Comparison

Phone Jail vs Arc

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

Head to head
About

Phone Jail

This app helps you regain control of your time and enhance focus by blocking distracting applications and managing screen time. It offers features like scheduled blocking, custom durations, and detailed usage analytics to support digital wellness and productivity.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps and categories
  • Schedule blocking in advance
  • Set custom blocking durations
  • Strict Block mode
  • Track focus time analytics
  • Detailed app usage monitoring
  • Pomodoro timer
Features
Read full description

Take back your time and focus with Phone Jail – the intelligent app blocker and screen time companion. Designed for productivity and digital wellness, Phone Jail helps you with Premium features (requires subscription): - Block distracting apps & categories with optional Strict Mode - Schedule blocking in advance with flexible planning options - Set custom blocking durations from 2 minutes to 23 hours - Enable “Strict Block” to prevent interruptions even if the app is closed - Track your focus time with rich analytics – Focused, Distracted, and Offline breakdowns by hour - See detailed usage per app – Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and more - Set smart alerts to be notified when screentime limits are reached - Use “Swipe to Block” for fast blocking sessions on demand - Monitor trends with daily focus reports and insights - Pomodoro feature - Daily App Limits feature Whether you're working, studying, or simply need time offline – Phone Jail helps you stay present and in control. Phone Jail is free to download and use with limited features. Unlock all features and premium content via a paid subscription.

About

Arc

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting session limits and providing smart nudges for your to-do lists. It offers advanced analytics to understand your scrolling habits and offers AI-powered recommendations for improvement.

Highlights
  • Session limits for automatic breaks
  • Smart nudges for to-do reminders
  • Integrated to-do lists
  • Advanced session analytics
  • AI-powered recommendations
  • Bedtime mode with sleep reminders
Features
Read full description

THE ARC DIFFERENCE Arc doesn't just block apps - it redirects your attention with a powerful three-part system: - Session Limits: Automatic breaks when a session has reached the set limit. No more unintentional doomscroll sessions. Daily limits are not helpful when the problem is getting sucked into the scroll hole and not realizing it. That's why we built session limits! - Smart Nudges: Gentle reminders about your to-dos while you scroll - Integrated To-Do Lists: Track what really matters, all in one place - Advanced Analytics: Track every session with precision. See exactly when you close apps yourself (exits) vs. when the timer saves you (lockouts). Discover your most addicting apps through unblock tracking, identify your best and worst self-control patterns, and get AI-powered recommendations tailored to YOUR behavior. No more guessing where to improve, the data shows you exactly which apps need stricter limits, where you're building great habits, and actionable steps to reduce your screen time based on real patterns, not generic advice or behavior patterns. HOW IT WORKS Select your distracting apps (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) Add your daily tasks and goals Get Nudged with your to-do tasks when you're mindlessly scrolling Session Limits create automatic breaks after extended sessions Watch scrolling turn into productivity BUILT FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE Set your bedtime to switch from productivity Nudges to Sleep Reminders. Arc adapts to help you make better use of your time all day long. PERFECT FOR: People who unconsciously doomscroll and want to stop Professionals who lose focus to social media Students procrastinating on assignments Anyone who wants to build healthy daily habits Scroll Goblins People tired of feeling guilty after doomscrolling START SEEING RESULTS Reclaim hours of your day Complete the tasks you've been avoiding Track scrolling habits through intelligent insights Build habits that stick Rebuild a healthy relationship with social media Feel accomplished, not guilty Download Arc and turn scrolling into productivity. Your goals are waiting. Terms of Use (EULA): https://arcapp.io/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://arcapp.io/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Phone Jail4 screens
Arc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Phone Jail at 4.8 against Arc's 4.3. Phone Jail also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 64%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). Arc's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Phone Jail sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and Arc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Phone Jail holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 40 and 27 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Phone Jail's written reviews are positive against 64% of Arc's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phone Jail ships an update every 5 days, Arc every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Phone Jail versus Arc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhone JailArc
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (40 ratings) — better4.3 (27 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better63.6% of reviews
Number of ratings40 — better27
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuriy CherninArc Labs LLC (MT)

Customer experience

Phone Jail

All ratings35 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Arc

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Phone Jail

Subscriptions7
  • Weekly 9.99$9.997 Days
  • Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Monthly 13.99$13.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Annual 29.99$29.991 Year
  • Monthly 29 99$29.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Annual 69.997 Days trial$69.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$69.99
3 purchases

Arc

Subscriptions3
  • Arc Pro (Weekly)$5.997 Days
  • Arc Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Arc Pro (Annual)3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Phone Jail free?
Phone Jail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arc free?
Arc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Phone Jail or Arc?
Phone Jail is rated higher. Phone Jail averages 4.8 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while Arc averages 4.3 from 27 ratings.
Do Phone Jail or Arc have ads?
Phone Jail shows ads; Arc does not.
Which is updated more often, Phone Jail or Arc?
Phone Jail ships an update every 5 days, and Arc every 2 weeks. Most recently, Phone Jail was updated on October 30, 2026 and Arc on October 30, 2026.

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