Comparison

BePresent vs TimeBack

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

TimeBack

This app helps you reduce screen time and avoid distractions by blocking addictive applications. It offers customizable blocking schedules, a 'Hard Mode' for complete phone lockdown, and an accountability feature that notifies friends when you override a block.

Highlights
  • App Blocking with custom schedules
  • Ad-hoc timers
  • Hard Mode for complete lockdown
  • Accountability notifications for friends
  • Block override options
  • Tracking of schedules and goals
Features
Read full description

TimeBack helps you cut screen time and avoid doomscrolling with scheduled or ad-hoc blocking. When you slip, friends are automatically notified to keep you accountable. Features: - App Blocking: Block distracting apps with custom schedules or ad-hoc timers. - Hard Mode: Block all apps at once to completely lock down your phone. - Block Overrides: Override a block for 5–60 minutes or until the end of day. - Accountability: If you override a block, your friends can be notified so excuses don’t go unnoticed. - Tracking: Track your schedules, goals, and overrides. Friends can see your progress and weakness moments, keeping you accountable while inspiring them to join. TimeBack simplifies reducing screen time by combining your focus intentions with social incentives. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

BePresent4 screens
TimeBack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: TimeBack at none against BePresent's shown. TimeBack also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 68%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). BePresent's advantage is ratings volume (67K vs 36) and chart position (#29 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. BePresent sells 23 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and TimeBack sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TimeBack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BePresent has 67K ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of BePresent's written reviews are positive against 100% of TimeBack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BePresent ships an update every 5 days, TimeBack weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
BePresent versus TimeBack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBePresentTimeBack
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (67K ratings)5.0 (36 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings67K — better36
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#29 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size105 MB42 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperScreen Detox IncNicholas Camson

Customer experience

BePresent

All ratings67,079 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews3,808 reviews
Positive68.1%
Neutral6.5%
Negative25.4%

TimeBack

All ratings36 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

User reviews

BePresent

From 67K App Store ratings

What 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

TimeBack

From 36 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best Screen Time Control App
  • 👍 Great Tool
  • 👍 Great way to reduce screen time
  • 👍 Smooth
  • 👍 Productivity increased working from home

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

TimeBack

No bugs or feature requests surfaced in reviews.

In-app purchases

23 purchases

BePresent

Subscriptions23
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Monthly (Mid Tier)$6.991 Month
  • Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 20 more
  • 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
  • BePresent Family7 Days trial$59.991 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
8 purchases

TimeBack

Subscriptions3
  • TimeBack Premium Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • TimeBack Premium Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • TimeBack Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time5
  • TimeBack Premium$0.99
  • 100 TimeBack Points$0.99
  • 500 TimeBack Points$4.99
Show 2 more
  • 1000 TimeBack Points$9.99
  • 2500 TimeBack Points$19.99

Questions

Is BePresent free?
BePresent is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TimeBack free?
TimeBack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BePresent or TimeBack?
TimeBack is rated higher. BePresent averages 4.8 out of 5 from 67K ratings, while TimeBack averages 5.0 from 36 ratings.
Do BePresent or TimeBack have ads?
BePresent shows ads; TimeBack does not.
Which is updated more often, BePresent or TimeBack?
BePresent ships an update every 5 days, and TimeBack weekly. Most recently, BePresent was updated on October 14, 2026 and TimeBack on October 9, 2026.

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