# Refocus vs AppLimit

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Refocus at 93% against AppLimit's 33%. Refocus also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (12K vs 1). AppLimit's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Refocus sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and AppLimit sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Refocus holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Refocus has 12K ratings behind it against 1, 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 33% of AppLimit's.

Refocus ships an update weekly, AppLimit every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Refocus | AppLimit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refocus-app-blocker-and-lock/id1645639057/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applimit-app-usage-hard-stop/id6757147703/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **93.0% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 51 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Labi, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/455469767) | [Shervin Koushan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1694799081) |

## What reviewers say

### Refocus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refocus-app-blocker-and-lock/id1645639057)

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:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refocus Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $8.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro (Family) | $12.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| Reset Strict Mode | $1.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $5.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $10.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $50.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🚀 Effective at blocking distractions
- 💡 Customizable blocking schedules
- 🔒 Prevents mindless scrolling
- 🚀 Improved productivity and focus

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔓 Too easy to bypass the blocking
- 💰 Some features require paid subscription
- 🔓 Ability to delete app and remove restrictions

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### AppLimit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applimit-app-usage-hard-stop/id6757147703)

This app enforces strict daily usage limits on selected applications or categories. Once a time limit is reached, access is blocked without any exceptions or extensions, helping users break habits and establish real boundaries.

**Highlights:** Set daily usage limits for apps/categories, Blocks access automatically when time limit is reached, No override, snooze, or grace periods, Minimal setup and clean interface, On-device only, no accounts or tracking, Utilizes Apple Screen Time APIs for true hard stops

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AppLimit Pro | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| AppLimit Pro | $99.99 | per year |
| Unblock one app or category | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unblock all apps and categories | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Refocus free?

Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is AppLimit free?

AppLimit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Refocus or AppLimit?

Refocus is rated higher. Refocus averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while AppLimit averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Refocus or AppLimit have ads?

Refocus shows ads; AppLimit does not.

### Which is updated more often, Refocus or AppLimit?

Refocus ships an update weekly, and AppLimit every 4 days. Most recently, Refocus was updated on October 29, 2026 and AppLimit on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*