Comparison

PAUSED vs App Locker

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PAUSED

This app helps users build healthier digital habits by limiting phone usage and blocking distracting applications. It offers various modes for focus, work, privacy, and saving money, with an achievement system for motivation. All data is stored locally for enhanced privacy and security.

Highlights
  • Focus/Sleep Mode
  • Self-Control Mode
  • Work Mode
  • Privacy Mode
  • Money-Saving Mode
  • Achievement System
  • Widgets
Features
Read full description

Doomscrolling until 2am... again? You said ""just five minutes."" That was 2 hours ago. One notification. One tap. And there goes your deep work session. Sleep? Not when there is one more video. The algorithm wins every single time. It's time to take your life back. PAUSED is your mindful companion designed to help you reclaim control of your time. With its minimalist Dopamine UI and intuitive features, building self-discipline has never been this rewarding. Why Choose PAUSED? 【Master your Screen time】 - Sleep Mode: The ultimate remedy for late-night scrolling. Set your bedtime and lock distracting apps to ensure a restful night. - Focus Mode: Designed for deep work and intense study sessions. Whitelist essential tools and block everything else to stay in the zone. - Interval Break Method: Combat mindless scrolling scientifically. Set a 30-minute browsing limit followed by a forced 10-minute break to reset your brain. - Work Mode: Restrict entertainment apps until you have completed your daily working goals. Turn your screen time into a reward. 【Privacy Lock and Anti-Addiction】 - Privacy Mode: Lend your phone without anxiety. Hide sensitive apps like banking or private galleries from both the home screen and App Library search. - In-App Purchase Lock: Prevent impulsive spending on games or subscriptions. Stay in control of your digital consumption. 【The Gentle Guardrail】 - Cooling-Off Period: When you are about to give up and hit Stop, PAUSED forces a cooling-off timer. This gives you a moment to rethink and resist the temptation. - Achievement Tracking: Every time you resist a distraction, it is recorded. Watch your 21-day self-discipline journey unfold with our companion, MOMO. 【System Integration and Aesthetics】 - Dopamine UI: A beautifully redesigned interface with smooth animations that make self-discipline feel like a treat, not a chore. - Full iOS Integration: Seamlessly supports Live Activities, Home Screen Widgets, and Lock Screen Widgets. Monitor your focus status at a glance. PAUSED is with you everywhere: - At the Library: Your study shield, keeping social media out of reach. - In Bed: Your sleep guardian, stopping revenge bedtime procrastination. - During Socializing: Your privacy vault, keeping your personal data for your eyes only. Our Privacy Commitment: - Your data, your device: All data is stored locally on your device. We never upload your usage habits to the cloud. Your secrets stay yours. You don't need to be perfectly disciplined. Just a little less screen time than yesterday is enough. PAUSED will be there — one step at a time, with MOMO by your side. Subscription Details PAUSED offers “PAUSED Pro” subscriptions: $2.99/week or $29.99/year (U.S. pricing) Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled 24 hours before the end of the period. Payment is charged to your iTunes account. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in iTunes Account Settings. Terms of Use: https://docs.qq.com/doc/DYUdiWWRlRXFjV2pj Privacy Policy: https://docs.qq.com/doc/DYW90Tk9OVktCelNX

About

App Locker

This app helps protect your privacy and data by locking other applications. It also prevents unauthorized uninstallation, ensuring your important information remains secure. It's designed for effective mobile management and control, especially for families with children.

Highlights
  • Application locking
  • Uninstall protection
  • Privacy and data security
  • Healthy mobile usage habits
  • Local operations, no third-party SDKs
  • Ad removal with membership
Features
Read full description

Lock App is a mobile application and personal information protection tool specifically designed for users. By offering a variety of security features, Lock App helps users effectively protect their privacy and data security. The main features include: 1. Application Locking: This feature assists users and their families, especially children, in establishing healthy mobile phone usage habits. By limiting specific applications, it reduces over-reliance and addiction to mobile apps, making it suitable for effective mobile management and control in family settings with children. 2. Uninstall Protection: Lock App has an uninstall prevention function that prevents unauthorized users from deleting the app, thereby protecting important information from accidental or malicious removal. Lock App is committed to providing safer and more private protection measures. All operations are completed locally without involving any third-party SDKs and services. If you encounter any issues during use, please contact our official WeChat customer service (weixin010101L) for assistance and support. Membership Renewal Details: - Membership Privileges: Include benefits such as ad removal and unlimited application locking among other value-added services. - Payment Method: After confirming the purchase and payment, the cost will be charged to your iTunes account. - Subscription Options: - Monthly Membership: One month product priced at $0.99/1 month. - Annual Membership: One year product priced at $4.99/12 months. For details on Privacy Policy, User Agreement, and Membership Service Agreement, please visit the following links respectively: - Privacy Policy: http://lock.xman-aso.com/xieyi/policy.html - User Agreement: http://lock.xman-aso.com/xieyi/index.html - Membership Service Agreement: http://lock.xman-aso.com/xieyi/vipuser.html Contact Us Development is challenging, so if you encounter any problems while using our app, please get in touch with us!

Screenshots

PAUSED4 screens
App Locker4 screens

Verdict

The call

PAUSED and App Locker both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of App Locker's written reviews are positive against 58% of PAUSED's. PAUSED's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PAUSED sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and App Locker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for PAUSED against 4.5 for App Locker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 68 and 19 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 58% of PAUSED's written reviews are positive against 100% of App Locker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PAUSED ships an update fortnightly, App Locker monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PAUSED versus App Locker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPAUSEDApp Locker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (68 ratings) — better4.5 (19 ratings)
Positive reviews58.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings68 — better19
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB109 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSihoooo Network Technology Co LtdBeijing Haoxin Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

PAUSED

All ratings68 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral5.9%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive58.0%
Neutral14.0%
Negative28.0%

App Locker

All ratings18 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PAUSED

Subscriptions2
  • QualityTime Pro (Weekly)$2.997 Days
  • QualityTime Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • QualityTime Forever$39.99
4 purchases

App Locker

Subscriptions4
  • 连续包月$0.991 Month
  • 连续包年$4.991 Year
  • 连续包年$6.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • 连续包年3 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is PAUSED free?
PAUSED is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is App Locker free?
App Locker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PAUSED or App Locker?
PAUSED is rated higher. PAUSED averages 4.5 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while App Locker averages 4.5 from 19 ratings.
Do PAUSED or App Locker have ads?
App Locker shows ads; PAUSED does not.
Which is updated more often, PAUSED or App Locker?
PAUSED ships an update fortnightly, and App Locker monthly. Most recently, PAUSED was updated on November 7, 2026 and App Locker on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons