# Barrier vs offtime

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against offtime's 4. Barrier also leads on ratings volume (308 vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). offtime's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. offtime sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

offtime holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barrier has 308 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, offtime every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | offtime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (308 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/offtime/id6741475211/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **308** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 80.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 42 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [Louie Gaiser](https://appshunter.io/developer/1792823606) |

## 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


### offtime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/offtime/id6741475211)

This app helps you reclaim your time by blocking distracting applications. It uses a unique physical barrier method, requiring you to move to disable blocks, fostering self-control and digital discipline. Gain insights into your saved time and create custom blocking profiles for different situations.

**Highlights:** Physical barrier app blocking, QR code or NFC activation, Custom app/category blocking, Blocking profiles for situations, Scheduled blocking times, Time saved insights, Offline and local operation

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| offtime Pro - Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| offtime Pro - Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| offtime Pro - Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| offtime Pro - Lifetime | $17.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is offtime free?

offtime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Barrier or offtime?

offtime is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.7 out of 5 from 308 ratings, while offtime averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Barrier or offtime have ads?

Barrier shows ads; offtime does not.

### Which is updated more often, Barrier or offtime?

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and offtime every 2 months. Most recently, Barrier was updated on September 23, 2026 and offtime on July 6, 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.*