Comparison

Limit vs Borrow

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

Head to head
About

Limit

This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by setting daily time limits for distracting applications. It blocks apps by default, making each use a conscious decision and helping you improve focus and presence.

Highlights
  • Blocks distracting apps by default
  • Set daily time limits
  • Mindful app usage tracking
  • Behavioral science principles
  • Runs quietly in the background
  • Promotes focus and presence
Read full description

Scrolling steals your time – Limit helps you take it back. Limit transforms how you use your phone through simple, science-based behavioral design. You choose your distractions, set a daily time limit, and go on with your day. Limit blocks those apps by default – so every time you open one, it’s a mindful choice, not a reflex. When you decide to use a distracting app, your time budget starts ticking. When your limit is reached, those apps stay blocked for the rest of the day. You’ll feel the difference in focus, mood, and time – one intentional decision at a time. Why Limit * Blocks distractions by default – every tap becomes intentional. * Set it once, live your day – Limit runs quietly in the background. * Behavioral science built-in – based on proven habit-change principles. * Free – no subscriptions, no upsells, no ads. * Backed by Freedom – trusted by millions for digital well-being and focus. Limit doesn’t shame you for using your phone. It simply helps you stay aware, present, and in control. Whether you want to focus on work, be more present with family, or reclaim creative time, Limit makes it easier to live intentionally. Download Limit and enjoy your apps – mindfully.

About

Borrow

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting daily limits and making each unlock a deliberate choice. It offers features like Focus Mode, customizable time budgets, and an Allowlist for essential apps. Track your usage patterns and take back your time.

Highlights
  • Daily time budget
  • Focus Mode
  • Allowlist for essential apps
  • Protected and Strict modes
  • Live Activity countdown
  • Siri Shortcuts
Read full description

You already know. You pick it up without thinking. Another evening gone. You meant to put it down an hour ago. Borrow doesn't judge you. It gives you a daily budget and makes every unlock a conscious choice. Focus Mode blocks everything on your phone. When you actually need it, you borrow time. You choose how long, you choose why, and when the time's up everything locks again. No streaks. No guilt. Just a limit that means something. Set your daily budget anywhere from 1 minute to 8 hours. Every borrow counts against it. When it's gone, it's gone. Resets at midnight. Each unlock asks you two things: how long, and why. Talk to someone. Something specific. Just need a break. The reason matters, and over time the patterns become obvious. If you need Focus Mode to actually stick, you can set it to Protected mode with a 30-second cooldown before you can turn it off, or go full Strict and lock yourself in until your commitment ends. No exceptions. Your bank app, phone calls, Maps, anything you need always available through the Allowlist. Sessions let you unlock specific apps for a set window. Schedules handle recurring blocks for work hours or evenings. There's a Live Activity countdown on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, home screen widgets, and Siri Shortcuts if you need them. Your Screen Time data never leaves your device. No servers, no account, no analytics, no ads. Take back your time. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Protected mode, Strict mode, and the Allowlist require Borrow Pro, an optional subscription.

Screenshots

Limit4 screens
Borrow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Limit at none against Borrow's 2. Limit also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (245 vs 16). Borrow's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, 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. Borrow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Limit asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Borrow holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Limit has 245 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Limit ships an update every 6 weeks, Borrow every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Limit versus Borrow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLimitBorrow
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (245 ratings)4.8 (16 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings245 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEighty Percent SolutionsPoteo de la una

Customer experience

Limit

All ratings245 ratings
Positive91.0%
Neutral4.1%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive78.1%
Neutral6.3%
Negative15.6%

Borrow

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Limit

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Borrow

Subscriptions2
  • Pro3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Limit free?
Limit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Borrow free?
Borrow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Limit or Borrow?
Borrow is rated higher. Limit averages 4.6 out of 5 from 245 ratings, while Borrow averages 4.8 from 16 ratings.
Do Limit or Borrow have ads?
Borrow shows ads; Limit does not.
Which is updated more often, Limit or Borrow?
Limit ships an update every 6 weeks, and Borrow every 2 days. Most recently, Limit was updated on October 11, 2026 and Borrow on October 5, 2026.

Other comparisons