Comparison

Smile App Launcher vs PauseBox

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

Head to head
About

Smile App Launcher

This app offers a minimalistic launcher widget designed to declutter your smartphone screen and reduce distractions. It provides quick access to essential applications through a clean interface, helping you focus on what matters and enhance your digital wellbeing.

Highlights
  • Clean, no distraction interface
  • Quick access to essential apps
  • Customizable widget layout
  • 5 Widgets
  • Boost productivity
  • Enhance digital wellbeing
Features
Read full description

Simplify with a dumb phone Tired of cluttered screens and endless distractions? Smile turns your iPhone into a minimal dumb phone: a clean home screen with only the apps you need, launched from widgets you design yourself. Key features - Clean, distraction-free interface - Quick access to your essential apps - Customizable widget layout, fonts and colors - 10 widget types, including Weather, Calendar and Clock - Transparent widget mode - Extra-large widgets on iOS 27 and later - Available in 47 languages Why Smile? - Boost productivity: focus on what matters by reducing visual noise. - Improve digital wellbeing: less screen time, more real life. - Simplify your device: a streamlined, friendly interface. - Community-driven: your feedback shapes every update. Join the Discord. Perfect for minimalists, productivity enthusiasts, digital detox seekers, and anyone who wants a simpler phone. Our promise We keep things simple, including our business model. All core dumb phone features stay free. Premium is an optional in-app purchase that unlocks more widgets and supports development. Questions or ideas? Visit https://smileapplauncher.com/support Terms of Use (EULA): https://smileapplauncher.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://smileapplauncher.com/privacy

About

PauseBox

This app helps you block digital distractions by creating a physical barrier. Select apps to block, create custom groups with schedules, and then tap your phone on a physical device to initiate a focus session. It encourages intentional separation to break habit loops.

Highlights
  • Select apps to block
  • Create custom Pause Groups
  • Schedule focus sessions
  • Use physical device for blocking
  • Remote blocking option
  • Intentional separation from phone
Features
Read full description

PauseBox creates a physical block between you and distractions. Here's how it works: 1. Select the apps you want to block Open the PauseApp and choose which apps to block, or select the few you want to keep. Create custom Pause Groups like Work, Study, or Family Time, each with its own app rules, schedules, or timers to fit your day.PauseBox creates a physical block between you and distractions. Here's how it works: 2. Tap your phone on PauseBox to block selected apps After selecting a Pause Group, tap your phone on the PauseBox to start blocking apps. Your focus session begins right away. Not nearby? Use “Pause without tap” in the app to start remotely. 3. Put distance between you and the PauseBox Place your PauseBox out of reach to create intentional separation. As a physical barrier to digital distractions, it makes unblocking a conscious choice and helps break the habit loop.

Screenshots

Smile App Launcher4 screens
PauseBox3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PauseBox at none against Smile App Launcher's 3. Smile App Launcher's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (356 vs 44). On price, rating, ads and monetization model 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. Smile App Launcher sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. PauseBox asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PauseBox holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smile App Launcher has 356 ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of Smile App Launcher's written reviews are positive against 82% of PauseBox's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smile App Launcher ships an update every 5 weeks, PauseBox every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Smile App Launcher versus PauseBox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmile App LauncherPauseBox
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (356 ratings)4.9 (44 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews — better82.4% of reviews
Number of ratings356 — better44
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEggvelop ApsBritt Espinosa

Customer experience

Smile App Launcher

All ratings340 ratings
Positive92.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews230 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.0%

PauseBox

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive82.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative11.8%

Bugs and requests

Smile App Launcher

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Phone app shortcut not working
  • Some apps not available in the list
  • Widget disappearing after iOS update

Requested features

5 requests
  • More widget pages/slots
  • Ability to hide widget name
  • Support for iPad
  • More font options
  • Spacer widgets for layout customization

PauseBox

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Smile App Launcher

Subscriptions2
  • Smile Premium Weekly$1.997 Days
  • Smile Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • Smile Lifetime$23.99
None

PauseBox

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Smile App Launcher free?
Smile App Launcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PauseBox free?
PauseBox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Smile App Launcher or PauseBox?
PauseBox is rated higher. Smile App Launcher averages 4.7 out of 5 from 356 ratings, while PauseBox averages 4.9 from 44 ratings.
Do Smile App Launcher or PauseBox have ads?
Neither Smile App Launcher nor PauseBox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smile App Launcher or PauseBox?
Smile App Launcher ships an update every 5 weeks, and PauseBox every 3 months. Most recently, Smile App Launcher was updated on October 28, 2026 and PauseBox on October 28, 2026.

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