Comparison

Refocus vs Offtime

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

Head to head
About

Refocus

This tool helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers customizable schedules, strict modes to prevent bypass, and analytics to track your usage. Available on iPhone and Mac.

Highlights
  • Block apps and websites
  • Strict mode with multiple bypass prevention methods
  • Customizable blocking schedules and timers
  • Location-based blocking
  • Screen time analytics
  • Mac 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! ▶ Hide Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts in Safari. ▶ 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

Offtime

This app helps you block distracting applications by requiring a physical action to unlock them, such as scanning a QR code or NFC tag. It offers features like scheduled blocking, time limits, and insights into your usage patterns to improve focus and digital discipline.

Highlights
  • Physical unlock with QR code or NFC tag
  • Unlock with a timed delay
  • Customizable presets for different situations
  • Automatic scheduling of app blocking
  • Daily time limits for specific apps
  • Usage insights and streak tracking
Read full description

OFFTIME – THE APP AGAINST APPS Block distracting apps – and make unlocking them take real effort. Hold to block your distracting apps, and unlock them only by scanning a QR code or NFC tag that you keep out of reach. That small physical step creates distance, clarity and focus – before you start scrolling. HOW IT WORKS * Choose the apps and categories that distract you * Hold to start blocking * Keep your QR code or NFC tag out of reach – in the hallway, on a shelf, in another room * Apps stay blocked until you scan the code, wait out the delay or your schedule ends FEATURES - PHYSICAL UNLOCK WITH QR CODE OR NFC Print your QR code or write your own NFC tag right in the app. Moving to unlock stops impulsive scrolling. - UNLOCK WITH A WAIT Prefer no hardware? Set a waiting time before a blocked app can be opened. - PRESETS Save sets of apps and categories for different situations, like work, studying or bedtime. - SCHEDULES Block automatically at set times, on the days you choose. Schedules keep running when the app is closed. Choose Normal or Strict mode, with or without breaks. - TIME LIMITS Set daily limits for apps that eat your time. - LOCKS Define how often and how long a blocked app may be opened. - INSIGHTS See your week at a glance, compare it with the last one, track your streaks and the impulses you prevented. - NO ACCOUNT NEEDED Offtime works without registration. - LANGUAGES English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch. WHY OFFTIME? Most app blockers can be switched off with one tap – exactly when your willpower is lowest. Offtime adds a physical layer. Your unlock key is a printed QR code or an NFC tag that you place out of reach, so lifting the block is a deliberate decision. That makes digital discipline feel effortless. FREE AND PRO Start for free with one lock, one schedule, one time limit and your standard preset plus one of your own. UNLOCK THE PRO VERSION * Unlimited presets * Up to 18 active schedules at the same time * Detailed insights * Unlimited locks * Unlimited time limits Privacy Policy: https://www.useofftime.com/privacy/app Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Refocus4 screens
Offtime4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Offtime at none against Refocus's shown. Refocus's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). 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 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Offtime sells 9 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

Refocus holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Refocus has 12K ratings behind it against 3, 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 86% of Offtime's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Refocus ships an update weekly, Offtime every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Refocus versus Offtime: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefocusOfftime
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings) — better4.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews92.9% of reviews — better85.7% of reviews
Number of ratings12K — better3
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLabi, LLCLouie Gaiser

Customer experience

Refocus

All ratings11,824 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews2,248 reviews
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.9%
Negative4.1%

Offtime

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
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

Offtime

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Refocus

Subscriptions7
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Refocus Pro$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro1 Month trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
9 purchases

Offtime

Subscriptions8
  • offtime Pro - Weekly2 variants$1.997 Days
  • offtime Pro - Weekly$2.997 Days
  • offtime Pro - Monthly$3.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • offtime Pro - Monthly$5.991 Month
  • offtime Pro - Monthly$7.991 Month
  • offtime Pro - Yearly3 Days trial$22.991 Year
  • offtime Pro - Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • offtime Pro - Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • offtime Pro - Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Offtime free?
Offtime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Refocus or Offtime?
Refocus is rated higher. Refocus averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Offtime averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Refocus or Offtime have ads?
Refocus shows ads; Offtime does not.
Which is updated more often, Refocus or Offtime?
Refocus ships an update weekly, and Offtime every 2 months. Most recently, Refocus was updated on November 10, 2026 and Offtime on November 10, 2026.

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