Comparison

PauseBox vs Scrolly

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

Head to head
About

PauseBox

This app helps you block digital distractions by creating a physical barrier. Select apps to block, create custom groups with schedules, and then tap your phone on a physical device to initiate a focus session. It encourages intentional separation to break habit loops.

Highlights
  • Select apps to block
  • Create custom Pause Groups
  • Schedule focus sessions
  • Use physical device for blocking
  • Remote blocking option
  • Intentional separation from phone
Features
Read full description

PauseBox creates a physical block between you and distractions. Here's how it works: 1. Select the apps you want to block Open the PauseApp and choose which apps to block, or select the few you want to keep. Create custom Pause Groups like Work, Study, or Family Time, each with its own app rules, schedules, or timers to fit your day.PauseBox creates a physical block between you and distractions. Here's how it works: 2. Tap your phone on PauseBox to block selected apps After selecting a Pause Group, tap your phone on the PauseBox to start blocking apps. Your focus session begins right away. Not nearby? Use “Pause without tap” in the app to start remotely. 3. Put distance between you and the PauseBox Place your PauseBox out of reach to create intentional separation. As a physical barrier to digital distractions, it makes unblocking a conscious choice and helps break the habit loop.

About

Scrolly

This app helps you regain control over your digital habits by creating a physical barrier to access distracting applications. It allows you to select apps to block and requires a physical tap to re-enable them, helping you save time and be more present.

Highlights
  • Physical barrier to block apps
  • Select specific apps to block
  • Tap to re-enable access
  • Habit-building assistance
  • Save over 90 minutes daily
Features
Read full description

Our brains weren’t built for bottomless feeds. But with Scrolly, you can finally take back control. Scrolly is your habit-building buddy that helps you save over 90 minutes a day by creating a physical barrier between you and your most addictive apps. With that time back, you can finally be present—with your friends, your family, and the passions that truly matter How Scrolly works • Choose apps to block: Pick the apps that steal your time (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) • Tap to block distractions: Physically tap your Scrolly to phone to block distracting apps • Until your tap your Scrolly again, there’s no way to access blocked apps Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://scrollyapp.io/pl/legal/privacy-policy

Screenshots

PauseBox3 screens
Scrolly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PauseBox at none against Scrolly's 9. PauseBox also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 60%). Scrolly's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (265 vs 46). On price, rating, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Scrolly sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. PauseBox asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for PauseBox against 4.8 for Scrolly. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scrolly has 265 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of PauseBox's written reviews are positive against 60% of Scrolly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PauseBox ships an update every 3 months, Scrolly every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PauseBox versus Scrolly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPauseBoxScrolly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (46 ratings) — better4.8 (265 ratings)
Positive reviews89.3% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings46265 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better16.7
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB335 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBritt EspinosaSCROLLY SP Z O O

Customer experience

PauseBox

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive89.3%
Neutral3.6%
Negative7.1%

Scrolly

All ratings265 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative32.0%

In-app purchases

None

PauseBox

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Scrolly

Subscriptions7
  • Scrolly Mac & iPad$2.991 Month
  • Scrolly App Access Without Device$9.991 Month
  • Scrolly Mac & iPad1 Month trial$29.991 Year
Show 4 more
  • Scrolly Alarm1 Month trial$59.901 Year
  • Scrolly App Access Without Device1 Month trial$59.901 Year
  • Scrolly App Access Without Device3 Months trial$79.001 Year
  • Scrolly App Access Without Device1 Month trial$79.001 Year
One-time2
  • Commitment Mode$1.00
  • Commitment Mode$5.00

Questions

Is PauseBox free?
PauseBox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Scrolly free?
Scrolly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PauseBox or Scrolly?
PauseBox is rated higher. PauseBox averages 4.9 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while Scrolly averages 4.8 from 265 ratings.
Do PauseBox or Scrolly have ads?
Neither PauseBox nor Scrolly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PauseBox or Scrolly?
PauseBox ships an update every 3 months, and Scrolly every 8 days. Most recently, PauseBox was updated on November 10, 2026 and Scrolly on November 8, 2026.

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