FlowBuddy vs Polanthos
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FlowBuddy
This app helps you reduce mindless scrolling and use your phone more intentionally. It blocks distracting applications and introduces a brief pause before you can access them, encouraging healthier digital habits.
- Block distracting apps
- Unlock with breathing exercise
- Set allowed schedules
- Track app access habits
- Reduce impulsive app opens
- Build mindful screen time
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Stop mindless scrolling and open apps more intentionally. FlowBuddy helps you stay focused by blocking distracting apps and websites, adding a small pause before you access them. Set which apps and web domains to block, choose how access works, and build healthier phone habits over time. FlowBuddy uses Screen Time-based shielding for apps and websites, supports allowed schedules, tracks activity, and can require a breathing exercise before access is restored. Key Features: - Block distracting apps and websites - Unlock with a breathing exercise - Set allowed schedules - Track your app access habits - Reduce impulsive app and web browsing - Build more mindful screen time FlowBuddy is designed to make app opening feel intentional instead of automatic. "It has significantly improved my ability to stay focused for extended periods. The Breathing Exercise feature is a game-changer!" - tsteven9 Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://flowbuddy.app/privacy/?ref=appstore
Polanthos
This app helps you pause before opening distracting applications, encouraging intentional social media use and reducing mindless scrolling. It offers a mindful moment to decide if you truly want to proceed, with features like focus schedules and reclaimed time tracking.
- Mindful pause before app launch
- Focus schedules
- Gentle reminders
- Reclaimed time tracking
- Simple redirects
- Calm design
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Polanthos helps you pause before opening distracting apps on your iPhone. It is for people who want to reduce automatic scrolling, use social media more intentionally, and spend less time getting pulled into apps like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, shopping, or entertainment apps. Instead of blocking everything completely, Polanthos adds a short mindful pause before selected apps open. In that moment, you can breathe, decide if you really want to continue, close the app, or redirect your attention to something better. Main features include app-based pauses, focus schedules, gentle reminders, reclaimed-time tracking, simple redirects, and a calm design with no ads, no social feed, and no shame-based dashboards. The app is free to use. A paid plan is optional and can be skipped. All features described in this listing are accessible without purchase. Terms (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://polanthos.com/privacy.txt
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Polanthos at 5.0 against FlowBuddy's 4.5. Polanthos also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly) and monetization model (free vs freemium). FlowBuddy's advantage is ratings volume (13 vs 3) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. FlowBuddy sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.90 per month and Polanthos sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Polanthos holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
FlowBuddy ships an update monthly, Polanthos every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FlowBuddy | Polanthos |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (13 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 110 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Costin Bernhart | HAIYI NING |
Customer experience
FlowBuddy
Polanthos
In-app purchases
FlowBuddy
- Monthly$4.901 Month
- Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Family (Yearly)7 Days trial$49.901 Year
- Lifetime$19.99
Polanthos
- Polanthos Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
- Polanthos Pro Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
