# Paywake vs BrainShift

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Paywake at none against BrainShift's 3. Paywake also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). BrainShift's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BrainShift sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Paywake asks for nothing beyond the download.

Paywake ships an update every 2 months, BrainShift every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Paywake | BrainShift |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paywake/id6447996352/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **10** | — |
| Positive reviews | 56.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 41 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Paywake Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683216663) | [Oguzhan Erarslan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1744816107) |

## What reviewers say

### Paywake

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paywake/id6447996352)

This app incentivizes users to wake up on time by allowing them to risk money and earn cash rewards. Users set a wake-up time and an amount to deposit, and if they wake up on time, they receive their deposit back plus earnings. Photo verification confirms wakefulness, and earnings can be cashed out to a debit card or Venmo.

**Highlights:** Cash incentives for waking up on time, Link debit card for secure transactions, Set wake-up times and deposit amounts, Photo verification to confirm wakefulness, Instant cash-out options, Streak bonuses for consecutive wake-ups, Leaderboards to compare earnings

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Legitimate money-making opportunity
- ⏰ Effective habit-building tool for waking up
- 👍 User-friendly interface and design
- 🎯 Simple concept - get paid for waking up on time
- 🤝 Responsive and helpful customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Requires upfront money deposit to earn
- ⏱️ Very tight 2-minute grace period for verification
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing issues
- 🔐 Account access problems and login failures
- 📵 App doesn't load or function properly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately upon opening
- Login not recognized despite correct credentials
- Cannot reset password or change login method
- App freezes during photo verification
- App doesn't load regardless of internet connection

**Requested features**

- Gift card payment options (Amazon, Apple, DoorDash, Starbucks, Netflix)
- PayPal integration for deposits and withdrawals
- Credit card payment option
- Flexible wake-up times outside of 5AM minimum
- Referral program


### BrainShift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainshift-earn-screen-time/id6782873004)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BrainShift Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| BrainShift Plus Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| BrainShift Plus Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Paywake free?

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

### Is BrainShift free?

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

### Do Paywake or BrainShift have ads?

Neither Paywake nor BrainShift shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Paywake or BrainShift?

Paywake ships an update every 2 months, and BrainShift every 2 days. Most recently, Paywake was updated on October 14, 2026 and BrainShift on October 2, 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.*