# Shadow vs Smartuli

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smartuli at none against Shadow's 9. Smartuli also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shadow sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Smartuli asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadow | Smartuli |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (113 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-block-apps-and-focus/id1671650132/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **113** | — |
| Positive reviews | 63.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 124 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adish Padhani](https://appshunter.io/developer/992727409) | [Ilia Manizhashvili](https://appshunter.io/developer/1802681433) |

## 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 |


### Smartuli

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartuli/id6482978577)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadow free?

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

### Is Smartuli free?

Smartuli is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Shadow or Smartuli have ads?

Shadow shows ads; Smartuli does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shadow or Smartuli?

Shadow ships an update every 2 months, and Smartuli every 2 months. Most recently, Shadow was updated on September 21, 2026 and Smartuli on September 9, 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.*