Barrier vs Breaktime
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 social apps. It introduces intentional delays or ad-watching requirements to encourage mindful usage and promote healthier digital habits.
- Blocks social media apps
- Introduces ad-watching or wait times
- Promotes mindful digital habits
- Digital wellness assistant
- Reduces mindless scrolling
- Encourages intentional app usage
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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!
Breaktime
This app helps you regain control over your screen time by blocking distracting applications. It requires you to set a duration for app usage and start a timed break before accessing blocked apps, ensuring accountability and promoting digital wellbeing.
- Block distracting apps 24/7
- Timed breaks for app access
- Customizable delay for reconsideration
- Strict Mode with no bypasses
- Travel Mode for automatic unblocking
- Scheduled recurring blocking
- Daily limit goals and streaks
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How it works: - Block apps permanently or set a schedule - Friction before EVERY unlock with 14+ different modes - Set a time limit on how long you'll unlock for - When your time's up your apps are automatically reblocked Other features designed for focus: - 14+ friction modes to help you reconsider: pushups, eye contact, tap to unlock, typing a quote or a breathing cycle and more. - Strict Mode, where no breaks or bypasses are allowed. - Travel Mode, automatically unblock apps when you're away from home. - Scheduling: Setup automatic recurring blocking. - Set a daily limit goal and stay motivated with streaks. - Advanced customisations to suit your focus needs. - No collection of your phone usage or personal data. - Minimal UI designed as simple as possible to be less stimulating and distracting. - Lightning-fast setup. You’re ready to go in 30 seconds. In a world where apps do everything they can now to keep you scrolling, Breaktime is designed to give you back control. It takes a different approach, believing that being intentional with your downtime and deciding how long you want to spend on an app beforehand is essential to digital wellbeing. It’s built for the people who value their focus, productivity, and time away from your phone. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://breaktimeapp.github.io/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Breaktime's 7. Barrier also leads on ratings volume (352 vs 70). Breaktime's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and device support 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. Breaktime sells 7 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 — 4.7 for Barrier against 4.6 for Breaktime. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barrier has 352 ratings behind it against 70, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 72% of Breaktime's.
Barrier ships an update every 2 weeks, Breaktime every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.
| Parameter | Barrier | Breaktime |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (352 ratings) — better | 4.6 (70 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 79.7% of reviews — better | 72.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 352 — better | 70 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 75 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Haplo, LLC | Nathan Chan |
Customer experience
Barrier
Breaktime
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
Breaktime
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Barrier
No in-app purchases
Breaktime
- Breaktime Premium7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Breaktime Premium7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Breaktime Premium - Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
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- Breaktime Premium7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Breaktime Premium7 Days trial$34.991 Year
- Breaktime Premium - Annually7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Premium Promo$24.99
