# Friend Controls vs Grip

The clearest difference is monetization model: Friend Controls at free with in-app purchases against Grip's subscription. Friend Controls also leads on ratings volume (559 vs 30). Grip's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 85%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Friend Controls sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Grip sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Grip holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Friend Controls has 559 ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Friend Controls's written reviews are positive against 100% of Grip's.

Friend Controls ships an update every 8 days, Grip every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Friend Controls | Grip |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (559 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friend-controls-screen-time/id6651826679/reviews) | **[5.0 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grip-screen-time-control/id6744878853/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **559** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | 85.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 71 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ryan Moazzami](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552062516) | [Joingrip LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1809720479) |

## What reviewers say

### Friend Controls

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friend-controls-screen-time/id6651826679)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Access | $2.99 | per month |
| Weekly Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Access | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Access | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Access | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly Access | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $44.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $59.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $29.99 | one-time |


### Grip

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grip-screen-time-control/id6744878853)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by making distractions costly. It offers instant app blocks, daily limits, and scheduled focus sessions to combat doomscrolling and build better habits. The unique paywall mechanic encourages mindful usage of blocked applications.

**Highlights:** Instant app blocks, Daily screen time limits, Scheduled focus sessions, Paid unblocks for controlled access, Customizable unlock limits, Automatic block scheduling

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grip: Screen Time Control | $4.99 | per month |
| Grip: Screen Time Control | $59.99 | per year |
| 1 Release | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Friend Controls free?

Friend Controls is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Grip free?

Grip is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Friend Controls or Grip?

Grip is rated higher. Friend Controls averages 4.7 out of 5 from 559 ratings, while Grip averages 5.0 from 30 ratings.

### Do Friend Controls or Grip have ads?

Neither Friend Controls nor Grip shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Friend Controls or Grip?

Friend Controls ships an update every 8 days, and Grip every 2 weeks. Most recently, Friend Controls was updated on September 26, 2026 and Grip on September 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*