# Barrier vs Borrow

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Borrow's 2. Barrier also leads on ratings volume (340 vs 25). Borrow's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Borrow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

Borrow holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barrier has 340 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Borrow every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | Borrow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (340 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews) | **[4.8 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrow-screen-time-control/id6749846085/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **340** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 80.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [Poteo de la una](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813543081) |

## 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


### Borrow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrow-screen-time-control/id6749846085)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting daily limits and making each unlock a deliberate choice. It offers features like Focus Mode, customizable time budgets, and an Allowlist for essential apps. Track your usage patterns and take back your time.

**Highlights:** Daily time budget, Focus Mode, Allowlist for essential apps, Protected and Strict modes, Live Activity countdown, Siri Shortcuts

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is Borrow free?

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

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

Borrow is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.6 out of 5 from 340 ratings, while Borrow averages 4.8 from 25 ratings.

### Do Barrier or Borrow have ads?

Both Barrier and Borrow show ads.

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

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Borrow every 2 days. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 24, 2026 and Borrow on October 22, 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.*