Comparison

Lifeback vs Screen Time Control

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

Head to head
About

Lifeback

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
Read full description

Imagine if your Screen Time Settings on your phone were super powered. That's what we do. 5 hours. That’s the average time you’ll spend looking at your phone today. With a combination of app restrictions and hard time limits, you can begin to focus better and accomplish your dreams, just like our members. Many of the world's top teams and companies companies trust Lifeback. to help protect their focus. You can too. **This app cut my screen time by 3 hours per day – Senior Backend Dev at Google ** **Lifeback cuts off your apps’ internet access to help you stop doomscrolling – WSJ ** **Lifeback Helped Me Quit My Nightly TikTok Habit – Productivity Mag ** BENEFITS 98% of Lifeback members are less distracted 94% are more productive thanks to the app 91% experience improved mental health 82% save at least 2 hours *daily* thanks to the app Added benefits: - Better screen time management - Improve productivity at work - Reduce stress, be more mindful - Better manage ADHD - Set daily working hours, sleep, and routines - Unplug with family and friends - Stay in focus when you need it most - You're happy and in control of your screen time FEATURES - Focus Report: Diagnose your Focus and measure your progress with clear metrics, important context and compare with your peers. - #1 App Blocker: Instantly block apps you choose. - Sessions: Block apps from your phone while you’re focusing, and you can always take a break to unblock them temporarily. - Calendar: Set daily working hours, sleep and routines, block apps automatically, so you don’t have to remember. - Breaks: Use apps without mindless scrolling. Choose the app you want to use and set a timer. - Shortcut Integration: Connect iPhone shortcut automations to start/stop Focus Sessions based on app opens, time, location and more! - Hard Mode: Maximum protection, you can’t cancel or bypass the timer you set. CREATE A PERSONALIZED APP LIST You can customize your Control experience and block all apps and sites on your phone, including: - Facebook - Instagram - Snapchat - TikTok - Youtube - Netflix - Tinder - Hinge - Bumble - Many more: News, Messaging, Dating, Adult/Porn, Money apps etc. PRIVATE & SAFE We use Apple's Screen Time API in order to monitor and block apps you use. Installation is easy and takes a few seconds on your iPhone. Unlike most apps, Lifeback works entirely on your phone and personal browsing data never leaves your device. HEAR IT FROM THE COMMUNITY "Never in a bazillion years did I think I would be below 3 hours of screen time a day. My mood is SO much better." - Sam "Weird to think that an app would make me use my phone less but this app is the only thing helping me focus on deep work days" - Cody "Thanks Lifeback for being the only way my monkey brain can do homework for more than like 20 minutes" - Stevie TERMS, PRIVACY & CONDITIONS – https://lifeback.io/privacy – https://lifeback.io/terms

About

Screen Time Control

This app promotes mindful screen time usage by prompting regular reflection and offering optional focus sessions. It guides users toward healthier digital habits through awareness and subtle nudges, rather than strict blocking. Data is kept private on the device.

Highlights
  • Mindful screen time prompts
  • Optional focus sessions
  • Daily activity notifications
  • App blocking for routines
  • Privacy-focused data storage
Features
Read full description

Inscreen is more than a screen time tracker. Inscreen helps you pause and reflect on your screen time at regular intervals throughout the day. Designed for simplicity and privacy, Inscreen has minimal features and a zero learning curve, helping you get started quickly. ⏵ HOW IS INSCREEN DIFFERENT? Unlike other screen time apps that completely block access, Inscreen draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you recognize your screen time habits through regular prompts and inculcate healthier behaviours without restrictions. ⏵ WHY IT WORKS? We tap into a few key psychological principles and behavioural patterns. Here’s why it works: - Awareness = Better Choices: Regular reminders to ask whether you're on your phone intentionally, encouraging healthier choices. - Guiding, not controlling: Instead of strict limits, scheduled subtle nudges to guide you toward mindful decisions, without the frustration of restrictions. - Accountability: Weekly progress, actionable insights and daily notifications leading to lasting behaviour changes. - Low barrier to entry: No drastic changes or restrictions, making it easy to integrate into daily life and gradually adjust over time. ⏵ FEATURES - Alerts to be intentional about your screen time. - Focus sessions to completely block distracting apps for a set routine, say, during work or winding down at night. - Strict daily limits to keep your screen time in control. - Notifications that help you track your daily activity. - Secure and private. All your data stays on your device. ⏵ HOW DOES THE SETUP WORK? 1. Choose the distracting apps or categories. 2. Set a daily limit. 3. Set up focus sessions (optional). ⏵ FINANCIAL AID We’re on a mission to solve phone addiction and distraction. We’re determined to help everyone. Our Financial Aid program offers a free 1 year subscription to individuals who are financially stretched but are in need. The link to apply is in the app. ⏵ ABOUT Inscreen is self-funded and run by two independent developers — Preet and Vaibhav. ⏵ LINKS Privacy Policy: https://github.com/theinscreenapp/ios/blob/main/privacy.md. Terms: https://github.com/theinscreenapp/ios/blob/main/terms.md. Support: https://github.com/theinscreenapp/ios/blob/main/support.md.

Screenshots

Lifeback4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

Lifeback and Screen Time Control both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of Screen Time Control's written reviews are positive against 53% of Lifeback's. Lifeback's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Lifeback sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.00 per month and Screen Time Control sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Lifeback against 4.5 for Screen Time Control. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 79 and 33 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 53% of Lifeback's written reviews are positive against 74% of Screen Time Control's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lifeback ships an update every 6 days, Screen Time Control fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Lifeback versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLifebackScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (79 ratings)4.5 (33 ratings)
Positive reviews52.6% of reviews73.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings79 — better33
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperControl. Alt. Delete. LLCVaibhav Negi

Customer experience

Lifeback

All ratings79 ratings
Positive87.3%
Neutral2.5%
Negative10.1%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive52.6%
Neutral10.5%
Negative36.8%

Screen Time Control

All ratings33 ratings
Positive87.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive73.9%
Neutral8.7%
Negative17.4%

Bugs and requests

Lifeback

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App closing unexpectedly
  • Focus mode not working as expected
  • Inconsistent app behavior

Requested features

2 requests
  • Better unblock functionality
  • Improved notification system

Screen Time Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Lifeback

Subscriptions13
  • Monthly Plan$3.001 Month
  • Monthly Plan$4.001 Month
  • Monthly Plan$5.001 Month
Show 10 more
  • Monthly Plan3 Days trial$6.001 Month
  • Monthly Plan$7.001 Month
  • Monthly Plan$8.001 Month
  • Monthly Plan$9.001 Month
  • Monthly Plan$10.001 Month
  • Monthly Plan$11.001 Month
  • Monthly Plan$12.001 Month
  • Promo Yearly Plan7 Days trial$40.001 Year
  • Yearly Plan3 Days trial$40.001 Year
  • Yearly Plan3 Days trial$99.001 Year
6 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions4
  • Inscreen (Monthly)3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Inscreen (Monthly for Family)3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Inscreen (Yearly)7 Days trial$14.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Inscreen (Yearly for Family)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Inscreen (Lifetime)$29.99
  • Inscreen (Lifetime for Family)$59.99

Questions

Is Lifeback free?
Lifeback is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lifeback or Screen Time Control?
Lifeback and Screen Time Control are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 79 and 33 ratings respectively.
Do Lifeback or Screen Time Control have ads?
Neither Lifeback nor Screen Time Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lifeback or Screen Time Control?
Lifeback ships an update every 6 days, and Screen Time Control fortnightly. Most recently, Lifeback was updated on October 5, 2026 and Screen Time Control on September 21, 2026.

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