Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Zone Focus

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

Head to head
About

Screen Time Control

This app helps you limit screen time and reduce distractions by locking distracting apps until you step outside and walk in the sun. It uses habit psychology to make healthier choices effortless, promoting focus, energy, and better sleep by syncing with your circadian rhythm.

Highlights
  • Limit screen time without shame
  • Delay distracting apps until sunlight exposure
  • Unlock apps by stepping outside
  • Real-time unlocks via selfie
  • Private by design, on-device data
  • Gentle celebrations and mood boosts
Features
Read full description

Control your screen time before it controls you. Every morning, before you’ve even seen the sun, you’re already scrolling. Sunlock helps you limit screen time, reduce distractions, and start your day with focus, energy, and calm. Sunlock isn’t just a timer or tracker. How It Works Your chosen apps stay locked until you: 1. Step outside 2. Walk in the sun Unlock your apps and your nervous system. It’s a one-tap morning ritual that locks your most distracting apps until you’ve done one of the best things you can do for your energy, focus, and sleep: get sunlight before screenlight. Why It Works Forget willpower and guilt. Sunlock uses proven habit psychology to: • Interrupt default behaviour • Make the better choice feel effortless Feel the Difference • Start your day with intention, not impulse • No more hours lost to autopilot scrolling • Sleep better by syncing with your circadian rhythm • Rebuild focus and calm within a week • Turn screen time control into a habit you enjoy Key Features • Limit Screen Time Without Shame: No streaks. No guilt. Just soft, mindful boundaries • App Time Limit With Purpose: Delay Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or any app until you Sunlock • Light Before Likes: Get sunlight within 60 minutes of waking for maximum benefit • Real-Time Unlocks: Selfie outside in sun or nature, unlock instantly • Gentle Celebrations: Uplifting quotes, insights, and mood boosts • Private by Design: No tracking. 100% on-device Join the Movement Sunlight before screenlight. Circadian rhythm before the algorithm. Privacy First Your habits are yours. Sunlock never stores your data in the cloud. We never share it. Ever. Reclaim your mornings, and your attention. It’s time to Sunlock. Take control, limit screen time, and start your day on your terms.

About

Zone Focus

Read full description

Block distracting apps and websites when your focus session starts. Use Strict Mode when Screen Time limits are too easy to ignore. No account, no third-party analytics, and your blocked app list stays on your device. Zone helps you stop scrolling, stay out of distracting apps, and protect the time you meant to spend away from your phone. CORE FEATURES STRICT APP AND WEBSITE BLOCKING Choose the apps and websites you keep opening. When you enter the Zone, they are shielded until your session ends. STRICT MODE Make sessions harder to abandon once they begin, so your commitment survives the moment you want to scroll. FOCUS TIMERS Use focused presets for short sprints, deep work blocks, longer flow sessions, or a custom duration. DYNAMIC ISLAND AND LIVE ACTIVITIES Track your remaining time from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island without unlocking your phone. APPLE HEALTH SYNC Optionally save completed focus sessions to Apple Health as Mindful Minutes. INSIGHTS AND STREAKS See focus time, completed sessions, streaks, and blocked attempts so progress stays visible. PRIVACY-FIRST BY DESIGN Zone does not require an account, does not use third-party analytics, and cannot see the specific apps or websites you choose to block. Your focus history, streaks, insights, and Apple Health sync stay on your device. To support Lock Screen and Dynamic Island Live Activity updates, Zone may send limited timer-delivery data, such as a Live Activity push token, remaining time, running state, and APNs environment, to our backend solely to update that Live Activity. Zone does not send your blocked apps, websites, focus history, Health data, or personal usage analytics. Enter the Zone, stop scrolling, and protect your focus. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Zone Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Screen Time Control at none against Zone Focus's 3. On price, update cadence, ads 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. Zone Focus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Screen Time Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update every 8 days, Zone Focus every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Screen Time Control versus Zone Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlZone Focus
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.218.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperqalvappsVikas Saini

In-app purchases

None

Screen Time Control

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Zone Focus

Subscriptions2
  • Zone Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Zone Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Zone Pro (Lifetime)$59.99

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Zone Focus free?
Zone Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time Control or Zone Focus have ads?
Neither Screen Time Control nor Zone Focus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Zone Focus?
Screen Time Control ships an update every 8 days, and Zone Focus every 2 weeks. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 21, 2026 and Zone Focus on October 17, 2026.

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