# Barrier vs Submos

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Submos's 1. Submos's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Submos sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Submos every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | Submos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (308 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-for-focus/id6448244443/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **308** | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 47 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) | [Moodmango Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/6782648217) |

## 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


### Submos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/submos-subscription-tracker/id6782650553)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Submos Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is Submos free?

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

### Do Barrier or Submos have ads?

Barrier shows ads; Submos does not.

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

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Submos every 9 days. Most recently, Barrier was updated on September 23, 2026 and Submos on September 21, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*