Refocus vs Parkbench
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Parkbench
This app helps you reduce screen time by blocking distracting apps and websites. Instead of opening them, you'll see a calming park scene that grows with your focus. Set schedules and time limits to protect your quiet hours.
- Block apps and websites
- Visual focus timer with growing park
- Customizable schedules
- Time limits for apps
- NFC tag integration
- Privacy-focused design
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Parkbench helps you spend less time staring at your screen, and more time on the life happening around you. Bench an app and it goes quiet. Instead of a feed, you get a calm park that slowly fills with wildlife. Focus becomes something you can see. HOW IT WORKS - Bench any app or website in a tap. Try to open it and a park visitor meets you instead. - Tap one of your own NFC tags to start a bench on the spot. - Set schedules for the hours you want protected, like bedtime or the work day. - Add limits that bench an app once you have spent enough time in it today. A PARK THAT GROWS WITH YOU Every stretch of focus brings visitors to your bench: birds, foxes, and more friends that appear with the seasons, the weather, and the time of day. Your quiet hours become a field guide worth returning to and collecting. STAYS PRIVATE Parkbench blocks through Apple Screen Time, which is privacy-walled by design, so it cannot see which apps you open. There are no ads and no trackers, and on a free account your app activity never leaves your iPhone. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Parkbench at none against Refocus's shown. Refocus's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 5). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Refocus sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Parkbench sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Refocus against 4.8 for Parkbench. 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.
Refocus ships an update weekly, Parkbench every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Refocus | Parkbench |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (12K ratings) | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12K — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Labi, LLC | GADForge LLC |
Customer experience
Refocus
Parkbench
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
Parkbench
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Refocus
- Refocus Pro3 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
- Refocus Pro3 Days trial$8.991 Month
- Refocus Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
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- 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
Parkbench
- Parkbench Premium7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Parkbench Premium7 Days trial$27.991 Year
- Parkbench Premium, Lifetime$84.99
