# Friend Controls vs Journey

Friend Controls and Journey both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of Friend Controls's written reviews are positive against 74% of Journey's. Journey's advantage is ratings volume (2.5K vs 664). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Friend Controls sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Journey sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Friend Controls against 4.8 for Journey. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 664 and 2.5K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Friend Controls's written reviews are positive against 74% of Journey's.

Friend Controls ships an update every 9 days, Journey every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Friend Controls | Journey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (664 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friend-controls-screen-time/id6651826679/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journey-screen-time-control/id6749665109/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 664 | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.6% of reviews** | 73.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 74 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ryan Moazzami](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552062516) | [Brain Nourishment, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807988164) |

## 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 (11)**

| 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 |
| Yearly Access | $14.99 | per year |
| Monthly Access | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $44.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $29.99 | one-time |


### Journey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journey-screen-time-control/id6749665109)

Transform real-world habits into an engaging game to reduce screen time. Complete daily quests, verify with photos, and earn rewards while distracting apps remain locked. This app uses game mechanics to motivate you to build positive habits and stay off your phone.

**Highlights:** Daily real-world quests, Photo verification for completion, App blocking until quests are done, Earn crowns for progress, Focus mascot for motivation, Streak tracking and journal

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access To Journey | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| JourneyKeep | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| JourneyKeep Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Full Access To Journey | $24.99 | per year |
| Full Access | $34.99 | per year |
| Full Access To Journey | $49.99 | per year |
| Full Access To Journey | $59.99 | per year |
| Knight Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Friend Controls free?

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

### Is Journey free?

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

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

Journey is rated higher. Friend Controls averages 4.7 out of 5 from 664 ratings, while Journey averages 4.8 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do Friend Controls or Journey have ads?

Neither Friend Controls nor Journey shows ads.

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

Friend Controls ships an update every 9 days, and Journey every 2 weeks. Most recently, Friend Controls was updated on November 1, 2026 and Journey on October 30, 2026.

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