# Screencat vs BlockBuddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BlockBuddy at none against Screencat's 3. Screencat's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (17.5 vs 26.2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screencat sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. BlockBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Screencat ships an update every 2 days, BlockBuddy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screencat | BlockBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screencat-screen-time-pet/id6741950612/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.5** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Screencat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1796293165) | [Alexander Kvamme](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193793299) |

## What reviewers say

### Screencat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screencat-screen-time-pet/id6741950612)

This app helps users break phone addiction and stop doomscrolling by "locking" distracting applications. Users earn coins by using the app, which can be spent to unlock apps or customize a virtual pet.

**Highlights:** Lock distracting apps, Gamified unlocking process, Earn coins for app usage, Customize virtual pet, Stop doomscrolling

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Screencat Pro Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Screencat Pro Lifetime Special | $24.99 | one-time |
| Screencat Pro Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


### BlockBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockbuddy-stop-scrolling/id6767916790)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screencat free?

Screencat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BlockBuddy free?

BlockBuddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Screencat or BlockBuddy have ads?

Neither Screencat nor BlockBuddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screencat or BlockBuddy?

Screencat ships an update every 2 days, and BlockBuddy every 2 months. Most recently, Screencat was updated on October 30, 2026 and BlockBuddy on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*