Essence vs SelfControl
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Essence
This app helps users break compulsive behaviors and build lasting self-discipline through science-based recovery principles. It offers structured programs, tracking tools, and mental wellness exercises to reduce urges and improve focus. Users can monitor their progress with streak counters and widgets for constant motivation.
- Addiction recovery tracker
- Streak counter
- Structured recovery program
- Urge management tools
- Mindfulness exercises
- Home and lock screen widgets
- Private and secure tracking
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Essence: Quit Addiction & Detox Recovery Quit addiction, regain control, and build lasting self-discipline. Essence is a science-based addiction recovery and habit tracker designed to help you break compulsive behaviors, reduce urges, and rebuild mental strength. Using neuroscience-based recovery principles, structured programs, and powerful tracking tools, Essence helps you quit addiction and embrace reset culture for permanent positive change. Whether your goal is to complete a dopamine reset, start a dopamine detox, or break unhealthy habits, Essence provides the tools and guidance needed for long-term recovery and focus. Join thousands of users who are successfully quitting addiction and transforming their lives. Addiction Recovery Tracker & Streak Counter Track your progress with a powerful recovery tracker designed to keep you motivated. Features include: • Accurate sobriety and recovery streak counter • Progress tracking and milestone achievements • Visual insights into your recovery journey • Motivation through streak growth and consistency Tracking progress strengthens discipline and improves recovery success. Structured Recovery Program Essence includes a guided recovery system designed using proven behavioral science principles. This program helps you: • Quit addiction step by step • Reduce urges and compulsive behaviors • Strengthen discipline and self-control • Build healthier daily habits • Create lasting behavioral change Each step supports sustainable recovery and mental resilience. Trigger Protection & Discipline Tools Protect your recovery and maintain focus with tools designed to reduce triggers and prevent relapse. Essence helps you: • Reduce exposure to triggering content • Maintain discipline during vulnerable moments • Strengthen consistency and self-control • Stay committed to your recovery goals Mental Wellness & Urge Management Essence provides practical tools to help manage urges and improve mental clarity. Includes: • Guided mindfulness exercises • Urge control and stress reduction tools • Focus and discipline training • Mental clarity and emotional balance support Stay Motivated with Widgets Keep your progress visible with Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets showing your recovery streak and milestones. Constant visual motivation helps reinforce discipline and consistency. Private and Secure Your privacy is fully protected. Essence provides: • Secure and encrypted data • Private addiction tracking • Anonymous and confidential experience Your recovery journey remains completely private. Benefits of Using Essence Users experience meaningful improvements such as: • Increased self-control and discipline • Reduced urges and compulsive behavior • Improved focus and mental clarity • Increased motivation and productivity • Healthier habits and routines • Greater confidence and emotional stability Start Your Recovery Today Essence gives you the tools, structure, and support needed to quit addi... Terms of Service (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
SelfControl
This app helps users stay committed to their goals, such as abstaining from porn, by tracking progress, visualizing savings, and offering motivational milestones. It provides custom reminders and a clean, ad-free design for a focused experience.
- One-tap progress logging
- Private and secure tracking
- Count porn-free days and streaks
- Visualize time and money saved
- Motivational milestones
- Customizable reminders
- Ad-free design
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Whether you’re starting no fap or already on your streak, RebootTracker helps you stay committed. What You’ll Get: - One-tap tracker – Log your progress in seconds - Private & secure – No accounts, no data sharing - Count porn-free days & streaks – Watch your streak grow - See time/money saved – Visualize your progress - Motivational milestones – Celebrate your achievements - Custom reminders – Daily check-ins to stay focused - Clean, ad-free design – Zero distractions Quitting porn doesn’t have to be complicated. Download RebootTracker and build a disciplined life—one day at a time. Full access requires a paid subscription. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime through your Apple ID account settings. Terms Of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https:https://www.termsfeed.com/live/787c0478-38be-4641-a3af-55d77ebce5bc
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Essence at free with in-app purchases against SelfControl's subscription. Essence also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months). SelfControl's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Essence sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and SelfControl sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Essence against 4.8 for SelfControl. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 12 respectively.
Essence ships an update every 2 weeks, SelfControl every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Essence | SelfControl |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (18 ratings) | 4.8 (12 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 18 — better | 12 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 143 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Joe Jeyaseelan | 蕾 李 |
Customer experience
Essence
SelfControl
In-app purchases
Essence
- Weekly Premium$0.997 Days
- Monthly Premium$1.991 Month
- Yearly Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Coins$0.99
- Coins$1.99
- Coins$4.99
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- Lifetime Premium$39.99
SelfControl
- Weekly Subscription$4.997 Days
- Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year









