Comparison

LinkVance vs Friend Controls

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

Head to head
About

LinkVance

Monitor your child's device activity with AI-powered insights. See recent actions, timestamps, and screenshots, with AI identifying activities like gaming or web browsing. A history tab provides a detailed log of past usage.

Highlights
  • AI-based activity monitoring
  • Timestamped activity logs
  • Screenshot capture
  • AI recognition of activities
  • History tab for past usage
Features
Read full description

Linkvance is an AI-based parental control application to help you monitor your child's device usage with greater efficiency and more transparency. With this application, you can see recent activity from your child on devices with the accompanying desktop application. See what your child was last seen doing with a timestamp and a screenshot. Our AI recognition software will also let you know what it recognizes, whether your child is playing a video game or surfing the web, so that you're always in the loop. You can also view a history tab to see the recent activity going on with your child and see previous timestamps in the system. Made by Darren Huang.

About

Friend Controls

This app helps you manage your screen time by setting daily limits for app usage. When you reach your limit, friends can approve or deny your requests for additional time, putting accountability in their hands.

Highlights
  • Set time limits for apps
  • Schedule app block-out times
  • Request extra screen time from friends
  • Approve or deny time requests with messages
  • Monitor screen time reduction
Features
Read full description

Friend Controls is the screen time app that actually works. Set your daily limits, and when time runs out, your real friends decide if you get more. No algorithms. No willpower tricks. Just real social accountability. Unlike every other screen time app you have tried, Friend Controls puts your friends in charge. The result? Users reduce screen time by an average of 60%. HOW IT WORKS 1. Download and choose which apps you want to limit. 2. Set your daily screen time for each app. 3. Invite friends to be your buddies. 4. When your time runs out, the app locks. Want more? Send a request to your friends. 5. Your friends see your request and decide: approve or deny. No mercy required. That is it. Simple, social, and surprisingly effective. KEY FEATURES App Blocking That Works: Choose any app on your phone to restrict. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, games, dating apps, or anything else draining your hours. Real Friend Accountability: Your friends are not bots or timers you can snooze. They are real people who can say no. Request and Approve System: Run out of time? Send a plea to your Controllers. Make your case. Accept their judgment. Usage Tracking: See exactly how much time you spend on each app. Daily, weekly, and monthly breakdowns so you can track your progress. Focus and Study Mode: Block distracting apps during study sessions, work hours, or any time you need to concentrate. Privacy First: We do not sell your data. We do not track what you do inside apps. We only monitor time spent so your friends can help you stay on track. WHO IS THIS FOR? Students who need to focus during exam season. Couples who want to spend less time on their phones together. Friends who want to hold each other accountable. Anyone who has tried every screen time app and failed. People who know they waste hours every day but cannot stop on their own. THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT Research shows that social accountability is one of the most powerful behavior change tools. When someone else is watching, you try harder. Friend Controls takes that principle and puts it in your pocket. Download now and take back your time. Your friends are waiting to help. PRIVACY Friend Controls uses Apple's ScreenTime API. All your monitoring and blocking run on your device. Your browsing data does not leave your phone TERMS OF USE https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ **App blocking feature requires a purchase if you choose to block more than 1 app. All other features are free.**

Screenshots

LinkVance2 screens
Friend Controls4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LinkVance at none against Friend Controls's 10. LinkVance also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.4). Friend Controls's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (559 vs 2). On price, ads 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. Friend Controls sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. LinkVance asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LinkVance holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Friend Controls has 559 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LinkVance ships an update every 5 months, Friend Controls every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
LinkVance versus Friend Controls: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLinkVanceFriend Controls
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.7 (559 ratings)
Positive reviews—85.2% of reviews
Number of ratings2559 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB71 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperCoding Minds, Inc.Ryan Moazzami

Customer experience

LinkVance

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Friend Controls

All ratings559 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral3.2%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive85.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative7.4%

In-app purchases

None

LinkVance

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Friend Controls

Subscriptions9
  • Monthly Access$2.991 Month
  • Weekly Access$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Access$5.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Monthly Access$9.991 Month
  • Monthly Access$14.991 Month
  • Yearly Access$14.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$44.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$29.99

Questions

Is LinkVance free?
LinkVance is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Friend Controls free?
Friend Controls is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LinkVance or Friend Controls?
LinkVance is rated higher. LinkVance averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Friend Controls averages 4.7 from 559 ratings.
Do LinkVance or Friend Controls have ads?
Neither LinkVance nor Friend Controls shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LinkVance or Friend Controls?
LinkVance ships an update every 5 months, and Friend Controls every 8 days. Most recently, LinkVance was updated on June 7, 2026 and Friend Controls on September 26, 2026.

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