Comparison

Nereus vs Normal

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

Head to head
About

Nereus

This app helps you focus by blocking distracting applications on your iPhone during dedicated work sessions. It syncs with a desktop application to automatically lock down your phone, allowing you to choose which apps to block and stay productive.

Highlights
  • Blocks distracting apps
  • Deep Work mode
  • Cross-device sync
  • QR code pairing
  • Customizable app blocking
Features
Read full description

~REQUIRES NEREUS DESKTOP APP~ Nereus helps you do your best work by blocking distracting apps on your iPhone during Deep Work sessions. DEEP WORK MODE When you're ready to focus, Nereus shields distracting apps so you can't access them until your session ends. No willpower needed - just scan the QR code from the Nereus Mac app and your phone locks down automatically. CROSS-DEVICE SYNC Pair your iPhone with the Nereus desktop app via QR code. Start a session on your Mac or Windows and your phone blocks until you complete your focus session. APP BLOCKING Select exactly which apps distract you most. Social media, messaging, games - block what you need, keep what matters. STAY DEEP Stay where digital distractions aren't - at the bottom of the sea.

About

Normal

This app helps you reduce phone usage by blocking selected applications by default. To access blocked apps, you must physically scan an NFC tag, QR code, or barcode, or be at a specific location. It offers granular control, timed unblocks, and scheduling to help you regain control of your screen time.

Highlights
  • Block apps via NFC, QR codes, and barcodes
  • Use any NFC tag, QR code, or barcode
  • Unblock/block specific apps
  • Timed unblocks
  • Scheduling
  • Granular control
  • Bypass prevention options
Read full description

Normal actually makes you use your phone less by keeping selected apps blocked by default. To unblock you have to physically scan an NFC Tag, QR Code or use a Location. This can be any NFC Tag, QR Code, Barcode, Location you set in the app. This 'opt-in' approach is backed by research and actual use. Normal is made to be the most powerful screen time app available. Saving your hours of your day. It's fully open-source and no features are behind paywalls. It can also be made to be impossible to bypass. Highlights of Normal: - Block Apps via NFC Tags, QR Codes and Barcodes - Use ANY NFC Tag, QR Code or Barcode - Unblock/Block specific Apps - Timed Unblocks - Emergency Unblocks - Scheduling - Complete Granular Control - Can make it as easy or as hard to bypass Normal was made because of issues with some other screen time apps. - Other screen time apps are easy to bypass. Normal can be made to be impossible to bypass, or easy to bypass. You have complete control. - Most other screen time apps work on opt-out strategy, where you have access to all apps, then lose access through usage. - Normal works on opt-in strategy. The apps you have blocked are always blocked, to use them you have to physically get up and scan your NFC tag or QR Code. - Most screen time apps are paid, either one-time or more commonly, subscriptions. There are no paid features. Everything is free and open-source. - Normal is privacy-focused. We don't log any data, everything stays on device. Since we're open source, you can check our code and confirm. - Normal allows timed unlocks. Other NFC/QR Code blockers don't have this. If you want to use an app for 15min, you can unlock it for 15min only. You don't have to remember to reblock. Normal was made by actual users, research on smartphone addiction and developments in dumbphones in-mind. If you want to turn your iPhone into a dumbphone, you can. Block all smart apps, block the app store, prevent disabling normal (via preventing delete and the shortcuts trick). Now you have a dumbphone, which you can't make smart without your NFC Tag (which you can make as difficult as you need). If you want a semi-dumbphone, you can. Do the above but have some apps like maps, music, messaging, etc. If you're a professional who needs access to apps distracting sometimes, Normal is for you! Block all distractions with Normal. Set schedules for you work apps or used timed unblocks. Need 15min to post content or check email? You can do that! You just have to physically get up and scan your NFC Tag, QR Code, or Barcode. The apps will automatically reblock after your timer is over. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Nereus1 screens
Normal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nereus at none against Normal's 9. Nereus also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Normal's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (39 vs 1). 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. Normal sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per month. Nereus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Nereus against 4.9 for Normal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Normal has 39 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nereus ships an update every 2 months, Normal every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Nereus versus Normal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNereusNormal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.9 (39 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings139 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoseph BalkanNormal Engineering Inc.

Customer experience

Nereus

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Normal

All ratings39 ratings
Positive97.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Nereus

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Normal

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Support$5.001 Month
  • Monthly Support$10.001 Month
  • Monthly Support$20.001 Month
One-time6
  • One-time Donation$5.00
  • One-time Donation$10.00
  • One-time Donation$20.00
Show 3 more
  • One-time Donation$50.00
  • One-time Donation$100.00
  • One-time Donation$200.00

Questions

Is Nereus free?
Nereus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Normal free?
Normal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nereus or Normal?
Nereus is rated higher. Nereus averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Normal averages 4.9 from 39 ratings.
Do Nereus or Normal have ads?
Neither Nereus nor Normal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nereus or Normal?
Nereus ships an update every 2 months, and Normal every 2 days. Most recently, Nereus was updated on October 2, 2026 and Normal on October 15, 2026.

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