Comparison

Barrier vs Screen Time Control

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

Head to head
About

Barrier

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
Read full description

Are you tired of wasting precious hours scrolling through social media apps? Do you want to break free from the cycle of constant distractions? Barrier is here to help. Our app acts as a blocker for social media apps, limiting your access and promoting healthier digital habits. With Barrier, you can only open your social media apps if you watch an ad or wait our 30 second load times, creating an incentive to reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling mindlessly. But Barrier is more than just a blocker. It's a digital wellness assistant, helping you take control of your digital life Don't let social media control your life. Take back control with Barrier!

About

Screen Time Control

This app helps you reduce smartphone usage by introducing gentle friction to app access. It sets time limits and encourages mindful engagement, preventing mindless scrolling and promoting focus on important activities.

Highlights
  • Gentle friction for app access
  • Mindful breathing task before opening apps
  • Customizable time limits for app usage
  • Automatic app closure after time limit
  • Intercepts unconscious app launches
  • Focus on habit change, not strict blocking
Read full description

You’ve arrived at this app because you want to rethink how you use your smartphone—and that alone is something to be proud of. Just by searching for an app to help with restrictions, you’ve already taken the first step toward changing your habits. That small step, repeated consistently, can take you farther than you ever imagined. NoMore is here to quietly support you on that journey. By reducing screen time, you’ll be able to focus more deeply on studying, work, or hobbies. You’ll find more mental space, and your daily life will gradually come into balance. NoMore was created to support exactly that kind of change. ---------- That said, lasting change needs a system that’s sustainable and stress-free. Just as extreme diets are harmful and likely to rebound, extreme digital detoxes or harsh restrictions can feel frustrating and often lead users to delete the app. Overly strict limits don’t last. But if it’s too easy to bypass the restriction, it doesn’t work either. That’s why NoMore is designed with “not too weak, not too strong” limits—just enough to create a lasting experience without frustration. Instead of completely blocking access, NoMore lets you open apps if you really want to. But to do so, you’ll need to complete a brief breathing task, which helps prevent mindless app opening. This subtle friction makes you pause—and helps you open apps only when truly necessary. This approach is supported by behavioral science: adding small obstacles or distancing yourself from bad habits makes them easier to change. ---------- In addition, NoMore lets you set time limits—like “only 5 minutes” or “only 10 minutes”—before opening social media or games. When the set time ends, the app automatically closes, helping you avoid slipping into 30-minute or hour-long scroll sessions without realizing. Many users have told us this feature has been a real lifesaver. ---------- NoMore doesn’t rely on a “Start” button to begin blocking. After all, if you can tap that button, you’re already in study mode or focus mode. But the real danger is before that—when you’re aimlessly picking up your phone. Right after waking up, while on the toilet, in bed before sleep, or when taking a short break after a task or study session— NoMore steps in with a gentle brake before those moments turn into hours of mindless scrolling. We’ve also chosen not to rely on time-based blocking like “limit from 10pm to 11pm.” Because even if you block nighttime use, what if you end up scrolling all day? Instead, NoMore focuses on gently intercepting unconscious app launches throughout the entire day. ---------- You don’t have to be perfect. Even stopping yourself once a day from opening an app out of habit is real progress. Let’s shape your days with NoMore—little by little. Make space for what matters: studying, working, playing, and becoming more of who you want to be.

Screenshots

Barrier4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Screen Time Control's 2. Barrier also leads on ratings volume (343 vs 15). Screen Time Control's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (98% vs 80%). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model 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. Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Barrier against 4.7 for Screen Time Control. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barrier has 343 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 98% of Screen Time Control's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Screen Time Control every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Barrier versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarrierScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (343 ratings)4.7 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.3% of reviews97.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings343 — better15
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB74 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperHaplo, LLCSnackTime, Inc.

Customer experience

Barrier

All ratings308 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive80.3%
Neutral10.6%
Negative9.1%

Screen Time Control

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive97.7%
Neutral2.3%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Barrier

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • 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
Show 9 more
  • Last iOS release caused issues with re-locking after unlocking
  • Timer resets but apps remain unlocked after unlocking
  • Instagram and TikTok not always blocked
  • App stops working after a few days, requires re-download
  • Editing screen for blocked apps crashes sometimes
  • Custom schedule setting does not work for overnight blocking (end time before start time)
  • Does not unlock apps half the time after watching an ad
  • Cannot make edits to timer or unlock time
  • Cannot unlock apps without reinstalling after deleting the app before unlocking

Requested features

7 requests
  • 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
Show 2 more
  • Ability to set a certain amount of time per day and then block apps
  • Update to end the 10-minute screentime after the ad finishes

Screen Time Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Barrier

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Plan$5.991 Month
  • Annual Plan3 Days trial$43.991 Year

Questions

Is Barrier free?
Barrier is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Barrier or Screen Time Control?
Screen Time Control is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.7 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.
Do Barrier or Screen Time Control have ads?
Barrier shows ads; Screen Time Control does not.
Which is updated more often, Barrier or Screen Time Control?
Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Screen Time Control every 8 days. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 27, 2026 and Screen Time Control on October 27, 2026.

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