# Barrier vs Snitch

The clearest difference is rating: Barrier at 4.7 against Snitch's 4.0. Barrier also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and review sentiment (80% vs 66%). Snitch's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Snitch sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

Barrier holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 343 and 77 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 66% of Snitch's.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Snitch every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | Snitch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews)** | [4.0 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snitch-screen-time-control/id6753588362/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **343** | 77 |
| Positive reviews | **80.3% of reviews** | 66.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [SNITCH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1834040622) |

## 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


### Snitch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snitch-screen-time-control/id6753588362)

This app helps you break phone addiction by creating shared accountability with friends. Set app time limits and contribute to a group time pot, fostering collective responsibility for healthier screen time habits.

**Highlights:** Group accountability with shared time pot, App blocking via iOS Screen Time integration, Customizable app time limits, Group approval system for extra time, Progress tracking and peer support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Individual Premium | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Group Premium | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Individual Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly Group Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Yearly Individual Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly Group Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Snitch Lifetime Premium | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is Snitch free?

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

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

Barrier is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.7 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while Snitch averages 4.0 from 77 ratings.

### Do Barrier or Snitch have ads?

Barrier shows ads; Snitch does not.

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

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Snitch every 9 days. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 27, 2026 and Snitch on October 30, 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.*