# Barrier vs No Scroll

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against No Scroll's 16. Barrier also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 55%). No Scroll's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. No Scroll sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Barrier against 4.5 for No Scroll. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 340 and 697 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 55% of No Scroll's.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, No Scroll every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | No Scroll |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (340 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews)** | [4.5 (697 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/no-scroll-limit-screen-time/id6474079216/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 340 | **697** |
| Positive reviews | **80.3% of reviews** | 55.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 107 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [Self Invest LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1697190242) |

## What reviewers say

### Barrier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443)

This app helps you break free from social media distractions by blocking access to social apps. It encourages healthier digital habits by requiring users to watch an ad or wait before accessing them, promoting mindful usage and digital wellness.

**Highlights:** Block social media apps, Limit app access, Promote healthier digital habits, Incentivize reduced scrolling, Digital wellness assistant

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Highly effective at reducing screen time
- 💰 Free to use with valuable features
- 😂 Funny and smart methods (Goblin Mode)
- 💡 Creates resistance to mindless scrolling
- 🚀 Simple and easy to use interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches causing unreliability
- 🐛 Blocking not always consistent
- 🐛 Custom schedules not working correctly
- 🐛 Ads can be long and annoying
- 🐛 Violent ads in some cases

**Reported bugs**

- Blocking does not work at correct times or remains blocked at incorrect times
- Blocking stops working after a while
- Apps remain unlocked after unlocking
- Streak keeps breaking for no reason
- Custom schedule does not unlock when it's supposed to

**Requested features**

- Ability to set different apps to lock during different times
- More flexibility in setting multiple check-in times
- Option to customize the duration after watching an ad
- Fix for custom schedule not working for overnight blocking
- Option to have a daily time limit per app


### No Scroll

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/no-scroll-limit-screen-time/id6474079216)

This app helps you reduce screen time and improve focus by setting limits on app usage. It uses behavioral psychology to combat doomscrolling and reclaim your valuable time without requiring you to delete social media apps.

**Highlights:** Set time limits before opening apps, Auto-locks apps when time expires, Schedule app blocking during specific hours, Set daily app usage budgets, Track progress and build healthy habits, Minimalist and distraction-free design, Privacy-focused using Screen Time framework

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Scroll Premium (Weekly) | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| No Scroll Premium (Weekly) | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| No Scroll Premium (Weekly) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| No Scroll Premium (Monthly) | $5.99 | per month |
| No Scroll Premium (Weekly) | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| No Scroll Premium (Monthly) | $7.99 | per month |
| No Scroll Premium (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| No Scroll Premium (Monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| No Scroll Premium (Annual) | $19.99 | per year |
| No Scroll Premium (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| No Scroll Premium (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| No Scroll Premium (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| No Scroll Premium (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| No Scroll Premium (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |
| No Scroll Premium (Annual) | $59.99 | per year |
| Early Unlock | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Effectively reduces doomscrolling behavior
- ⏱️ Flexible time limit options (5-30 minutes)
- 🔐 Strong unlock mechanism with code requirement
- 💪 Works better than Apple's native screen time
- 🎯 Intentional app usage encouragement

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💳 Requires subscription for premium features
- 🚫 Paywall blocks access before trial
- 🔄 Can switch between multiple blocked apps to bypass limits
- ⚠️ Lacks accountability tracking and history
- 🐛 App stops working after updates occasionally

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on premium trial popup with no exit option
- Blocks unused apps when time expires on another app
- Doesn't release apps after freeze time ends
- Phone hangs with no control or banner displayed
- App stops working after iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Unified timer across all blocked apps instead of per-app
- Custom time intervals beyond 5-30 minute presets
- Ability to block specific content (reels, shorts) within apps
- Website blocking capability
- Longer time period options (up to 3 hours)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is No Scroll free?

No Scroll is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Barrier or No Scroll?

Barrier is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.6 out of 5 from 340 ratings, while No Scroll averages 4.5 from 697 ratings.

### Do Barrier or No Scroll have ads?

Barrier shows ads; No Scroll does not.

### Which is updated more often, Barrier or No Scroll?

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and No Scroll every 2 weeks. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 24, 2026 and No Scroll on October 24, 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.*