# Minimal vs CogniShield

The clearest difference is update cadence: CogniShield at every 2 weeks against Minimal's every 2 months. Minimal's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Minimal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and CogniShield sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Minimal ships an update every 2 months, CogniShield every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Minimal | CogniShield |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimal-simple-home-screen/id6480327824/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 21 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ByteBrew LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1323479618) | [Nourredine Mkasri](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786292858) |

## What reviewers say

### Minimal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimal-simple-home-screen/id6480327824)

This app transforms your home screen into a distraction-free, text-based launcher using widgets. It helps reduce screen time by hiding distracting icons and notification badges, allowing for a more personalized and focused mobile experience.

**Highlights:** Text-based app launcher widgets, Reduces screen time, Hides distracting icons, Customizable widget appearance, Personalized home screen setup

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Membership | $4.99 | one-time |


### CogniShield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cognishield-app-blocker/id6809868739)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CogniShield Premium | $8.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Minimal free?

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

### Is CogniShield free?

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

### Do Minimal or CogniShield have ads?

Neither Minimal nor CogniShield shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Minimal or CogniShield?

Minimal ships an update every 2 months, and CogniShield every 2 weeks. Most recently, Minimal was updated on October 24, 2026 and CogniShield on October 19, 2026.

---

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