# Barrier vs basilic

The clearest difference is ads: basilic at none against Barrier's shown. basilic also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Barrier's advantage is ratings volume (343 vs 1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

basilic holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barrier has 343 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, basilic every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | basilic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basilic/id6757171942/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **343** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 80.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [LifeBits Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552831399) |

## 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


### basilic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basilic/id6757171942)

This app helps you plan your shopping trips and organize your favorite items. Create and share lists, group items by store and category, and quickly add recurring purchases. It offers a fast and beautiful interface for effortless grocery management.

**Highlights:** Multiple real-time shopping lists, Group items by supermarket and category, Favorites for recurring items, Share lists for real-time collaboration, Quick item addition and editing, Bulk-assign supermarkets/categories

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is basilic free?

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

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

basilic is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.7 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while basilic averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Barrier or basilic have ads?

Barrier shows ads; basilic does not.

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

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and basilic every 8 days. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 27, 2026 and basilic on October 15, 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.*