# Shadow vs Screen Time Limit

The clearest difference is ads: Screen Time Limit at none against Shadow's shown. Screen Time Limit also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Shadow's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shadow sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Screen Time Limit sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shadow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 113 and 43 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Shadow's written reviews are positive against 58% of Screen Time Limit's.

Shadow ships an update every 2 months, Screen Time Limit fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and August 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadow | Screen Time Limit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (113 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-block-apps-and-focus/id1671650132/reviews)** | [4.5 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-limit-app-blocker/id6449219142/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **113** | 43 |
| Positive reviews | **63.6% of reviews** | 58.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 124 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adish Padhani](https://appshunter.io/developer/992727409) | [Salix Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807587134) |

## What reviewers say

### Shadow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-block-apps-and-focus/id1671650132)

This app helps you block distracting applications on your iOS device to improve focus and productivity. It offers a "Safe Zone" for uninterrupted work and robust parental controls to manage children's screen time. Your settings are protected with Face ID and passcode.

**Highlights:** Block distracting iOS applications, Create a "Safe Zone" for focused work, Parental controls for screen time management, Face ID and passcode protection, Develop good habits

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription Trial | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription Trial | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription Discount | $6.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription Discount | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription Discount | $17.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription With Trial | $34.99 | per year |


### Screen Time Limit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-limit-app-blocker/id6449219142)

This app helps you improve focus and manage screen time by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers features for self-control and parental monitoring to create a more productive digital environment.

**Highlights:** App blocking, Website blocking, Focus mode, Study timer, Parental controls, Screen time tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parental Control Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium | $6.99 | per month |
| Parental Yearly Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| 50% Discount | $14.99 | per year |
| 20% Discount | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadow free?

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

### Is Screen Time Limit free?

Screen Time Limit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Shadow or Screen Time Limit?

Shadow is rated higher. Shadow averages 4.7 out of 5 from 113 ratings, while Screen Time Limit averages 4.5 from 43 ratings.

### Do Shadow or Screen Time Limit have ads?

Shadow shows ads; Screen Time Limit does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shadow or Screen Time Limit?

Shadow ships an update every 2 months, and Screen Time Limit fortnightly. Most recently, Shadow was updated on September 21, 2026 and Screen Time Limit on August 1, 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.*