# Barrier vs Screen Time Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: Barrier at 4.7 against Screen Time Tracker's 3.3. Barrier also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (308 vs 3). Screen Time Tracker's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Barrier holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barrier has 308 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 100% of Screen Time Tracker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Screen Time Tracker every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | Screen Time Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (308 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews)** | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-tracker/id6738397686/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **308** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 80.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [Jack Finnis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1633101066) |

## 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


### Screen Time Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-tracker/id6738397686)

This app helps you reduce unproductive screen time by blocking distracting apps and websites. It provides visual charts of your usage and allows you to filter out essential productive applications. Keep your data private and track your progress over time.

**Highlights:** Block unproductive apps and websites, Filter productive apps, Visualize screen time with charts, Track usage progress, See app time consumption, Private data storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is Screen Time Tracker free?

Screen Time Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Barrier is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.7 out of 5 from 308 ratings, while Screen Time Tracker averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.

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

Barrier shows ads; Screen Time Tracker does not.

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

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Screen Time Tracker every 5 months. Most recently, Barrier was updated on September 26, 2026 and Screen Time Tracker on September 16, 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.*