# Barrier vs Monolith

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barrier at none against Monolith's 3. Monolith's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Monolith sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Monolith every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barrier | Monolith |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Haplo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476210690) | [Benjamin Gonzalez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858638776) |

## 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


### Monolith

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monolith-study-focus-timer/id6803581447)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monolith Pro (Weekly) | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monolith Pro (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Monolith Pro (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Is Monolith free?

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

### Do Barrier or Monolith have ads?

Barrier shows ads; Monolith does not.

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

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Monolith every 3 weeks. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 14, 2026 and Monolith on October 2, 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.*