catches shortcuts and keeps accountability honest TRUE FOCUS MODE (Subscription Required) Distraction-Free Timer: Full-screen countdown for deep work, studying, or creative sessions Cross-Device Sync: Pairs with Mac for seamless focus across phone and desktop ADHD-Friendly: Structured sessions with grace periods reduce the friction of getting started PROGRESS & MOTIVATION (Subscription Required) Streak Tracking: Build momentum day after day with visual completion calendars 18-Level Progression: Journey from "Brain Rewiring" on Day 1 to "One Year Champion" Detailed Analytics: Monitor hours saved, daily completion rates, and long-term growth Milestone Alerts: Celebrate achievements at key moments throughout the journey PRIVACY & RELIABILITY (Subscription Required) On-Device Data: Personal information never leaves the phone Background Processing: Blocks stay active even when the app is closed Live Activity Widget: Persistent lock-screen reminder showing streaks and countdowns BUILT FOR Anyone trapped in a scroll-refresh-repeat cycle Students needing structured study sessions and fewer distractions Professionals seeking a digital detox during work hours Fitness-focused individuals building consistent gym or running routines People with ADHD looking for external structure and accountability Families creating healthier relationships with technology WHY IT WORKS Traditional habit trackers send reminders and hope for the best. One Thing creates real consequences: access to social media, news, and entertainment stays blocked until the daily habit is done. It's not about restricting freedom. It's about trading a dopamine loop for a life-changing routine. JOMO (joy of missing out) replaces FOMO, one day at a time. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Payment: Charged to Apple ID upon confirmation of purchase Renewal: Automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends Management: Manage or cancel anytime in Apple ID Account Settings No Commitment: Cancel at any point, no penalties Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://onethingapp.framer.website/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: BePresent at free with in-app purchases against One Thing's subscription. BePresent also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 32%) and ratings volume (64K vs 879). One Thing's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support 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. BePresent sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and One Thing sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BePresent against 4.7 for One Thing. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BePresent has 64K ratings behind it against 879, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of BePresent's written reviews are positive against 32% of One Thing's.
BePresent ships an update every 5 days, One Thing every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BePresent | One Thing |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) — better | 4.7 (879 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 67.1% of reviews — better | 31.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 64K — better | 879 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #44 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 93 MB | 188 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Screen Detox Inc | One Thing LTD |
Customer experience
BePresent
One Thing
User reviews
BePresent
From 64K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Helps reduce screen time
- 👍 Gamification and rewards system
- 🤝 Ability to compete with friends
- 🕰️ Provides helpful notifications and reminders
- 💡 Innovative approach to tackling phone addiction
Room to improve
- 🐛 Inconsistent screen time tracking
- 🔒 Inability to selectively block apps
- 💰 Paywall for advanced features
- 🤖 Condescending and passive-aggressive notifications
- 🔧 Buggy and glitchy performance
One Thing
From 879 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Helps stop doom-scrolling
- 👍 Beneficial for users
- 👍 Breaks bad habits
- 👍 Helps with productivity
Room to improve
- 💰 Requires payment
- 🚫 Limited functionality without payment
Bugs and requests
BePresent
Reported bugs
5 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
One Thing
Reported bugs
1 issue- Incompatible with younger users due to payment requirements
Requested features
3 requests- Allow multiple activities per day
- Add chores/cleaning/meal prep blocks
- Option to add multiple blocks
In-app purchases
BePresent
- Monthly$3.991 Month
- Monthly (Mid Tier)$6.991 Month
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 19 moreShow fewer
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
- Annual$24.991 Year
- Annual (Mid Tier)$24.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- BePresent Pro (Annual)$24.991 Year
- Free Trial for BePresent Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$24.991 Month
- BePresent Pro (Annual)$29.991 Year
- BePresent Pro Family$39.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Annual (High Tier)$44.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Annual (3-Day Free Trial)3 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (30-day Trial)1 Month trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (2-week Free Trial)14 Days trial$59.991 Year
- BePresent Pro Family (iCloud)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One Thing
- One Thing (Full Access) (Weekly)$7.997 Days
- Pro Plan Monthly$8.991 Month
- One Thing (Weekly)$12.997 Days
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Pro Plan Yearly WB$21.901 Year
- One Thing (Full Access) (Annual)$29.991 Year
- One Thing (Yearly - BF)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- One Thing Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Pro Plan Yearly$49.991 Year
- One Thing (Yearly)7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- One Thing (Yearly)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- One Thing Yearly7 Days trial$69.991 Year









