Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Readbase

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

Head to head
About

Screen Time Control

Take control of your digital life with this powerful screen time manager and app blocker. Set limits, block distractions, and build healthier habits to reclaim your time and improve focus.

Highlights
  • Limit screen time
  • Block distracting apps and websites
  • Create distraction-free focus sessions
  • Structure day with focused intervals
  • Track screen time usage and progress
  • Temporarily relax restrictions
Features
Read full description

Take control of your screen time. Stay focused. Get your time back. Focus Mate is a powerful Screen Time Control and App Blocker designed to help you limit screen time, block distractions, and build healthier digital habits — without sacrificing privacy. The average person spends more than 5 hours per day on their phone, often without realizing it. Focus Mate helps you break that cycle with smart app limits, focus modes, and automatic app blocking. With Focus Mate, you can: • Limit screen time on distracting apps • Block apps and websites automatically • Stay focused during work, study, or deep concentration • Build consistent routines and mindful phone habits BENEFITS • Reduce screen time and digital distraction • Improve focus and productivity • Support digital detox and mindful usage • Stay in control instead of reacting to notifications Designed for students, professionals, creators, and anyone who wants to use their iPhone more intentionally. FEATURES • Screen Time Control Set daily app limits and automatically block apps when limits are reached. • App Blocker Block specific apps and websites during focus sessions or scheduled routines. • Focus Zone Create distraction-free sessions by selecting exactly which apps should be blocked. • Deep Focus Maximum protection that prevents bypassing or disabling blocks until the session ends. • Focus Time Structure your day with focused intervals to boost productivity. • Free Time Temporarily relax restrictions when flexibility is needed. • Usage Insights Track your screen time behavior and monitor progress over time. PRIVATE & SECURE Focus Mate uses Apple’s official Screen Time API to manage app usage securely. • No accounts required • No tracking • No data leaving your device Your screen time data stays private and on your iPhone. Take back control of your time. Use your phone with intention — not distraction. Privacy Policy: https://adappssoftware.com/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://adappssoftware.com/terms-conditions/

About

Readbase

Features
Read full description

Readbase is a calm, focused home for newsletters, without inbox noise. Read newsletters from Substack and other platforms in one place, built for reading, not email. Subscribe once using your Readbase inbox and keep newsletters completely separate from your personal and professional email. Everything arrives neatly in the app, ready to read. Start your day with clarity • Daily Recap: every morning, Readbase creates a personalised AI summary of your unread newsletters - now surfaced directly inside your inbox, alongside your newsletters. • Per-newsletter summaries: get the key takeaways from any individual newsletter without reading the full issue. Read anywhere • Offline Mode: keep newsletters available on flights, trains, or anywhere without signal. Stay in control • 1-Click Unsubscribe: instantly stop newsletters you don’t read anymore. • Bookmarks: save issues you want to come back to. • Reading Stats: see what you actually read and build better habits. Built for newsletters • Works with newsletters from Substack, Beehiiv, Medium, ConvertKit, and any provider that sends emails. Privacy-first • Your newsletters are yours. Readbase doesn’t sell your data, and content is only used to power features like summaries and offline reading. If your inbox feels noisy, Readbase is the clean alternative: just newsletters, in a space designed for reading. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Readbase4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Readbase at none against Screen Time Control's shown. Readbase also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Screen Time Control's advantage is iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases 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. Screen Time Control sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Readbase sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 months, Readbase fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Screen Time Control versus Readbase: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlReadbase
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (22 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings22 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB20 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperADAPPS SOFTWARELlingas LTD

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions5
  • Weekly Premium$2.997 Days
  • Trial Weekly Premium3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • 3 Day Free3 Days trial$12.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Annual Premium$34.991 Year
  • 1 Week Free7 Days trial$34.991 Year
2 purchases

Readbase

Subscriptions2
  • Readbase Premium - Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Readbase Premium - Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Readbase free?
Readbase is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time Control or Readbase have ads?
Screen Time Control shows ads; Readbase does not.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Readbase?
Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 months, and Readbase fortnightly. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 12, 2026 and Readbase on October 7, 2026.

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