Comparison

PhoneAway vs StepOpen

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

Head to head
About

PhoneAway

This app helps reduce phone dependency by using your Apple Watch to remind you to put your phone down when you get too close. It aims to improve focus, reduce distractions, and foster healthier habits for studying, reading, and working.

Highlights
  • Proximity-based phone reminders
  • Customizable distance thresholds
  • Countdown and Pomodoro timer
  • Multiple vibration styles
  • Adjustable alert sounds
Features
Read full description

Break the habit of mindlessly scrolling on your phone, starting the moment you approach it! Return to the present and rediscover the beauty of life. Trapped in phone addiction and can't break free? These struggles might sound familiar: 1. Attention Crisis: Focus time is getting shorter, memory is noticeably declining, and thoughts are always difficult to concentrate. 2. Declining Quality of Life: Reading time is drastically reduced, hobbies are squeezed out, and life becomes monotonous and boring. 3. Emptiness and Disappointment: Opening various apps with anticipation, only to find they can't bring real satisfaction, but instead leave you more disappointed and anxious. "PhoneAway" is an app designed to help you reduce phone dependency and focus on the present. When you wear your Apple Watch and approach your phone, it will promptly remind you to put it down through vibration and sound, keeping you away from distractions and maintaining focus. Unlike other apps that rely on screen time restrictions, "PhoneAway" is currently the only app that addresses phone addiction at its source. We combine advanced distance-sensing technology to precisely monitor the distance between your phone and watch. Real-time reminders intervene in your usage habits to help reduce unconscious phone dependency. I conceptualized, designed, and developed this app from scratch to address our shared attention problems and help you rediscover a fulfilling, meaningful life. Whether you're studying, reading, or working, "PhoneAway" can effectively reduce phone-related distractions, helping you develop healthier habits and improve focus and productivity. Use Cases: - Focused Study: In study rooms or during exam preparation, when wearing your Apple Watch near your phone, you'll be reminded to put it down, reducing distractions and maintaining efficient learning. - Immersive Reading: Whether reading physical or digital books, when wearing your Apple Watch near your phone, instant alerts encourage you to focus on reading and stay away from phone distractions. - Focused Work: During work hours, when wearing your Apple Watch near your phone, immediate reminders help you put it down, avoid distractions, and better concentrate on completing tasks to improve work efficiency. Features: - Safe Distance: Set distance thresholds for triggering reminders based on personal needs, with centimeter-level precision adjustment. - Countdown & Pomodoro Timer: Customize "don’t touch phone" time periods for focused work. - Vibration Styles: Multiple vibration modes and frequency options to suit different usage scenarios. - Alert Sounds: Support for various notification sounds to enhance reminder perception and personalized experience. Supported Devices: - iPhone: iPhone 11 and above. - Apple Watch: Apple Watch Series 8 and above. Auto-Renewal Subscription Service: After subscribing, you can unlock all premium features and continuously receive future premium feature updates. After confirming the purchase, the subscription will automatically renew through your Apple account. Automatic charges will occur within 24 hours before expiration, and after successful payment, the subscription will be extended for one period. If you wish to cancel auto-renewal, please manually disable auto-renewal in your Apple ID settings at least 24 hours before your current subscription expires. The decision to cancel the subscription is yours; if you do not cancel, it will be considered consent to proceed to the next billing cycle. Privacy Policy: https://offphone-web.netlify.app/en-us/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Contact Us Email: darkce97@gmail.com Start your focus journey and let "PhoneAway" become your powerful assistant in regaining control of your life!

About

StepOpen

Features
Read full description

StepOpen is the "walk to unlock" app. Lock the apps that distract you (social, video, games) and unlock them once you reach today's step goal. The more you walk, the more of the time your phone was taking comes back to you. Instead of guilt or pressure, it turns moving your body into the "key" - a gentle digital detox habit. It's simple 1. Choose the apps you want to lock 2. Set the steps needed to unlock them (2,000 / 3,000 / 5,000 / 8,000) 3. Until you reach that count, the chosen apps stay locked 4. Walk, and they open automatically Free - Lock up to 2 apps - Unlock step by step as you walk - This week's records (achievements, streaks, charts) - Morning reminder / almost-there notifications - One temporary unlock per day (an escape hatch for when you really need it) StepOpen Pro - Lock unlimited apps - Custom step goals (add unlock targets that fit you) - Schedules / time-of-day rules - Detailed records & insights (month / year, trends) - Strict Mode (rules you can't relax for a set period, for when you're serious) Privacy first Your steps (Health) and your choice of locked apps are, as a rule, processed only on your device and never sent to an external server. We can't know your step details or which apps you locked. May walking become the most pleasant way to put some distance between you and your phone. ---------- StepOpen Pro (auto-renewable subscription) - Monthly plan: ¥600 / month - Yearly plan: ¥4,800 / year (about 33% off) - New users get a 7-day free trial - Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. - The subscription auto-renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. If you cancel during the trial, you won't be charged. - Terms of Use: https://rai-prs.github.io/stepopen-web/terms.html - Privacy Policy: https://rai-prs.github.io/stepopen-web/privacy.html

Screenshots

PhoneAway4 screens
StepOpen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: StepOpen at daily against PhoneAway's every 5 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. PhoneAway sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and StepOpen sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PhoneAway ships an update every 5 days, StepOpen daily. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
PhoneAway versus StepOpen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhoneAwayStepOpen
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.417.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer绪海 罗Takumi Shirai

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PhoneAway

Subscriptions1
  • Premium$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • Premium$6.99
4 purchases

StepOpen

Subscriptions4
  • StepOpen Plus 月額$1.991 Month
  • StepOpen Pro 月額7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • StepOpen Plus 年額$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • StepOpen Pro 年額7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is PhoneAway free?
PhoneAway is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is StepOpen free?
StepOpen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PhoneAway or StepOpen have ads?
Neither PhoneAway nor StepOpen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PhoneAway or StepOpen?
PhoneAway ships an update every 5 days, and StepOpen daily. Most recently, PhoneAway was updated on October 22, 2026 and StepOpen on October 5, 2026.

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