# Brainrot vs Shelly

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Shelly at 100% against Brainrot's 18%. Shelly also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Brainrot's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 3) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brainrot sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Shelly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shelly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brainrot has 22K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Brainrot's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shelly's.

Brainrot ships an update every 6 days, Shelly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainrot | Shelly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainrot-screen-time-control/id6744338972/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelly-screen-time-control/id6757734582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 17.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Size | 126 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 18.1 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Smolworks Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807171666) | [Spindle Hyperlocal Solutions Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780345822) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainrot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainrot-screen-time-control/id6744338972)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and websites. Utilize a focus timer and smart schedules to improve productivity, sleep, and reduce screen time. A visual indicator provides a playful nudge to encourage mindful usage.

**Highlights:** App and website blocking, Focus timer, Smart scheduling, Mindful breaks, Usage insights

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

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited (1 Month) | $3.99 | per month |
| Unlimited (1 Week) | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited (1 Week) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Unlimited (1 Year) | $9.99 | per year |
| Unlimited (1 Year) | $19.99 | per year |
| Unlimited (1 Year) | $19.99 | per year |
| Unlimited (1 Year) | $19.99 | per year |
| Brainrot (Full Access) | $24.99 | per year |
| Unlimited (1 Year) | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlimited (1 Year) | $29.99 | per year |
| Brainrot (Full Access) | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlimited (1 Year) | $44.99 | per year |
| Brainrot Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Unlimited | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reduces screen time
- 👍 Helpful for productivity
- 🥰 Great app
- 💯 Highly recommended

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires paid subscription
- 🙅‍♀️ No free version available
- 😤 Forced to pay to use

**Reported bugs**

- Stuck on payment screen with no way out
- Requires re-entering info every time

**Requested features**

- Free version with limited features
- Free trial period


### Shelly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelly-screen-time-control/id6757734582)

This app helps you build healthier phone habits with a visual motivator. It blocks distracting apps, offers focus schedules, and provides gentle breathing reminders to prevent mindless scrolling. Track your progress and improve your digital well-being.

**Highlights:** Visual motivation with a growing snail, App blocking and smart schedules, Breathing interventions, Shell Mode for total focus, Daily time allowances, Streak tracking, History and insights

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| One time offer | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainrot free?

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

### Is Shelly free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Brainrot or Shelly?

Shelly is rated higher. Brainrot averages 4.5 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Shelly averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Brainrot or Shelly have ads?

Neither Brainrot nor Shelly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brainrot or Shelly?

Brainrot ships an update every 6 days, and Shelly every 3 weeks. Most recently, Brainrot was updated on October 18, 2026 and Shelly on October 18, 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.*