Comparison

PAUSED vs Breakly

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

Breakly

This app enforces mandatory screen time breaks by locking your phone, eliminating the need for willpower. It offers customizable break durations and integrates eye-saving techniques.

Highlights
  • Unbreakable breaks with phone locking
  • Strict Mode to block all apps
  • Configurable mini and long breaks
  • Intelligent timer pauses on lock
  • 20-20-20 rule reminders for eye health
Features
Read full description

You don’t need a harder lock. You need a break your body can accept. Breakly uses mini breaks and long breaks while you scroll — short enough that your body doesn’t rebel, strong enough that awareness comes back. When the loop breaks, self-control returns. That’s how doomscrolling actually ends — not by turning your phone into a prison. • Mini breaks: snap out before “one more swipe” wins • Long breaks: let the urge fade when you’re stuck deep • Day or night: same rhythm on the couch or in bed • Optional Strict Mode: holds a break if you want a firmer guardrail • Track bedtime and unlocks so progress stays visible Other tools lock the day or delay the open. Breakly works in the moment you’re already scrolling. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PAUSED4 screens
Breakly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Breakly at 5.0 against PAUSED's 4.5. Breakly also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 58%). PAUSED's advantage is ratings volume (68 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Breakly sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Breakly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PAUSED has 68 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of PAUSED's written reviews are positive against 67% of Breakly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PAUSED versus Breakly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPAUSEDBreakly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (68 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.0% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings68 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB101 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSihoooo Network Technology Co LtdGood Orbit Labs LLC

Customer experience

PAUSED

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

Breakly

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

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
2 purchases

Breakly

Subscriptions2
  • quarterly member3 Days trial$9.993 Months
  • annual member7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is PAUSED free?
PAUSED is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Breakly free?
Breakly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PAUSED or Breakly?
Breakly is rated higher. PAUSED averages 4.5 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Breakly averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do PAUSED or Breakly have ads?
Neither PAUSED nor Breakly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PAUSED or Breakly?
PAUSED ships an update fortnightly, and Breakly fortnightly. Most recently, PAUSED was updated on November 7, 2026 and Breakly on November 4, 2026.

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