# App Blocker vs Helm

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Helm at none against App Blocker's 9. Helm also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 11 days). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. App Blocker sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Helm asks for nothing beyond the download.

App Blocker ships an update every 11 days, Helm daily. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Blocker | Helm |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-blocker-limit-screen-time/id6502186144/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **77** | — |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 214 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Screen Time Control LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1425190168) | [Abdulaziz Almohsen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1241818777) |

## What reviewers say

### App Blocker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-blocker-limit-screen-time/id6502186144)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking distracting applications and websites. Utilize custom block lists and focus sessions to improve productivity and mental well-being.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps and websites, Create custom block lists, Schedule focus sessions, Manage screen time effectively, Improve productivity and mental health, Personalized app and website blocking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium | $8.99 | per month |
| Premium | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Free for Life | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


### Helm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helm/id6759719461)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is App Blocker free?

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

### Is Helm free?

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

### Do App Blocker or Helm have ads?

App Blocker shows ads; Helm does not.

### Which is updated more often, App Blocker or Helm?

App Blocker ships an update every 11 days, and Helm daily. Most recently, App Blocker was updated on September 16, 2026 and Helm on October 7, 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.*