# App Lock vs Screen Time Control

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: App Lock at none against Screen Time Control's 3. App Lock also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (120 vs 4). Screen Time Control's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. App Lock asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for App Lock against 4.8 for Screen Time Control. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock has 120 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

App Lock ships an update every 5 days, Screen Time Control every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Lock | Screen Time Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6475538115/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-anchor/id6587558179/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **120** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 85.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Size | 7 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [秀珍 黄](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756029312) | [Stephen Fung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1505257864) |

## What reviewers say

### App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6475538115)

Manage your phone usage and protect your privacy with this app. It offers robust parental controls, allows you to lock specific applications, and helps you set time limits to combat phone addiction. Secure your data and control your digital well-being.

**Highlights:** Lock specific apps, Parental control features, Prevent app deletion, Secure unlock methods (Face ID, fingerprint, password), Automatic app relocking, Customizable app modes, Set app usage time limits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Screen Time Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-anchor/id6587558179)

This app helps you build better focus habits by scheduling app blocking and managing screen time. It offers scheduled blocking, manual focus sessions, and usage insights to eliminate distractions and improve productivity.

**Highlights:** Scheduled app blocking, Manual focus sessions, Smart notifications, Usage insights, Privacy-focused design, Apple Screen Time framework integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is App Lock free?

App Lock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Screen Time Control free?

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

### Which has better reviews, App Lock or Screen Time Control?

Screen Time Control is rated higher. App Lock averages 4.6 out of 5 from 120 ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do App Lock or Screen Time Control have ads?

App Lock shows ads; Screen Time Control does not.

### Which is updated more often, App Lock or Screen Time Control?

App Lock ships an update every 5 days, and Screen Time Control every 5 months. Most recently, App Lock was updated on October 15, 2026 and Screen Time Control on October 1, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*