# Pocus vs Barrier

The clearest difference is rating: Barrier at 5.0 against Pocus's 3.8. Pocus's advantage is ratings volume (16 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Barrier sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Barrier holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocus has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pocus ships an update every 9 days, Barrier every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pocus | Barrier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocus-limit-screen-time/id1667126271/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-blocker/id6756778740/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 52.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 35 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ilia Stukalov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1004427873) | [Savelii Veprev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689265930) |

## What reviewers say

### Pocus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocus-limit-screen-time/id1667126271)

This app helps you reduce phone usage and increase focus by blocking distracting applications. Set automatic or manual blocking schedules to concentrate on important tasks without notifications or access to chosen apps.

**Highlights:** Automatic app blocking, Notification silencing, Customizable time limits, Daily app restrictions, Manual deep focus mode, App usage tracking

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocus Full | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Pocus full | $6.99 | per month |
| Pocus full | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Pocus Full | $49.99 | per year |


### Barrier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-blocker/id6756778740)

This app helps you regain control over your phone usage by creating a physical barrier to accessing distracting applications. Instead of simply closing apps, it requires you to wait a set amount of time with your phone face down before granting temporary access, prompting reflection on your digital habits.

**Highlights:** Select apps to limit, Automatic app locking, Face-down phone wait for unlock, Temporary app access, Customizable wait times (5-60 seconds), Unlimited apps with paid version

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium for week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium for month | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Forever | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pocus free?

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

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pocus or Barrier?

Barrier is rated higher. Pocus averages 3.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Barrier averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Pocus or Barrier have ads?

Neither Pocus nor Barrier shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pocus or Barrier?

Pocus ships an update every 9 days, and Barrier every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pocus was updated on September 24, 2026 and Barrier on September 17, 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.*