Comparison

Impulse vs ReCobra

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

Head to head
About

Impulse

This app helps you block distracting applications and websites to improve focus and productivity. It offers customizable blocking levels and group features for shared accountability.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps and websites
  • Set daily usage limits
  • Three strictness levels: Easy, Medium, Hard
  • Create custom focus profiles
  • Group blocking for shared accountability
  • Works across iPhone and Chrome extension
Features
Read full description

Block distractions. Stay focused. Do it together. Impulse blocks the apps and websites that waste your time — so you can focus on what actually matters. Whether you need to study, work, or just stop scrolling, Impulse gives you real control over your screen time. BLOCK APPS & WEBSITES Choose the apps and sites that distract you. Block them during specific time slots or set daily usage limits. Pick your strictness level: Easy (unlock anytime), Medium (with friction), or Hard (no way out until time's up). THREE LEVELS OF STRICTNESS Easy: Unlock whenever you want. Medium: Added friction to make you think twice. Hard: Locked until time's up. No exceptions. FOCUS MODE — NEW Sometimes you just need to lock in. Create focus profiles — pick your apps, set a default timer, choose your difficulty — and activate them with a single tap whenever you need to concentrate. 15, 25, 45, or 60 minutes. Or go unlimited. Your focus, your rules. GROUPS — NEW Better habits are easier together. Create a group, configure shared blocks, and invite friends or family with a simple code. Everyone gets the same rules applied to their phone. See who's keeping their streak alive and who needs a nudge. Perfect for study groups, digital detox challenges, or families who want less screen time together. WORKS ACROSS DEVICES Impulse is available on iPhone and as a Chrome extension. Block distractions on your phone and your browser. PRIVATE & SECURE No account required. No tracking. Your data stays on your device. Download Impulse and take back your time.

About

ReCobra

This app helps you reduce digital distractions by physically blocking access to chosen apps like social media and games. It uses a physical card to unlock blocked apps, encouraging conscious limits and more real-life engagement.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Physical card unlock mechanism
  • Schedule focus sessions
  • Manual focus session start
  • Promotes real-life engagement
  • Data privacy
Features
Read full description

Recobra es la solución física para reducir tus distracciones digitales. Con nuestra app, bloquea de forma efectiva las apps que más te distraen en tu celular como redes sociales o juegos. Pasamos 4-6 horas al día en nuestros celulares. Eso es casi una semana entera por mes. Las redes sociales están diseñadas para capturar tu atención en piloto automático, y las soluciones digitales para regular el tiempo en pantalla son muy fáciles de ignorar o desactivar. Por eso creamos Recobra. A diferencia de otras apps, Recobra usa una tarjeta física para desbloquear tus distracciones. Esta barrera física y real te ayuda a poner límites conscientes y a salir del piloto automático al que te conducen redes sociales y juegos. Te ayuda a Recobrar tu tiempo para lo que más importa, lo que está fuera de tu celular. ¿Cómo funciona? •⁠ ⁠Selecciona las apps que desees bloquear •⁠ ⁠Programa sesiones de enfoque en los horarios en los que necesitas estar presente, o inicia una sesión manualmente •⁠ ⁠¡Listo! Tus distracciones están bloqueadas. Para desbloquear, necesitas tu tarjeta Recobra Creamos Recobra para: •⁠ ⁠Personas que desean más bienestar, presencia y concentración •⁠ ⁠Padres de familia que quieren promover un uso de pantalla saludable para sus hijos, de forma efectiva •⁠ ⁠Todas las personas que quieren menos pantallas y más vida real Tu información permanece únicamente almacenada en tu celular. No recolectamos ni compartimos tus datos.

Screenshots

Impulse4 screens
ReCobra4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ReCobra at 5.0 against Impulse's 2.0. ReCobra also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ReCobra holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Impulse's written reviews are positive against 100% of ReCobra's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Impulse ships an update fortnightly, ReCobra every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Impulse versus ReCobra: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterImpulseReCobra
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPablo GranadosDamian Duque

Customer experience

Impulse

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

ReCobra

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Impulse

No in-app purchases

None

ReCobra

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Impulse free?
Impulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ReCobra free?
ReCobra is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Impulse or ReCobra?
ReCobra is rated higher. Impulse averages 2.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while ReCobra averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Impulse or ReCobra have ads?
Neither Impulse nor ReCobra shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Impulse or ReCobra?
Impulse ships an update fortnightly, and ReCobra every 3 weeks. Most recently, Impulse was updated on October 30, 2026 and ReCobra on October 30, 2026.

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