The GoTimer vs Pause
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
The GoTimer
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GoTimer syncs seamlessly with your calendar to create real-time countdown timers for each event based on its start and end times. GoTimer uses color-coded visual cues to keep you on track: โข Green: 30+ minutes until the next event starts or ends โข Yellow: 20โ30 minutes remaining โข Orange: 10โ20 minutes remaining โข Red: Less than 10 minutes remaining Understand what makes you late and and on time through performance tracking.
Pause
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Pause: Break the Doomscrolling Loop Break free from the doomscrolling loop and reclaim your time with Pause. Pause isn't another screen time blocker. Instead of locking you out of your phone or making you feel guilty, Pause interrupts your autopilot habits at the exact moment they happen. Whenever you instinctively open a distracting app, Pause steps in first with a mandatory 60-second mindful breathing exercise. It takes just one minute to break the cycle of mindless scrolling. Take a breath, identify what you're actually looking for, and decide intentionally whether you still want to open the app. HOW IT WORKS Create Intervention Plans: Select the apps that trigger your distracting or compulsive usage, such as Instagram, TikTok, or X. The 60-Second Intercept: When you open a targeted app, Pause appears first. Complete a 60-second mindful breathing exercise before continuing. Identify Your Triggers: Log how you're feeling in the moment โ Bored, Anxious, Procrastinating, or another trigger โ to better understand what drives your scrolling habits. Make a Choice: After 60 seconds, you're in control. Choose to continue to the app or step away and reclaim your time. BUILD HEALTHIER HABITS Evening Reflections: gentle reminder at the end of the day to check in with your mood and reflect on your screen time. Weekly Insights: Track your progress over time. Discover your most common trigger apps, peak urge times, and your Pause Success Rate the percentage of times you chose to step away. Privacy First: Your intervention plans and check-ins are private and securely tied to your account. TAKE BACK YOUR ATTENTION Stop letting algorithms control your attention. Add a little friction to distracting habits, build awareness around your screen time, and get your focus back. Take a breath. Take a Pause.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: The GoTimer at none against Pause's shown. Pause's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The GoTimer ships an update every 3 weeks, Pause every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The GoTimer | Pause |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 4 days โ better |
| Ads | No โ better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 25 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Adam Kretz | UPSTART INNOVATION, LLC |
In-app purchases
The GoTimer
No in-app purchases
Pause
No in-app purchases









