Comparison

Refocus vs NoMo Screen Time

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

NoMo Screen Time

This app helps you reclaim your time and focus by playfully interrupting distracting app usage. Set daily or hourly goals and receive fun visual feedback as your screen time decreases. It encourages intention over strict restriction.

Highlights
  • App blocking and timers
  • Daily and hourly goals
  • Fun visual feedback
  • Usage-based mood changes
  • Focus on intention
Features
Read full description

A pause before the scroll. You open an app for a minute. Somehow, twenty disappear. NoMo helps you make that choice deliberately. CHOOSE YOUR APPS Use Apple's Screen Time controls to block the apps you want to use less. DECIDE HOW LONG YOU NEED Choose 1, 5, 10, or 15 minutes before you unblock an app. PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN Take a short pause with your phone face down on your desk, chest, or lap, or tucked in your pocket. The pause progresses while your phone is put away and stops when you pick it up. Leave NoMo open; sound and haptics let you know when the pause is complete. A simple pause is available if placement detection doesn't work for you. CHOOSE NOT NOW After the pause, you may find you no longer need the app. Tap Not now to keep it blocked. Your opens skipped today appear on Home as a quiet acknowledgment of that choice. SEE YOUR HABITS CLEARLY See today's usage, your daily average, and the last hour at a glance. Explore weekly and monthly trends, set daily and hourly targets, and let Mo's changing mood remind you to check in with yourself. REMEMBER WHAT MATTERS Add a reminder to yourself on Home, or connect Apple Reminders to see what you wanted to do before you reached for your phone. A warm, quiet design. A moment to reconsider. More room for your day. NoMo Screen Time. Mo real life. OPTIONAL MEMBERSHIP Every feature stays free. If NoMo helps you use your phone on your terms, an optional membership supports its continued development and removes membership invitations. Choose monthly or yearly billing. Eligible users can start with a six-month free trial; current pricing and trial terms are shown before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in your App Store account settings. Privacy policy: https://www.aswathkrishnan.com/p/privacy-policy-for-nomo.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Refocus4 screens
NoMo Screen Time4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NoMo Screen Time at none against Refocus's 10. NoMo Screen Time also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Refocus's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 5). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Refocus sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. NoMo Screen Time asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NoMo Screen Time holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Refocus has 12K ratings behind it against 5, 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 NoMo Screen Time's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Refocus ships an update weekly, NoMo Screen Time every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Refocus versus NoMo Screen Time: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefocusNoMo Screen Time
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12K — better5
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLabi, LLCAswath Krishnan

Customer experience

Refocus

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

NoMo Screen Time

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 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

NoMo Screen Time

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
None

NoMo Screen Time

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NoMo Screen Time free?
NoMo Screen Time is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Refocus or NoMo Screen Time?
NoMo Screen Time is rated higher. Refocus averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while NoMo Screen Time averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Refocus or NoMo Screen Time have ads?
Refocus shows ads; NoMo Screen Time does not.
Which is updated more often, Refocus or NoMo Screen Time?
Refocus ships an update weekly, and NoMo Screen Time every 5 days. Most recently, Refocus was updated on November 9, 2026 and NoMo Screen Time on October 30, 2026.

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