Stahp. vs Arc Lock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Stahp.
This app helps you regain control of your digital habits by blocking distracting applications and websites. It offers features like instant blocking, daily limits, and scheduled sessions to improve focus and productivity.
- Instant app blocking
- Daily screen time limits
- Scheduled blocking
- Distraction-free mode
- Website blocking
- Privacy-first iOS integration
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Take control of your screen time with new Stahp formerly known as PlainMode, a simple, powerful screen time Free app designed to block distracting apps, reduce phone usage, and help you stay focused. Whether you need a focus timer, an app blocker, a screen limit tool, or a full distraction-free mode, Stahp gives you everything you need to manage your digital habits and improve productivity. Every year, the average person spends 1,680 hours (70 days) on their phone, nearly 30% of their waking life. If you’re tired of losing time to social media, endless scrolling, or notifications, Stahp helps you limit screen time, block apps, and break the distraction cycle. Block Distractions. Stay Focused. Reclaim Your Time. Stahp lets you activate a distraction-free environment with one tap. Use it as a focus lock, an app blocker, a screen time control tool, or a website blocker to stay on track while working, studying, or relaxing. The Stahp App is Perfect for anyone looking for: - A focus app blocker - A productivity tool - A social media blocker App - App time limit control - Better screen time restriction habits - A distraction-free mode for work or study Stahp App's Key Feature: Instant App Blocking with Timer: Use Stahp to block apps instantly whenever you need to focus. Stop distractions from social media, games, or other time-consuming apps. Ideal for studying, deep work sessions, or reducing screen time during important tasks. Improve Focus and Productivity: Use Stahp as a focus timer, a refocus app, or a focus mode alternative to help you stay on task and get more done every day. Privacy-First, Native iOS Integration: Stahp uses Apple’s Screen Time API, ensuring no tracking, no data storage, and full integration with iOS. Fast, secure, and fully device-native — no complicated setup. Why Stahp Works? Stahp combines the features of a screen time app, an app blocker, and a focus lock tool, making it easier to manage your digital habits without overthinking. Use it to: - Reduce screen time - Block apps that distract you - Set limits for social media - Create healthier digital routines - Boost productivity - Build better focus habits - Control app usage across your day Whether you need an app blocker free option, a website blocker, or a simple productivity tool, Stahp keeps things clean, fast, and effective. Who Is Stahp For? The Stahp App is made for anyone who wants to: - Cut down social media usage - Improve productivity - Stay focused at school or work - Reduce digital distraction - Build better screen time habits - Block apps during key hours - Use a reliable app blocker on iPhone Perfect for students, remote workers, professionals, and anyone wanting more control over phone use. Your Time Is Yours, Take It Back! Avoid endless scrolling. Stop distraction loops. Use Stahp to stay focused, block apps, set limits, and build a healthier digital lifestyle with ease. Stahp is the cleanest, simplest way to block apps and control screen time. Start your focus journey today. Terms of Use: https://stahp.no/privacy
Arc Lock
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Companies fight for every second of your time to keep you distracted. Taking control of your screen time should be a human right, not something locked behind a paywall. Arc Lock blocks the apps and websites that eat your day, and once a block starts, it stays on. Every feature is free for everyone: no subscription, no account, no ads, no in-app purchases. SCHEDULES Pick apps, app categories and websites, choose the hours and days, and they lock on their own. Overnight windows like 11 PM – 7 AM work too (up to 22 hours). DAILY LIMITS Allow yourself a set time each day, from 5 minutes to 8 hours. See exactly how many minutes are used and left. When the time is used up, those apps lock until the limit resets: at midnight, or at the time you pick (say 4:00 AM, for late nights). A heads-up comes 5 minutes before. TIME-OUTS Not a full block, a pause. After a stretch of use, the apps take a short break, then open again. For example: after 20 minutes of short videos, a 10-minute break. It repeats all day and starts fresh at its reset time. BLOCK NOW Lock distractions right away, from 15 minutes to 12 hours. The Block now button is always one tap away. PLACES Pick one or more places on the map, like the library, your school or the gym, and the apps lock when you arrive. Each place block ends when you leave, or after a set time, whichever you choose, and starts only on the days you pick. Location access is asked for only when you set up a place block, and Arc Lock never sends your location anywhere. STRICT LOCK Every block can have Strict lock, and it's on by default. While a strict block runs: • it can't be stopped, loosened or deleted in Arc Lock • the date and time can't be changed by hand • the block screen has a single button: Close Daily limits and time-outs are locked in until they reset: you can make one stricter once a day, but looser settings only start at its next reset. Want a gentler block? Switch Strict lock off for that block, and you can stop it whenever you like. Switching Strict lock off for the whole app works right away: a block that's running or counting stays strict only until its own reset, or until it ends. DELETION PROTECTION On by default: no app can be deleted from your iPhone, Arc Lock included. Switching it off waits only until your strict blocks reset or end. LOCK-IN Freeze every rule for 1 to 30 days, even between blocks: no loosening, no deleting rules, no deleting apps. Changes you queued before it wait until it ends. WEBSITES BY ADDRESS Type a site like youtube.com and it's blocked in Safari and every other browser, in schedules, daily limits, time-outs and Block now. APPLE'S OWN LOOK Native lists and a compact Liquid Glass tab bar: Home, Blocks and Settings. Names are optional: a block without one is shown by its first app. Five themes (Navy, Graphite, Forest, Plum and Paper), each with a matching app icon. The phone-and-lock mark in the app closes while something is blocked. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Arc Lock works through Apple's Screen Time. Apple keeps your activity on your iPhone; Arc Lock never learns which apps you use and sends nothing anywhere. No account, no analytics, no tracking. OPEN SOURCE The complete source code is on GitHub under the MIT license: github.com/WeldingArc/arc-lock
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Arc Lock at none against Stahp.'s 2. Arc Lock also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months). 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
Both are free to download. Stahp. sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Arc Lock asks for nothing beyond the download.
Stahp. ships an update every 2 months, Arc Lock every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Stahp. | Arc Lock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Martin Angvik Aasen | JUN HYUK CHOI |
In-app purchases
Stahp.
- Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Annual Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Arc Lock
No in-app purchases





