# Barrier vs Screen Time Buddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Screen Time Buddy's 2. Barrier also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 50%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.3). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screen Time Buddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

Barrier holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barrier has 343 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 50% of Screen Time Buddy's.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Screen Time Buddy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | Screen Time Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews)** | [4.3 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-buddy-focus/id6535687314/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **343** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **80.3% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 42 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [Power Insights Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756924647) |

## 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


### Screen Time Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-buddy-focus/id6535687314)

This app transforms reducing screen time into a fun, game-like experience. It uses app limits, friend accountability, and character progression to help users regain control of their phone usage and improve focus.

**Highlights:** Gamified screen time reduction, App limits and blocking, Friend accountability system, Character progression and evolution, Weekly leaderboards, Focus and productivity improvement

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Powermate Pro monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Screen Time Buddy Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is Screen Time Buddy free?

Screen Time Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Barrier or Screen Time Buddy?

Barrier is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.7 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while Screen Time Buddy averages 4.3 from 10 ratings.

### Do Barrier or Screen Time Buddy have ads?

Both Barrier and Screen Time Buddy show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barrier or Screen Time Buddy?

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Screen Time Buddy monthly. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 27, 2026 and Screen Time Buddy 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.*