Comparison

Bloom vs TimeBack

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

Head to head
About

Bloom

This app helps you conquer screen time by requiring you to tap an NFC keycard to your phone to access distracting apps. Set schedules, manage breaks, and utilize strict mode to stay focused. It's a physical solution for digital detox and improved productivity.

Highlights
  • NFC keycard app blocking
  • Customizable distraction lists
  • Focus schedules
  • Break limits
  • Strict mode
  • Emergency exits
Read full description

Most screen time apps fail because they’re easy to bypass. Bloom was created to fix that. Bloom revolutionizes your productivity by requiring you to scan an NFC keycard to your phone to access distracting apps. **How It Works** - Choose Your Distractions: Select the apps or websites you find most distracting. - Block Your Distractions: Tap your Bloom card to your phone to block those apps. - Live Distraction-Free: Stay productive with your card out of reach. When ready, just tap your Bloom card to your phone to unblock your apps. **Features** - Schedules: Set personalized schedules for your focus periods, allowing them to start and end automatically. - Breaks: Use your apps mindfully by setting limits on the frequency and duration of your breaks. - Strict Mode: Disable your ability to delete the Bloom app while in focus mode (optional). - Emergency Exits: Unblock all of your apps without your bloom card up to three times. **Why Bloom** - Spend less time on your phone and more time doing things that actually matter. - Improve your work habits by blocking out distractions. - Our physical solution is the ultimate solution for digital detox and time management. With Bloom’s NFC keycard, you can leave the “key” to your distractions behind, ensuring you stay focused and productive. Find your Bloom today and enjoy life beyond your phone! (We prioritize your privacy—your screen time data stays securely on your device and is never shared or stored elsewhere). Learn more by visiting our website: bloom.inc

About

TimeBack

This app helps you reduce screen time and avoid distractions by blocking addictive applications. It offers customizable blocking schedules, a 'Hard Mode' for complete phone lockdown, and an accountability feature that notifies friends when you override a block.

Highlights
  • App Blocking with custom schedules
  • Ad-hoc timers
  • Hard Mode for complete lockdown
  • Accountability notifications for friends
  • Block override options
  • Tracking of schedules and goals
Features
Read full description

TimeBack helps you cut screen time and avoid doomscrolling with scheduled or ad-hoc blocking. When you slip, friends are automatically notified to keep you accountable. Features: - App Blocking: Block distracting apps with custom schedules or ad-hoc timers. - Hard Mode: Block all apps at once to completely lock down your phone. - Block Overrides: Override a block for 5–60 minutes or until the end of day. - Accountability: If you override a block, your friends can be notified so excuses don’t go unnoticed. - Tracking: Track your schedules, goals, and overrides. Friends can see your progress and weakness moments, keeping you accountable while inspiring them to join. TimeBack simplifies reducing screen time by combining your focus intentions with social incentives. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Bloom4 screens
TimeBack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bloom at none against TimeBack's 8. Bloom also leads on ratings volume (2.4K vs 36). TimeBack's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 66%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. TimeBack sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Bloom asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TimeBack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bloom has 2.4K ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Bloom's written reviews are positive against 100% of TimeBack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bloom ships an update fortnightly, TimeBack weekly. Both last shipped on September 30, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Bloom versus TimeBack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBloomTimeBack
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.4K ratings)5.0 (36 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.4K — better36
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB42 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFind Your Bloom LLCNicholas Camson

Customer experience

Bloom

All ratings2,129 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews410 reviews
Positive65.9%
Neutral10.2%
Negative23.9%

TimeBack

All ratings36 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

User reviews

Bloom

From 2.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Helps reduce screen time
  • 👍 Effective at improving productivity
  • 💡 Unique physical card concept
  • 🔒 Prevents access to distracting apps
  • 👍 Gamified approach is motivating

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and settings issues
  • 💡 Could use more flexible session scheduling

TimeBack

From 36 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best Screen Time Control App
  • 👍 Great Tool
  • 👍 Great way to reduce screen time
  • 👍 Smooth
  • 👍 Productivity increased working from home

Bugs and requests

Bloom

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes when selecting apps for blocklist
  • Settings fail to save consistently

Requested features

2 requests
  • More flexible session scheduling options
  • Thinner, more discreet physical card

TimeBack

No bugs or feature requests surfaced in reviews.

In-app purchases

None

Bloom

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

TimeBack

Subscriptions3
  • TimeBack Premium Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • TimeBack Premium Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • TimeBack Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time5
  • TimeBack Premium$0.99
  • 100 TimeBack Points$0.99
  • 500 TimeBack Points$4.99
Show 2 more
  • 1000 TimeBack Points$9.99
  • 2500 TimeBack Points$19.99

Questions

Is Bloom free?
Bloom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TimeBack free?
TimeBack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bloom or TimeBack?
TimeBack is rated higher. Bloom averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while TimeBack averages 5.0 from 36 ratings.
Do Bloom or TimeBack have ads?
Neither Bloom nor TimeBack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bloom or TimeBack?
Bloom ships an update fortnightly, and TimeBack weekly. Most recently, Bloom was updated on September 30, 2026 and TimeBack on September 30, 2026.

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