# Barrier vs Scrolly

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Scrolly's 8. Barrier also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 57%). Scrolly's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scrolly sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Barrier against 4.7 for Scrolly. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 341 and 228 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 57% of Scrolly's.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Scrolly every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | Scrolly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (341 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews) | **[4.7 (228 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrollyyour-screen-time-buddy/id6746136491/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **341** | 228 |
| Positive reviews | **80.3% of reviews** | 57.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 335 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.7** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [SCROLLY SP Z O O](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815346397) |

## 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


### Scrolly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrollyyour-screen-time-buddy/id6746136491)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by creating a physical barrier to addictive applications. It allows you to select distracting apps and block them with a simple tap, freeing up over 90 minutes daily for more meaningful activities.

**Highlights:** Block addictive apps, Physical tap to block, Save over 90 minutes daily, Habit building, Focus on passions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scrolly Mac & iPad | $2.99 | per month |
| Scrolly App Access Without Device | $9.99 | per month |
| Scrolly Mac & iPad | $29.99 | per year |
| Scrolly Alarm | $59.90 | per year |
| Scrolly App Access Without Device | $59.90 | per year |
| Scrolly App Access Without Device | $79.00 | per year |
| Scrolly App Access Without Device | $79.00 | per year |
| Commitment Mode | $1.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is Scrolly free?

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

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

Scrolly is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.6 out of 5 from 341 ratings, while Scrolly averages 4.7 from 228 ratings.

### Do Barrier or Scrolly have ads?

Barrier shows ads; Scrolly does not.

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

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Scrolly every 8 days. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 25, 2026 and Scrolly 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.*