Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Duse

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

Head to head
About

Screen Time Control

This app promotes mindful screen time usage by prompting regular reflection and offering optional focus sessions. It guides users toward healthier digital habits through awareness and subtle nudges, rather than strict blocking. Data is kept private on the device.

Highlights
  • Mindful screen time prompts
  • Optional focus sessions
  • Daily activity notifications
  • App blocking for routines
  • Privacy-focused data storage
Features
Read full description

Inscreen is more than a screen time tracker. Inscreen helps you pause and reflect on your screen time at regular intervals throughout the day. Designed for simplicity and privacy, Inscreen has minimal features and a zero learning curve, helping you get started quickly. ⏵ HOW IS INSCREEN DIFFERENT? Unlike other screen time apps that completely block access, Inscreen draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you recognize your screen time habits through regular prompts and inculcate healthier behaviours without restrictions. ⏵ WHY IT WORKS? We tap into a few key psychological principles and behavioural patterns. Here’s why it works: - Awareness = Better Choices: Regular reminders to ask whether you're on your phone intentionally, encouraging healthier choices. - Guiding, not controlling: Instead of strict limits, scheduled subtle nudges to guide you toward mindful decisions, without the frustration of restrictions. - Accountability: Weekly progress, actionable insights and daily notifications leading to lasting behaviour changes. - Low barrier to entry: No drastic changes or restrictions, making it easy to integrate into daily life and gradually adjust over time. ⏵ FEATURES - Alerts to be intentional about your screen time. - Focus sessions to completely block distracting apps for a set routine, say, during work or winding down at night. - Strict daily limits to keep your screen time in control. - Notifications that help you track your daily activity. - Secure and private. All your data stays on your device. ⏵ HOW DOES THE SETUP WORK? 1. Choose the distracting apps or categories. 2. Set a daily limit. 3. Set up focus sessions (optional). ⏵ FINANCIAL AID We’re on a mission to solve phone addiction and distraction. We’re determined to help everyone. Our Financial Aid program offers a free 1 year subscription to individuals who are financially stretched but are in need. The link to apply is in the app. ⏵ ABOUT Inscreen is self-funded and run by two independent developers — Preet and Vaibhav. ⏵ LINKS Privacy Policy: https://github.com/theinscreenapp/ios/blob/main/privacy.md. Terms: https://github.com/theinscreenapp/ios/blob/main/terms.md. Support: https://github.com/theinscreenapp/ios/blob/main/support.md.

About

Duse

This app helps you build lasting habits and achieve your goals with a simple, customizable interface. Track good and bad habits with flexible frequencies, set personalized goals, and receive powerful reminders. Visualize your progress with insightful statistics and unlock achievements.

Highlights
  • Track good and bad habits
  • Flexible tracking frequencies (daily, weekly, monthly)
  • Customizable goals and units
  • Multiple customizable reminders
  • Insightful statistics and progress visualization
  • Home and lock screen widgets
  • Achievements and notes
Features
Read full description

Duse is the beautifully simple habit tracker that empowers you to build lasting habits and achieve your goals – without the complexity. Track Anything, Your Way: • Good & Bad Habits: Track habits you want to build and habits you want to break. • Flexible Frequencies: Choose daily, weekly, or monthly tracking to perfectly match your goals. • Custom Goals & Units: Set personalized goals with the units that matter to you (miles, minutes, pages, cups – anything!). • Powerful Reminders: Never miss a day with multiple customizable reminders per habit. • Insightful Statistics: Visualize your progress with detailed charts and metrics. Track streaks, completions, and see your improvement over time. • History View: See your complete habit history and easily add entries for past days. • Home & Lock Screen Widgets: Keep your habits top-of-mind with beautiful, customizable widgets. • Achievements: Unlock achievements as you build consistency and reach milestones. • Notes: Add notes to your habits to track context and reflections. Make Duse your own! Customize every habit with: • Unique Colors • Descriptive Icons • Frequency type (daily, weekly, monthly) • Habit Type (good or bad habit) • Custom Goal and Unit • Multiple Reminders Personalize Your Experience: • Dark Mode & OLED Black Mode for comfortable viewing • Flexible progress display (percentage or fraction) • Custom app icons Duse gives you the tools and flexibility to build habits your way, on your schedule. Privacy Focused: Your data is stored locally on your device with optional iCloud backup. No accounts required, no third-party tracking. Why You'll Love Duse: • Build Lasting Habits: Finally achieve true consistency. • Stay Motivated: See your progress, earn achievements, and celebrate every win. • Simplify Your Life: Focus on what matters, without the overwhelm. • Track Seamlessly: Always-on tracking thanks to widgets. Pricing: Duse is free for up to 3 habits. Upgrade to Duse Premium for unlimited habits, full access to all features, and to support ongoing development! Subscription Information: Subscription payments will be charged to your App Store account at confirmation of your purchase. Subscriptions will automatically renew and you will be charged unless auto-renew is turned off or unless you cancel at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription or trial period. The cost of renewal depends on the Subscription Plan you choose. Subscriptions and auto-renewal may be managed by going to Account Settings after purchase. Download Duse today and transform your life, one habit at a time! Terms of Use: https://duse-habit-tracker.web.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://duse-habit-tracker.web.app/privacy.html

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Duse4 screens

Verdict

The call

Screen Time Control and Duse both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 89% of Duse's written reviews are positive against 74% of Screen Time Control's. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Screen Time Control sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Duse sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Screen Time Control against 4.6 for Duse. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 16 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of Screen Time Control's written reviews are positive against 89% of Duse's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update fortnightly, Duse every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Screen Time Control versus Duse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlDuse
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (33 ratings)4.6 (16 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.9% of reviews88.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings33 — better16
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVaibhav NegiAndy Arevalo

Customer experience

Screen Time Control

All ratings33 ratings
Positive87.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive73.9%
Neutral8.7%
Negative17.4%

Duse

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions4
  • Inscreen (Monthly)3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Inscreen (Monthly for Family)3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Inscreen (Yearly)7 Days trial$14.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Inscreen (Yearly for Family)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Inscreen (Lifetime)$29.99
  • Inscreen (Lifetime for Family)$59.99
4 purchases

Duse

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Premium$1.991 Month
  • Yearly Premium (7-Day Trial)7 Days trial$7.991 Year
  • Yearly Premium$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$14.99

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Duse free?
Duse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Screen Time Control or Duse?
Duse is rated higher. Screen Time Control averages 4.5 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Duse averages 4.6 from 16 ratings.
Do Screen Time Control or Duse have ads?
Neither Screen Time Control nor Duse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Duse?
Screen Time Control ships an update fortnightly, and Duse every 2 weeks. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on September 21, 2026 and Duse on September 13, 2026.

Other comparisons