Comparison

Friend Controls vs Useless

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

Useless

This app leverages social accountability to help users reduce screen time. Instead of relying solely on personal willpower, friends control access to apps when daily limits are reached, fostering a collaborative approach to digital well-being.

Highlights
  • Friend accountability for app usage
  • Set daily app time limits
  • No snooze button on limits
  • Friends vote on time extension requests
  • Public 'Walk of Shame' for requests
  • Weekly leaderboards and progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Your friends are better than any app blocker. 4+ hours a day. That's what the average person hands their phone. useLess helps you take it back. Set rules for the apps that distract you, like a daily time limit or a focus schedule. When a rule kicks in, the app blocks. The catch that makes it work: other apps run on your willpower. useLess runs on your friends. Reclaim 2+ hours every day. You try harder when your friends are watching. Other apps give you a snooze button. useLess is different. Instead of white-knuckling it alone, your friends hold you accountable. When you get blocked and want more time, you'll have to ask them. HOW IT WORKS 1. Set rules for the apps you overuse: daily limits, focus schedules, whatever fits your life. 2. When a rule kicks in, the app blocks. 3. Need more time? Snap a photo explaining why, and send it to your friends. 4. Every request lands on the Walk of Shame, so your friends see exactly what you are begging for. FEATURES Ask a friend for time: When you are blocked, send a photo explaining why you need more time. Your friends keep you honest, and on stricter rules they decide if you get it. Walk of Shame: Every request is visible to the friends you choose. Watch them beg for "just 5 more minutes" of TikTok, and let them watch you. Weekly leaderboards: Compete on streaks, focus hours, and time spent on the apps that hook you. Daily limits: Give each app a daily time budget that resets every morning. Focus schedules: Block a set of apps on a schedule, like work hours or bedtime. Hardcore mode: Lock yourself out for real. Some rules only get stricter, and turning them off takes a friend's approval, or a 24-hour wait. WHY IT WORKS Other blockers fold the second you push back. useLess puts real people in the loop. Cutting back stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like a game. Real friends don't let friends doomscroll. WHAT PEOPLE SAY "Finally broke my 2-hour Instagram habit" - ThePampf "I've tried a bunch of screen time apps, but always found a way around them. This is the first app that actually works." - Marc "This was a life changer. My screen time has dropped by 5 hours." - N1coo PRICING useLess is free to start: set your rules, get blocked, and ask your friends to unlock you. The whole social loop is free. useLess Pro unlocks unlimited rules, Hardcore mode, the full leaderboard, and deeper stats. New users get a free 7-day trial. You can also earn free Pro: invite a friend and you both get a month free, and inviting 25 friends unlocks Pro for life. PRIVACY useLess uses Apple's Screen Time API. We never see which apps you use, what you view, or any personal content. Your screen time stays on your device. Only the requests you send are shared with the friends you choose. GET STARTED Download useLess. Add your friends. Set your rules. And finally get your time back. Stop scrolling. Start living. Questions or feedback? Reach us at https://dadama.app/ or email hello@dadama.app. Subscription: useLess Pro is an auto-renewing subscription with a free trial for new users. Cancel anytime in your Apple account settings. Privacy Policy: https://dadama.app/privacy Terms (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Friend Controls4 screens
Useless4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Friend Controls at 86% against Useless's 31%. Friend Controls also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, ratings volume, 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Useless sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Friend Controls holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 559 and 269 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Friend Controls's written reviews are positive against 31% of Useless's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Friend Controls ships an update every 8 days, Useless every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Friend Controls versus Useless: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFriend ControlsUseless
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (559 ratings) — better4.5 (269 ratings)
Positive reviews86.4% of reviews — better31.3% of reviews
Number of ratings559 — better269
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.4 — better18
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB129 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperRyan MoazzamiDaDaMa Ug (haftungsbeschränkt)

Customer experience

Friend Controls

All ratings559 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral3.2%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive86.4%
Neutral4.5%
Negative9.1%

Useless

All ratings269 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral3.0%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive31.3%
Neutral2.1%
Negative66.7%

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
15 purchases

Useless

Subscriptions13
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Monthly1 Month trial$5.991 Month
Show 10 more
  • Monthly Sub7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly7 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Monthly1 Month trial$11.991 Month
  • Yearly1 Month trial$24.991 Year
  • Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Yearly1 Month trial$34.991 Year
  • Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Yearly1 Month trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime$69.99
  • Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Friend Controls free?
Friend Controls is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Useless free?
Useless is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Friend Controls or Useless?
Friend Controls is rated higher. Friend Controls averages 4.7 out of 5 from 559 ratings, while Useless averages 4.5 from 269 ratings.
Do Friend Controls or Useless have ads?
Neither Friend Controls nor Useless shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Friend Controls or Useless?
Friend Controls ships an update every 8 days, and Useless every 10 days. Most recently, Friend Controls was updated on September 21, 2026 and Useless on September 22, 2026.

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