# Bonfire vs Lifeback

The clearest difference is ads: Lifeback at none against Bonfire's shown. Lifeback also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 6 weeks). Bonfire's advantage is review sentiment (63% vs 53%). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bonfire sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and Lifeback sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Bonfire against 4.5 for Lifeback. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 68 and 80 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Bonfire's written reviews are positive against 53% of Lifeback's.

Bonfire ships an update every 6 weeks, Lifeback every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bonfire | Lifeback |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonfire-screen-time-blocker/id6498787504/reviews) | **[4.5 (80 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeback-screen-time-control/id6636464956/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 68 | **80** |
| Positive reviews | **62.5% of reviews** | 52.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 77 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Offbeat Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1694629081) | [Control. Alt. Delete. LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762687184) |

## What reviewers say

### Bonfire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonfire-screen-time-blocker/id6498787504)

This app helps reduce excessive phone usage and improve focus. It offers features like app blocking, real-time focus feedback, and progress tracking to enhance productivity and well-being. Manage your digital habits and build structured routines for a better quality of time spent on your device.

**Highlights:** App blocking, Focus reporting, Real-time focus score, Scheduled focus sessions, Digital habit management, Productivity enhancement

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bonfire Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $59.99 | per year |


### Lifeback

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeback-screen-time-control/id6636464956)

This app enhances your phone's screen time settings to help you focus better and achieve your goals. It offers app restrictions and time limits to reduce distractions and boost productivity. Many users report significant reductions in screen time and improved mental well-being.

**Highlights:** App restrictions and time limits, Focus reports and progress metrics, Instant app blocking, Scheduled blocking via calendar, Temporary unblocking for breaks, Hard mode for maximum protection, Shortcut integration for automation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $3.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $4.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $5.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $6.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $7.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $8.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $9.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $10.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $11.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $12.00 | per month |
| Promo Yearly Plan | $40.00 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $40.00 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $99.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Productivity boost
- 👍 Helpful for focus
- 🙌 Life-changing
- 💪 Effective for reducing distractions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- ⚠️ Unreliable app behavior
- 💰 Subscription issues

**Reported bugs**

- App closing unexpectedly
- Focus mode not working as expected
- Inconsistent app behavior

**Requested features**

- Better unblock functionality
- Improved notification system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bonfire free?

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

### Is Lifeback free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bonfire or Lifeback?

Lifeback is rated higher. Bonfire averages 4.5 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Lifeback averages 4.5 from 80 ratings.

### Do Bonfire or Lifeback have ads?

Bonfire shows ads; Lifeback does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bonfire or Lifeback?

Bonfire ships an update every 6 weeks, and Lifeback every 6 days. Most recently, Bonfire was updated on October 27, 2026 and Lifeback on October 24, 2026.

---

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