Comparison

BePresent vs ZAGNALS

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

ZAGNALS

Features
Read full description

ZAGNALS turns your iPhone or iPad into a professional visual display — instantly readable from across any room. SPEECH TIMER Keep any talk on time with a full-screen green-yellow-red signal. Set your minimum (green), target (yellow), and maximum (red) times — or tap a preset — then count up or down. A persistent G / Y / R letter shows alongside the color, so the cue is clear even to colorblind viewers. Optional beep and a per-session report included. Perfect for public-speaking practice, club meetings, debates, and contests. DISPLAY MESSAGES (CUE) Type any message and display it full-screen in large, bold text. Save up to 10 favorite messages and reuse them with a single tap. Perfect for cueing speakers, directing audiences, or communicating across a room without interruption. COUNTDOWN TIMER Run a countdown with visual and audio alerts. Two-minute warning, 30-second strobe, and completion alerts keep everyone on schedule. CLOCK DISPLAY Show the current time in a large format clock — ideal for keeping sessions on track without anyone needing to check their phone. DESIGNED FOR DISTANCE Every element is sized and calibrated for visibility at 3 meters (10 feet). High-contrast color for any lighting condition. NO SUBSCRIPTION. NO ACCOUNT. NO ADS. One purchase. Works completely offline.

Screenshots

BePresent4 screens
ZAGNALS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BePresent at Free against ZAGNALS's $4.99. BePresent also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#31 vs unranked). ZAGNALS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 23) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement 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

BePresent is free to download; ZAGNALS costs $4.99 up front. BePresent sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. ZAGNALS asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BePresent ships an update every 5 days, ZAGNALS every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
BePresent versus ZAGNALS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBePresentZAGNALS
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.8 (64K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews67.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings64K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#31 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreen Detox IncGary Seiler

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

ZAGNALS

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

22 purchases

BePresent

Subscriptions22
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Monthly (Mid Tier)$6.991 Month
  • Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 19 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
  • 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
None

ZAGNALS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BePresent free?
BePresent is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ZAGNALS free?
ZAGNALS costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do BePresent or ZAGNALS have ads?
BePresent shows ads; ZAGNALS does not.
Which is updated more often, BePresent or ZAGNALS?
BePresent ships an update every 5 days, and ZAGNALS every 5 weeks. Most recently, BePresent was updated on September 27, 2026 and ZAGNALS on September 12, 2026.

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