Comparison

Refocus vs Reduce Scrolling

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

Head to head
About

Refocus

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers various methods to limit screen time, set schedules, and track your usage, promoting better focus and productivity.

Highlights
  • Block any app or website
  • Strict Mode with multiple unblocking challenges
  • Set app timers and time limits
  • Schedule blocking for specific times
  • Location-based blocking
  • Screen time analytics
  • macOS app available
Features
Read full description

Refocus is an app blocker & website blocker that helps you limit screen time on apps! Refocus is easy to use, yet has powerful screen time control features: ▶ Various ways to restrict or lock apps and block websites. Choose what helps you focus! Block any app or site — from social media and games to messaging and news. ▶ "Strict Mode" feature prevents you from unblocking. Set a passcode, or use an NFC tag, or wait a duration (ex. 30 seconds), or do a copy text challenge, or utilize Pomodoro (limit unblocking to 5 times per day, for 25 minutes each, with a 5-minute cooldown between each unblock). ▶ Block for a specific duration (ex. app timer for 30 minutes). ▶ Block at specific times (ex. every weekday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). ▶ Set app limits (ex. after 10 minutes of using Instagram, block it). Set an app time limit! ▶ Block at the location you pick — whether it be home, work or school. ▶ View your daily, weekly and monthly Screen Time analytics. Use Refocus as a screen time tracker! ▶ Mac app that also lets you block apps and websites on macOS. ▶ And more! --- Visit www.refocusapp.co for more information. Terms of Use: - https://refocusapp.co/terms-of-use

About

Reduce Scrolling

This app helps you regain control over your phone usage by introducing gentle "speed bumps" to encourage mindful app engagement. It offers customizable settings for different applications and schedules to help you reduce distractions and build better digital habits.

Highlights
  • Per-app control with customizable settings
  • Live Activity timer for remaining time
  • Recharge Time delays to prevent compulsive reopening
  • Smart Schedules for automatic app blocking
  • Streak tracking for habit momentum
  • 7-day free trial
Features
Read full description

We get it. You don't want to completely ditch your phone, you just want to stop feeling like it controls you. Maybe you've noticed yourself opening Instagram without even thinking about it. Or you meant to check one thing and suddenly 30 minutes disappeared. Or you feel that little twinge of guilt when you realize you've been scrolling instead of doing... literally anything else. You're not broken. Your phone is just really, really good at grabbing your attention. **WHY BLOCKWISE IS DIFFERENT** We're not here to shame you or lock you out of your apps like you can't be trusted. We built Blockwise because we had the same problem, and we realized that aggressive blocking doesn't actually help you build better habits. It just makes you feel restricted. Instead, Blockwise works with you to create little speed bumps that help you pause and think before you dive into an app. Small changes that actually stick. **WHAT YOU GET** - Per-App Control - Different settings for different apps based on how distracting they are - Live Activity timer - See exaclty how much time you have left while using a distracting app - Recharge Time delays - Prevent compulsive app reopening with customizable wait times - Smart Schedules - Automatic make distracting apps inaccessible during work, sleep, or family time - Streak Tracking - Build momentum with daily success streaks **WHY PEOPLE LOVE BLOCKWISE** "I use it for my ADHD and tendency to doom scroll and lose complete track of time. It's made a HUGE impact for me. 100% recommend!" "My screen time dropped from 8-9 hours, to TWO. I haven't been able to find anything else like it." "This app is fairly new but I'm loving it already. It helps me to cut back on doom scrolling and improve my social media health. Give it a chance!" **THE HONEST TRUTH** Blockwise won't magically fix everything overnight. Building new habits takes time. But if you're tired of feeling like your phone is in charge, this is a really good place to start. And here's the thing: even though finding your perfect routine takes a bit of experimentation, most people start seeing real reductions in their screen time right after setting up their first block. The results can be surprisingly quick. You'll probably slip up sometimes. That's totally normal. The difference is, with Blockwise, you'll have tools that actually help you get back on track instead of just feeling bad about it. **LESS SCROLLING, MORE LIVING** Whether you want to focus better at work, be more present with friends and family, sleep better, or just stop feeling guilty about your screen time, Blockwise can help. Your phone can be a useful tool instead of a time thief. We'll help you get there. **TRY IT FREE FOR 30 DAYS** See if Blockwise clicks for you. If it does, awesome. If not, no hard feelings. **YOUR DATA IS YOURS** We use Apple's Screen Time APIs, which means your data stays on your device. We don't see what you're doing on your phone, and we don't sell your information. **QUESTIONS? WE ANSWER THEM ALL** Seriously, reach out anytime at blockwise.app@gmail.com. We actually read and respond to messages. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://joinblockr.xyz/privacy/

Screenshots

Refocus4 screens
Reduce Scrolling4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Reduce Scrolling at none against Refocus's shown. Reduce Scrolling also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Refocus's advantage is ratings volume (11K vs 4) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, review sentiment, 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. Refocus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Reduce Scrolling sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reduce Scrolling holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Refocus has 11K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Refocus's written reviews are positive against 100% of Reduce Scrolling's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Refocus ships an update weekly, Reduce Scrolling every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Refocus versus Reduce Scrolling: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefocusReduce Scrolling
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (11K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11K — better4
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB80 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLabi, LLCKo LiChung

Customer experience

Refocus

All ratings11,296 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews2,150 reviews
Positive93.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative4.0%

Reduce Scrolling

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Refocus

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Blocking issues after phone restart
  • Inconsistent behavior when pausing/unpausing sessions
  • Crashing when trying to block apps in certain categories

Requested features

5 requests
  • Passcode or biometric lock to prevent bypassing
  • More advanced blocking options (e.g., math problems to unblock)
  • Ability to purchase a one-time license instead of subscription
  • Notification warnings before blocking sessions end
  • Search function to find apps to block more easily

Reduce Scrolling

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Refocus

Subscriptions8
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Refocus Pro (Family)7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro1 Month trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial3 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro1 Year trial$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time4
  • Reset Strict Mode$1.00
  • Reset Strict Mode$5.00
  • Reset Strict Mode$10.00
Show 1 more
  • Reset Strict Mode$50.00
9 purchases

Reduce Scrolling

Subscriptions9
  • Unlimited access2 variants$9.991 Year
  • Unlimited3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Access$19.991 Year
Show 6 more
  • Unlimited access$22.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited access$39.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access7 Days trial$44.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access7 Days trial$89.991 Year

Questions

Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reduce Scrolling free?
Reduce Scrolling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Refocus or Reduce Scrolling?
Reduce Scrolling is rated higher. Refocus averages 4.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Reduce Scrolling averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Refocus or Reduce Scrolling have ads?
Refocus shows ads; Reduce Scrolling does not.
Which is updated more often, Refocus or Reduce Scrolling?
Refocus ships an update weekly, and Reduce Scrolling every 3 weeks. Most recently, Refocus was updated on September 25, 2026 and Reduce Scrolling on September 7, 2026.

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