# Barrier vs Screen Time & App Blocker

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Screen Time & App Blocker's 13. Barrier also leads on ratings volume (343 vs 86). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screen Time & App Blocker sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Barrier against 4.7 for Screen Time & App Blocker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 343 and 86 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 78% of Screen Time & App Blocker's.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Screen Time & App Blocker every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | Screen Time & App Blocker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews) | **[4.7 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-and-app-blocker/id6737836744/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **343** | 86 |
| Positive reviews | **80.3% of reviews** | 78.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [Braly](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637078418) |

## 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 & App Blocker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-and-app-blocker/id6737836744)

Take control of your digital life and boost productivity. Block distracting apps and notifications, set personal goals, and track your usage to build healthier habits and achieve more.

**Highlights:** Focus Mode to block apps and notifications, App blocking for time-wasting apps, Personal goal setting for screen time and productivity, Usage tracking with weekly reports, Reminders and alerts for time limits

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MyScreen Premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| MyScreen Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| MyScreen Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $44.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $44.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $44.99 | per year |
| MyScreen Premium | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps with productivity and focus
- 👍 Customizable app blocking
- 🔒 Effective at limiting screen time
- 💡 Useful for ADHD and phone addiction
- 👍 Affordable and good value

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app freezes and glitches
- 💡 Could use more customization options for schedules
- 🔍 Unclear how to use all features

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes at launch on bad connections
- Can't always override blocked apps

**Requested features**

- Add more detailed scheduling options
- Improve tutorial and onboarding experience
- Introduce a dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is Screen Time & App Blocker free?

Screen Time & App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Barrier or Screen Time & App Blocker?

Screen Time & App Blocker is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.7 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while Screen Time & App Blocker averages 4.7 from 86 ratings.

### Do Barrier or Screen Time & App Blocker have ads?

Both Barrier and Screen Time & App Blocker show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barrier or Screen Time & App Blocker?

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Screen Time & App Blocker every 2 weeks. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 27, 2026 and Screen Time & App Blocker on October 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*