# PauseBox vs Polanthos

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PauseBox at none against Polanthos's 2. PauseBox also leads on ratings volume (44 vs 3) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). Polanthos's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 82%). On price, rating, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Polanthos sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. PauseBox asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for PauseBox against 5.0 for Polanthos. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PauseBox has 44 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of PauseBox's written reviews are positive against 100% of Polanthos's.

PauseBox ships an update every 3 months, Polanthos every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PauseBox | Polanthos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pausebox/id6745524690/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polanthos-pause-scrolling/id6773573378/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 82.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 90 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Britt Espinosa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1812701009) | [HAIYI NING](https://appshunter.io/developer/6773573380) |

## What reviewers say

### PauseBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pausebox/id6745524690)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Polanthos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polanthos-pause-scrolling/id6773573378)

This app helps you pause before opening distracting applications, encouraging intentional social media use and reducing mindless scrolling. It offers a mindful moment to decide if you truly want to proceed, with features like focus schedules and reclaimed time tracking.

**Highlights:** Mindful pause before app launch, Focus schedules, Gentle reminders, Reclaimed time tracking, Simple redirects, Calm design

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Polanthos Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Polanthos Pro Yearly | $17.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PauseBox free?

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

### Is Polanthos free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PauseBox or Polanthos?

Polanthos is rated higher. PauseBox averages 4.9 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Polanthos averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do PauseBox or Polanthos have ads?

Neither PauseBox nor Polanthos shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PauseBox or Polanthos?

PauseBox ships an update every 3 months, and Polanthos every 2 days. Most recently, PauseBox was updated on October 28, 2026 and Polanthos 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.*