Barrier vs Screenless
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Barrier
This app helps you break free from social media distractions by limiting access to chosen applications. It introduces intentional delays or ad viewing to discourage mindless scrolling, promoting healthier digital habits and increased productivity.
- Social media app blocking
- Intentional delays for app access
- Ad-based access incentive
- Digital wellness assistant
- Promotes healthier digital habits
- Reduces mindless scrolling
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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!
Screenless
This app helps you regain control of your digital habits by blocking distracting applications and setting usage limits. It offers features like app time limits, opening restrictions, and scheduled blocking to foster focus and productivity.
- App usage time limits
- App opening restrictions
- Mindful app opening delays
- Scheduled app blocking
- Instant app blocking sessions
- Screen time streak challenges
- Deep focus mode
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Reclaim Your Time. Reconnect with Life. Go Screenless. Tired of endless scrolling and feeling chained to your phone? Dumb Phone: Screenless empowers you to take back control of your digital habits and rediscover a life beyond the screen. This isn't about ditching your smartphone entirely – it's about making it a tool, not a master. We help you break free from digital distractions, fostering focus, productivity, and genuine connections in the real world. Imagine more time for hobbies, loved ones, and simply being present. How Screenless: Screen Time & Focus Transforms Your Digital Life: - App-Limit: Set healthy boundaries. Automatically block apps after a set usage time (e.g., limit social media to just 15 minutes a day!). - App-Locks: Break compulsive habits. Restrict how many times you can open an app (e.g., only open that distracting game 5 times a day). - Intervention: Create mindful pauses. Add a delay (e.g., 50 seconds) before you can open an app, giving you a moment to reconsider and choose wisely. - Schedules: Plan your focus. Block specific apps automatically during work, study, or family time – ensuring uninterrupted focus when it matters most. - Sessions: Go spontaneous screenless. Instantly block distracting apps for a custom period, perfect for quick focus bursts or real-world moments. - Screen Time Challenge: Build a winning streak! Stay below your chosen daily screen time goal and watch your streak grow, motivating you to maintain healthier habits. - Deep Focus Mode: Stay committed. Activate Deep Focus to prevent pausing or canceling any ongoing app blockers. When you need to concentrate, we've got your back. Dumb Phone: Screenless is more than just a blocker; it's your personal guide to digital well-being. Start your journey to a more intentional, focused, and fulfilling life today. Download now and embrace the power of being Screenless! CONTACT & SUPPORT Got questions or feedback? Email us at: support@screenlessapp.com LEGAL By using this app, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: https://www.screenlessapp.com/privacy-policy https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Screenless's 5. Barrier also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 50%) and ratings volume (345 vs 3). Screenless's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Screenless sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 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 345 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 50% of Screenless's.
Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Screenless every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Barrier | Screenless |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (345 ratings) — better | 4.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.9% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 345 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 79 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Haplo, LLC | Maximillian Stabe |
Customer experience
Barrier
Screenless
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
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- 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
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- 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
Screenless
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Barrier
No in-app purchases
Screenless
- Monthly Plan$6.991 Month
- Monthly Plan (Family)$7.991 Month
- Annual Plan7 Days trial$49.991 Year
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- Annual Plan (Family)7 Days trial$56.991 Year
- Screenless Two WeeksFree









