Comparison

Friend Controls vs H4Students

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

H4Students

Features
Read full description

With the H4Students app, you’ll have all the essential information about your building right at your fingertips. From waste disposal and laundry facilities to important phone numbers and submitting repair requests, it’s all just a tap away. Living in a keyless apartment? Even better! The app also lets you unlock the building entrance and your apartment.

Screenshots

Friend Controls4 screens
H4Students4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: H4Students at none against Friend Controls's 10. H4Students also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.4). Friend Controls's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 months). On price, ads and device support 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. H4Students asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Friend Controls ships an update every 8 days, H4Students every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Friend Controls versus H4Students: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFriend ControlsH4Students
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (630 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings630 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB64 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperRyan MoazzamiGuestCompass

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Friend Controls

Subscriptions9
  • Monthly Access$2.991 Month
  • Weekly Access$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Access$5.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Monthly Access$9.991 Month
  • Monthly Access$14.991 Month
  • Yearly Access$14.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$44.991 Year
  • Yearly Access$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$29.99
None

H4Students

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Friend Controls free?
Friend Controls is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is H4Students free?
H4Students is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Friend Controls or H4Students have ads?
Neither Friend Controls nor H4Students shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Friend Controls or H4Students?
Friend Controls ships an update every 8 days, and H4Students every 5 months. Most recently, Friend Controls was updated on October 20, 2026 and H4Students on October 13, 2026.

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