# ThriveShift vs Screen Star

The clearest difference is rating: ThriveShift at 5.0 against Screen Star's 4.5. ThriveShift also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ThriveShift sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and Screen Star sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ThriveShift holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 11 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

ThriveShift ships an update every 4 days, Screen Star every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ThriveShift | Screen Star |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thriveshift-shift-work-rescue/id6469645812/reviews)** | [4.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-star-screen-time/id6770261213/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **11** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 44 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lumin Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712363241) | [Khanh Nam Bui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829564062) |

## What reviewers say

### ThriveShift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thriveshift-shift-work-rescue/id6469645812)

This app offers science-backed strategies and real-time coaching to help healthcare shift workers combat burnout and fatigue. It provides personalized hacks, emergency reset protocols, and gamified rewards to improve energy and focus during demanding shifts.

**Highlights:** Micro-hacks for energy crashes, Emergency reset protocols, Hyper-personalized adaptation, Real-time SOS coaching, Personalized shift survival toolkit, Gamified healthy habit rewards

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |


### Screen Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-star-screen-time/id6770261213)

This app helps you reclaim lost time by blocking distracting applications. It uses a unique mascot and visual progress tracker to motivate you to stay on track with your goals, offering a more emotional approach to screen time management.

**Highlights:** Smart app blocking, Custom daily goals, Year-by-year progress tracker, Home screen widget with live mascot, Mascot tones for mood reflection, Streak tracking

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Screen Star Pro | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Screen Star Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Screen Star Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| Screen Star Lifetime | $134.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ThriveShift free?

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

### Is Screen Star free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ThriveShift or Screen Star?

ThriveShift is rated higher. ThriveShift averages 5.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Screen Star averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.

### Do ThriveShift or Screen Star have ads?

Neither ThriveShift nor Screen Star shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ThriveShift or Screen Star?

ThriveShift ships an update every 4 days, and Screen Star every 2 weeks. Most recently, ThriveShift was updated on October 19, 2026 and Screen Star on October 25, 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.*