Comparison

Screen Time Control vs 9 Dial

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

9 Dial

This app enhances your dialing experience with rapid contact search, customizable keypads, and one-tap messaging to popular platforms. It offers speed dial with contact photos and color-coded labels for quick access. Enjoy a seamless and personalized way to connect with your contacts.

Highlights
  • T9 contact search with smart filtering
  • Customizable dual-language keypad
  • Speed dial with contact photos
  • One-tap messaging to multiple platforms
  • Color-coded contact labels
  • Call and message log integration
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

Dial Smarter, Faster, Your Way. T9 Dialer reimagines the classic dialing experience with blazing-fast contact search, powerful speed dial, and full multi-language keypad support. Whether you speak English, Arabic, Hindi, or any language - customize your keypad layout and colors to match your needs and style. Long-press any key to launch speed dial with contact photos. Assign colors to contact labels for a visual boost. Why You’ll Love It: - T9 contact search with smart filtering. - Dual-language keypad customization. - Dual-language full keyboard. - Dual-language vocal coantact finder. - Speed dial with images and initials. - Instantly contact anyone on WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Messages, or FaceTime with a single tap - even numbers not saved in your contacts. - Call and message log for fast re-engagement: jump back to your last conversation or call on any platform with one tap. - Color-coded contact labels. - Clean, modern SwiftUI design. - Smooth performance on all devices - Set T9 Dialer as your default calling app and place calls directly, seamlessly integrating with your device. - Has full Apple Watch support! No more endless scrolling. Just tap, search, and contact - exactly how you want.

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
9 Dial4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: 9 Dial at 5.0 against Screen Time Control's 4.5. 9 Dial also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and review sentiment (100% vs 74%). Screen Time Control's advantage is ratings volume (33 vs 3). 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. Screen Time Control sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. 9 Dial asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

9 Dial holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screen Time Control has 33 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Screen Time Control's written reviews are positive against 100% of 9 Dial's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update fortnightly, 9 Dial every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Screen Time Control versus 9 Dial: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time Control9 Dial
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (33 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings33 — better3
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVaibhav NegiMoshe Rosenthal

Customer experience

Screen Time Control

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

9 Dial

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
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
None

9 Dial

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is 9 Dial free?
9 Dial is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Screen Time Control or 9 Dial?
9 Dial is rated higher. Screen Time Control averages 4.5 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while 9 Dial averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Screen Time Control or 9 Dial have ads?
Neither Screen Time Control nor 9 Dial shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or 9 Dial?
Screen Time Control ships an update fortnightly, and 9 Dial every 2 days. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on September 21, 2026 and 9 Dial on September 28, 2026.

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