PAUSED vs Screen Time Control
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Focus/Sleep Mode
- Self-Control Mode
- Work Mode
- Privacy Mode
- Money-Saving Mode
- Achievement System
- Widgets
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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
Screen Time Control
This app helps you reduce smartphone usage by introducing gentle friction to app access. It sets time limits and encourages mindful engagement, preventing mindless scrolling and promoting focus on important activities.
- Gentle friction for app access
- Mindful breathing task before opening apps
- Customizable time limits for app usage
- Automatic app closure after time limit
- Intercepts unconscious app launches
- Focus on habit change, not strict blocking
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You’ve arrived at this app because you want to rethink how you use your smartphone—and that alone is something to be proud of. Just by searching for an app to help with restrictions, you’ve already taken the first step toward changing your habits. That small step, repeated consistently, can take you farther than you ever imagined. NoMore is here to quietly support you on that journey. By reducing screen time, you’ll be able to focus more deeply on studying, work, or hobbies. You’ll find more mental space, and your daily life will gradually come into balance. NoMore was created to support exactly that kind of change. ---------- That said, lasting change needs a system that’s sustainable and stress-free. Just as extreme diets are harmful and likely to rebound, extreme digital detoxes or harsh restrictions can feel frustrating and often lead users to delete the app. Overly strict limits don’t last. But if it’s too easy to bypass the restriction, it doesn’t work either. That’s why NoMore is designed with “not too weak, not too strong” limits—just enough to create a lasting experience without frustration. Instead of completely blocking access, NoMore lets you open apps if you really want to. But to do so, you’ll need to complete a brief breathing task, which helps prevent mindless app opening. This subtle friction makes you pause—and helps you open apps only when truly necessary. This approach is supported by behavioral science: adding small obstacles or distancing yourself from bad habits makes them easier to change. ---------- In addition, NoMore lets you set time limits—like “only 5 minutes” or “only 10 minutes”—before opening social media or games. When the set time ends, the app automatically closes, helping you avoid slipping into 30-minute or hour-long scroll sessions without realizing. Many users have told us this feature has been a real lifesaver. ---------- NoMore doesn’t rely on a “Start” button to begin blocking. After all, if you can tap that button, you’re already in study mode or focus mode. But the real danger is before that—when you’re aimlessly picking up your phone. Right after waking up, while on the toilet, in bed before sleep, or when taking a short break after a task or study session— NoMore steps in with a gentle brake before those moments turn into hours of mindless scrolling. We’ve also chosen not to rely on time-based blocking like “limit from 10pm to 11pm.” Because even if you block nighttime use, what if you end up scrolling all day? Instead, NoMore focuses on gently intercepting unconscious app launches throughout the entire day. ---------- You don’t have to be perfect. Even stopping yourself once a day from opening an app out of habit is real progress. Let’s shape your days with NoMore—little by little. Make space for what matters: studying, working, playing, and becoming more of who you want to be.
Screenshots
Verdict
PAUSED and Screen Time Control both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 98% of Screen Time Control's written reviews are positive against 58% of PAUSED's. PAUSED's advantage is ratings volume (68 vs 15). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. PAUSED sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Screen Time Control holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 68 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of PAUSED's written reviews are positive against 98% of Screen Time Control's.
PAUSED ships an update fortnightly, Screen Time Control every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PAUSED | Screen Time Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (68 ratings) | 4.7 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.0% of reviews | 97.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 68 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 16.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 92 MB | 74 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sihoooo Network Technology Co Ltd | SnackTime, Inc. |
Customer experience
PAUSED
Screen Time Control
In-app purchases
PAUSED
- QualityTime Pro (Weekly)$2.997 Days
- QualityTime Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- QualityTime Forever$39.99
Screen Time Control
- Monthly Plan$5.991 Month
- Annual Plan3 Days trial$43.991 Year





