Comparison

SandBud vs FileShield

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SandBud

This app helps you reclaim your screen time and build focus habits by blocking distracting applications. It gamifies the process by allowing you to design a virtual zen garden with elements earned from completed focus sessions. Stay present, reduce scrolling, and cultivate mindfulness with rewarding progress tracking.

Highlights
  • Block apps with focus plans
  • Design a virtual zen garden
  • Earn rewards for focus streaks
  • Track daily focus progress
  • Enter deep focus with Zen Mode
  • Take timed breaks
  • View screen time reports
Features
Read full description

Less brainrot. More living. SandBud is a focus app that makes putting your phone down REWARDING. Block distracting apps, and earn rewards when you focus. The best part? You can grow your own zen garden and show off your focus progress while you are resetting your phone habit. Designed by the former TikTok product team, SandBud makes focus fun! We use proven behavioral psychology hacks to reverse-engineer the brainrot, so you will fall in love with being present again! Meet Bud, your little focus butler. He’s here to remind you to spend less time scrolling and more time doing your thing. Studying. Working. Having dinner without checking what everyone else is having for dinner. HOW SandBud WORKS Choose your distractions Select the apps you want to take a break from. Make a focus plan Set aside time for work, study, winding down, or being with people you care about. TimeBack blocks your selected apps during your focus session, so you don't brainrot. Earn something worth looking forward to Complete your focus session to earn rewards for your garden. Grow plants, unlock surprise collections, and make your little space your own. SCREEN TIME CONTROL WITH SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO You already know you want to scroll less and stop the brainrot. SandBud gives you a reason to follow through: a little progress, a little surprise, and a garden that grows with your effort. • App Blocker — Block distracting apps when you want to focus. • Focus Plans — Make room in your day for the things you keep putting off. • Zen Garden — Turn completed sessions into rewards and a space you can build. • Surprise Collections — Discover new things to unlock as you keep going. • Zen Mode — Start a distraction-free moment when you need one. • Screen Time Reports — See your screen time breakdown and follow your progress. BE PRESENT, ONE SESSION AT A TIME One quick check can turn into an hour of brainrot. Give yourself a break from the feed and make room for your own life. Practice mindfulness while studying, working, or spending time with someone you love. Your phone can wait. Bud is excellent at waiting. Start your first focus plan. Give your attention somewhere better to go. BUILT WITH APPLE’S SCREEN TIME API SandBud uses Apple’s Screen Time API to block the apps you select. TERMS & PRIVACY Terms of Use: https://gettimeback.app/terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://gettimeback.app/privacy-policy/

About

FileShield

Securely store and manage sensitive documents offline with advanced search capabilities. Protect your private information with biometric security and local-only processing, ensuring your data never leaves your device.

Highlights
  • Fully offline vault
  • Dual-mode search with Apple Intelligence
  • Biometric security (Face ID/Touch ID)
  • Local-Only Mode to block iCloud backups
  • Secure offline scanning and import
  • Intuitive document management with drag-and-drop
Features
Read full description

FileShield is a fully offline vault, built from the ground up for total privacy. Your medical records, tax forms, and financial contracts never leave your device. DUAL-MODE SEARCH WITH APPLE INTELLIGENCE Search your entire library for exact text, or ask questions and let local-only knowledge do the heavy lifting. Need to know the deductible on a 40-page health insurance PDF? Just ask. FileShield analyzes the text and delivers exact answers with source page citations, all while you are in Airplane Mode. ABSOLUTE PRIVACY & BIOMETRIC SECURITY Your data belongs to you. Lock your entire library behind Face ID or Touch ID and your vault will remain impenetrable even when your device is unlocked. Enable our strict "Local-Only Mode" to actively block iCloud backups, ensuring your sensitive files stay strictly on your device. SECURE OFFLINE SCANNING & IMPORT Digitize physical paperwork instantly. Use our built-in document scanner to capture wet-ink contracts and physical receipts directly into your encrypted vault without relying on third-party cloud processing. Already have a digital file? Use the iOS Share Extension to seamlessly save documents directly from mail, photos, etc. INTUITIVE DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT FileShield utilizes native iOS and iPadOS design paradigms, offering seamless drag-and-drop file organization, custom nested folders, and clean Grid or List views.

Screenshots

SandBud4 screens
FileShield4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FileShield at none against SandBud's 2. FileShield also leads on update cadence (daily vs weekly). SandBud's advantage is ratings volume (30 vs 3) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SandBud sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. FileShield asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for SandBud against 5.0 for FileShield. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SandBud has 30 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SandBud ships an update weekly, FileShield daily. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SandBud versus FileShield: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSandBudFileShield
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (30 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings30 — better3
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size281 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSean Kuannery Media, LLCDark Fusion Labs LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SandBud

Subscriptions2
  • TimeBack Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • TimeBack Premium (Yearly)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
None

FileShield

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SandBud free?
SandBud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FileShield free?
FileShield is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SandBud or FileShield?
FileShield is rated higher. SandBud averages 4.9 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while FileShield averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do SandBud or FileShield have ads?
Neither SandBud nor FileShield shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SandBud or FileShield?
SandBud ships an update weekly, and FileShield daily. Most recently, SandBud was updated on October 21, 2026 and FileShield on October 25, 2026.

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