Comparison

Habit Control vs Pulse

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

Head to head
About

Habit Control

This app helps users manage habits by locking physical items like snack boxes, game consoles, or medicine cabinets. It features a self-control timer that prevents unlocking for a set period, aiding in breaking bad habits or maintaining focus. Access can also be shared with others for specific purposes.

Highlights
  • Physical item locking
  • Self-control timer
  • Access sharing
  • Habit management
  • Device control
Read full description

Habit Control is a Bluetooth app designed to help users create structured access rules for food, snacks, alcohol, phones, medicine, sweets, electronic devices, and other everyday temptations. Instead of relying only on willpower, the app works with a smart lock system to create clear physical boundaries and consistent routines. The app allows users to set recurring no-access schedules in advance. You can define exactly when access is restricted - for example during nighttime hours, study sessions, work hours, fasting periods, weekends, or after bedtime. Once programmed, schedules run automatically every day without needing to reset individual timers manually. Habit Control supports flexible use cases for both individuals and families. Parents can create screen-time schedules, snack-access rules, or structured parental control routines for children, while couples, roommates, and family members can follow shared access schedules together(IMPORTANT: The lock does not open automatically when the timer or schedule window ends - unlocking is done via smartphone). The app also supports different permission levels. Owner and Admin users can manage schedules, timers, and settings, while Guest users can only lock or unlock. Guests cannot create schedules or timers, change settings, or unlock early. For users seeking stricter self-discipline, the app includes a Self-Control Mode. When enabled, schedules and timers cannot be overridden early even by owner and admins. This mode is designed to help support routines related to mindful eating, reducing distractions, limiting late-night snacking, limiting phone use, managing gaming time, or creating healthier daily habits. The app supports both recurring schedules and individual countdown timers. Timers can be set from minutes up to 366 days depending on the user's needs. Users can also manually lock or unlock when schedules allow access. Habit Control works with iPhone and Android smartphones via Bluetooth connection. Unlocking is always performed manually through the smartphone app after the timer or restricted schedule ends. A built-in Virtual Test Lock allows users to explore the app and experiment with schedules before connecting a physical lock. This helps users understand how different access rules work and test routines before applying them to real cabinets, drawers, refrigerators, pantries or other storage areas. The app also provides battery monitoring features for connected locks, including real-time battery percentage display and optional low-battery auto-unlock settings to help prevent accidental lockouts. Habit Control is designed as a practical routine-management tool that adds structure and intentionality to daily habits.

About

Pulse

Read full description

Pulse helps you track time by activity: work, exercise, reading, or anything else, so you see where your time really goes. • Track with one tap Create activities with custom names and icons. Start and stop timers from the Today screen or from reminders. When you stop a timer you can quickly add notes to it. • See time at a glance with Live Activities When a timer is running, it appears on your Lock Screen, with the activity name and live elapsed time, so you can stay focused without opening the app. Tap to jump straight back in. • Understand your patterns History shows your entries by day. Stats break down totals by period and by activity, with progress and percentages. Use the "project-time" feature to see hypothetical totals for the next month or year based on your recent averages. • Reminders that act Set recurring reminders by weekday and optional long-run nudges per activity. Notifications can start or stop tracking with a single tap. • Designed for clarity Clean layout, subtle animations, and support for light and dark appearance. Export your data as CSV (Pro) with date range and activity filters. Start with up to five activities, three reminders and a 14-day-history for free; remove limits with Pulse Pro.

Screenshots

Habit Control4 screens
Pulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Habit Control at none against Pulse's 1. Habit Control also leads on iOS requirement (15.2 vs 17.6). Pulse's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks). 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. Pulse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Habit Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Habit Control ships an update every 5 weeks, Pulse every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Habit Control versus Pulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHabit ControlPulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (11 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews28.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.2 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVLAS LLCLucas Pascal Ciba

In-app purchases

None

Habit Control

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Pulse

One-time1
  • Pulse Pro$3.99

Questions

Is Habit Control free?
Habit Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pulse free?
Pulse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Habit Control or Pulse have ads?
Neither Habit Control nor Pulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Habit Control or Pulse?
Habit Control ships an update every 5 weeks, and Pulse every 4 days. Most recently, Habit Control was updated on October 3, 2026 and Pulse on October 1, 2026.

Other comparisons