Comparison

Friend Controls vs O3

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

Head to head
About

Friend Controls

This app helps you manage your screen time by setting daily limits for app usage. When you reach your limit, friends can approve or deny your requests for additional time, putting accountability in their hands.

Highlights
  • Set time limits for apps
  • Schedule app block-out times
  • Request extra screen time from friends
  • Approve or deny time requests with messages
  • Monitor screen time reduction
Features
Read full description

Friend Controls is the screen time app that actually works. Set your daily limits, and when time runs out, your real friends decide if you get more. No algorithms. No willpower tricks. Just real social accountability. Unlike every other screen time app you have tried, Friend Controls puts your friends in charge. The result? Users reduce screen time by an average of 60%. HOW IT WORKS 1. Download and choose which apps you want to limit. 2. Set your daily screen time for each app. 3. Invite friends to be your buddies. 4. When your time runs out, the app locks. Want more? Send a request to your friends. 5. Your friends see your request and decide: approve or deny. No mercy required. That is it. Simple, social, and surprisingly effective. KEY FEATURES App Blocking That Works: Choose any app on your phone to restrict. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, games, dating apps, or anything else draining your hours. Real Friend Accountability: Your friends are not bots or timers you can snooze. They are real people who can say no. Request and Approve System: Run out of time? Send a plea to your Controllers. Make your case. Accept their judgment. Usage Tracking: See exactly how much time you spend on each app. Daily, weekly, and monthly breakdowns so you can track your progress. Focus and Study Mode: Block distracting apps during study sessions, work hours, or any time you need to concentrate. Privacy First: We do not sell your data. We do not track what you do inside apps. We only monitor time spent so your friends can help you stay on track. WHO IS THIS FOR? Students who need to focus during exam season. Couples who want to spend less time on their phones together. Friends who want to hold each other accountable. Anyone who has tried every screen time app and failed. People who know they waste hours every day but cannot stop on their own. THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT Research shows that social accountability is one of the most powerful behavior change tools. When someone else is watching, you try harder. Friend Controls takes that principle and puts it in your pocket. Download now and take back your time. Your friends are waiting to help. PRIVACY Friend Controls uses Apple's ScreenTime API. All your monitoring and blocking run on your device. Your browsing data does not leave your phone TERMS OF USE https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ **App blocking feature requires a purchase if you choose to block more than 1 app. All other features are free.**

About

O3

Discover and access 24/7 study cafes designed for focused work and social interaction. Book spaces, connect with others, and enhance your productivity in a unique cafe environment.

Highlights
  • Unlock 24/7 study cafes
  • Book study spaces
  • Work and study environments
  • Meet new people
  • Socialize in cafes
Features
Read full description

Giant 24/7 cafes you can unlock with one app. Study, work, hang out, and meet new people at O3! https://www.o3space.org/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Friend Controls4 screens
O34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Friend Controls at 676 against O3's 14. O3's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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. Friend Controls sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and O3 sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.00 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

O3 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Friend Controls has 676 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Friend Controls's written reviews are positive against 91% of O3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Friend Controls versus O3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFriend ControlsO3
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (676 ratings)4.9 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.6% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings676 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB171 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperRyan MoazzamiO3 Platforms Limited

Customer experience

Friend Controls

All ratings664 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral3.3%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews55 reviews
Positive83.6%
Neutral7.3%
Negative9.1%

O3

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative4.5%

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Friend Controls

Subscriptions8
  • Monthly Access$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Access$5.991 Month
  • Monthly Access$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Yearly Access2 variants$14.991 Year
  • Yearly$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$24.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$44.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$29.99
1 purchases

O3

Subscriptions1
  • 10HR COMBO$6.007 Days

Questions

Is Friend Controls free?
Friend Controls is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is O3 free?
O3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Friend Controls or O3?
O3 is rated higher. Friend Controls averages 4.7 out of 5 from 676 ratings, while O3 averages 4.9 from 14 ratings.
Do Friend Controls or O3 have ads?
Neither Friend Controls nor O3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Friend Controls or O3?
Friend Controls ships an update every 9 days, and O3 every 9 days. Most recently, Friend Controls was updated on November 8, 2026 and O3 on November 8, 2026.

Other comparisons