# SOS vs Normal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SOS at none against Normal's 9. SOS also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). Normal's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Normal sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per month. SOS asks for nothing beyond the download.

SOS ships an update every 5 weeks, Normal every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SOS | Normal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/normal-screen-time-control/id6768861415/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **39** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 40 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ID Group Nordic AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685931989) | [Normal Engineering Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896611331) |

## What reviewers say

### SOS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-rescue/id6448733090)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Normal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/normal-screen-time-control/id6768861415)

This app helps you reduce phone usage by blocking selected applications by default. To access blocked apps, you must physically scan an NFC tag, QR code, or barcode, or be at a specific location. It offers granular control, timed unblocks, and scheduling to help you regain control of your screen time.

**Highlights:** Block apps via NFC, QR codes, and barcodes, Use any NFC tag, QR code, or barcode, Unblock/block specific apps, Timed unblocks, Scheduling, Granular control, Bypass prevention options

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Support | $5.00 | per month |
| Monthly Support | $10.00 | per month |
| Monthly Support | $20.00 | per month |
| One-time Donation | $5.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $10.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $20.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $50.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $100.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $200.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SOS free?

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

### Is Normal free?

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

### Do SOS or Normal have ads?

Neither SOS nor Normal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SOS or Normal?

SOS ships an update every 5 weeks, and Normal every 2 days. Most recently, SOS was updated on October 5, 2026 and Normal on October 19, 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.*