Comparison

Guest Mode vs Pulse

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

Head to head
About

Guest Mode

Create custom device restrictions to control what others can access when using your phone or tablet. Block specific apps, filter web content, and prevent system changes. Personalize your security with custom icons and colors.

Highlights
  • Create custom device restriction modes
  • Block access to specific apps
  • Limit web browsing to approved sites
  • Prevent app installations/deletions
  • Disable Siri and system content restrictions
  • Set time limits and schedules for modes
  • Personalize modes with custom icons and colors
Features
Read full description

Guard your privacy and protect your device with Guest Mode, the best way to share your device without sharing everything. Guest Mode lets you create custom device restrictions, known as "Modes", that you can activate before handing your device to someone else. Take control of what others can access when using your device. Powerful App Protection • Block access to specific apps • Create different modes for different situations (one for kids, another for colleagues) • Customize which apps remain accessible while protecting everything else Web Filtering & Restrictions • Limit web browsing to only approved websites  • Create allowlists for safe browsing  • Block inappropriate content with just a few taps System-Level Security • Prevent app installations and deletions  • Disable Siri to protect voice commands  • Set content restrictions for Apple Music, Apple TV, Books, iTunes, and Game Center Smart Activation • Set time limits for how long a mode stays active • Create schedules for automatic activation on specific days and times  • Instantly enable/disable modes with a single tap Beautiful Customization • Choose from nearly 6,000 icons to personalize your modes  • Select any color to match your style or visually organize different modes  • Create an intuitive and personalized security system Guest Mode puts you in control of your device. Whether lending your phone to a child, sharing with a friend, or handing your device to a colleague, you decide exactly what they can access and what stays private. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pulse

Read full description

Pulse helps you track time by activity: work, exercise, reading, or anything else, so you see where your time really goes. • Track with one tap Create activities with custom names and icons. Start and stop timers from the Today screen or from reminders. When you stop a timer you can quickly add notes to it. • See time at a glance with Live Activities When a timer is running, it appears on your Lock Screen, with the activity name and live elapsed time, so you can stay focused without opening the app. Tap to jump straight back in. • Understand your patterns History shows your entries by day. Stats break down totals by period and by activity, with progress and percentages. Use the "project-time" feature to see hypothetical totals for the next month or year based on your recent averages. • Reminders that act Set recurring reminders by weekday and optional long-run nudges per activity. Notifications can start or stop tracking with a single tap. • Designed for clarity Clean layout, subtle animations, and support for light and dark appearance. Export your data as CSV (Pro) with date range and activity filters. Start with up to five activities, three reminders and a 14-day-history for free; remove limits with Pulse Pro.

Screenshots

Guest Mode4 screens
Pulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

Guest Mode and Pulse are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Guest Mode sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Pulse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Guest Mode ships an update every 5 days, Pulse every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Guest Mode versus Pulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGuest ModePulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSumthing LLCLucas Pascal Ciba

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Guest Mode

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$59.99
1 purchases

Pulse

One-time1
  • Pulse Pro$3.99

Questions

Is Guest Mode free?
Guest Mode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pulse free?
Pulse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Guest Mode or Pulse have ads?
Neither Guest Mode nor Pulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Guest Mode or Pulse?
Guest Mode ships an update every 5 days, and Pulse every 4 days. Most recently, Guest Mode was updated on October 24, 2026 and Pulse on October 17, 2026.

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