Comparison

Refocus vs Lerf

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

Lerf

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking distracting applications during specific periods. It offers flexible blocking modes and ambient sounds to support relaxation, study, or sleep. The focus is on protecting your time and peace without intrusive tracking.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Set custom session timers
  • Easy and Strict blocking modes
  • Ambient soundscapes
  • Designed for minimal interaction
  • Protect personal time
Read full description

10 minutes on your phone turned into 2 hours. Again. Do Not Disturb stops notifications. Lerf turns your phone back into a tool that supports your goals. HOW IT WORKS Choose apps, set a schedule (optional) or tap start and distracting apps lock down. No streaks. No account. Nothing to check. Flexible Mode lets you end blocking early. Strict Mode keeps your apps blocked until the timer (or schedule) ends. FOR Focus: work or study without negotiating with your phone. Sleep: less scrolling before bed. Family time: set boundaries around distracting apps so family time means actually being together. PRICING Lerf is free to download. Full access is $12.99 a month or $39.99 a year after a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime in Settings. WHY LERF Our smartphones are our greatest tools and our worst distractions. Lerf's mission is to turn smartphones back into tools, helping people take back control of their time, attention, and technology. PRIVACY Lerf uses Apple's Screen Time framework. Your app choices and usage stay on your phone. Lerf never sees them, and there's no account to create. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://lerfapp.com/privacy

Screenshots

Refocus4 screens
Lerf3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Lerf at none against Refocus's shown. Lerf also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Refocus's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 15). On price, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Refocus sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Lerf sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lerf 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 15, 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 Lerf's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Refocus ships an update weekly, Lerf every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Refocus versus Lerf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefocusLerf
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings)5.0 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12K — better15
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLabi, LLCGrant Hergenroeder

Customer experience

Refocus

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

Lerf

All ratings15 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 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

Lerf

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
5 purchases

Lerf

Subscriptions5
  • Lerf Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Lerf Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Lerf Monthly7 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Lerf Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Lerf Yearly14 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lerf free?
Lerf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Refocus or Lerf?
Lerf is rated higher. Refocus averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Lerf averages 5.0 from 15 ratings.
Do Refocus or Lerf have ads?
Refocus shows ads; Lerf does not.
Which is updated more often, Refocus or Lerf?
Refocus ships an update weekly, and Lerf every 5 days. Most recently, Refocus was updated on November 7, 2026 and Lerf on October 31, 2026.

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