Comparison

TimeBack vs Compose

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

Head to head
About

TimeBack

This app helps you reduce screen time and avoid distractions by blocking addictive applications. It offers customizable blocking schedules, a 'Hard Mode' for complete phone lockdown, and an accountability feature that notifies friends when you override a block.

Highlights
  • App Blocking with custom schedules
  • Ad-hoc timers
  • Hard Mode for complete lockdown
  • Accountability notifications for friends
  • Block override options
  • Tracking of schedules and goals
Features
Read full description

TimeBack helps you cut screen time and avoid doomscrolling with scheduled or ad-hoc blocking. When you slip, friends are automatically notified to keep you accountable. Features: - App Blocking: Block distracting apps with custom schedules or ad-hoc timers. - Hard Mode: Block all apps at once to completely lock down your phone. - Block Overrides: Override a block for 5–60 minutes or until the end of day. - Accountability: If you override a block, your friends can be notified so excuses don’t go unnoticed. - Tracking: Track your schedules, goals, and overrides. Friends can see your progress and weakness moments, keeping you accountable while inspiring them to join. TimeBack simplifies reducing screen time by combining your focus intentions with social incentives. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Compose

This app helps you reduce screen time and increase focus by blocking distracting apps until you write in your private journal. It offers a simple interface, AI organization, and secure storage for your thoughts and memories.

Highlights
  • App blocking
  • Private journaling
  • AI organization
  • Smart search
  • Customizable themes
  • Scheduled blocking
  • Journal prompts
Features
Read full description

Every day, a war is being fought for your attention. Billions of dollars go into algorithms designed to capture your time, attention, and energy. Leaving you stressed, unfulfilled, and stuck in a loop you can't seem to break. You wake up, and the first thing you do is scroll. You get ready for bed, and the last thing you do is scroll. Life passes by, one more scroll at a time. Your phone should feel like a tool, not a reflex. When you open an app that pulls you into the void, Compose makes you write a short journal entry first. Then the choice is yours: stay focused, take a short break, or carry on. The gate is intentionally easy to cross. That's the point. A hard block can stop one scroll. Compose gives you something to build instead: a journal of what was happening each time you reached for your phone. Every entry becomes part of your story, one that grows more useful over time. Compose automatically organizes the people, places, emotions, activities, and topics in your writing. It reconnects related moments, asks thoughtful follow-up questions, and brings recurring themes and changes into view. This adds up to lasting change. A few sentences a day can ease stress, build self-awareness, help you notice the small moments, and be more present. With Compose, you can: •⁠ Block selected apps, websites, and categories •⁠ Create focus profiles and schedules •⁠ Write with curated, custom, and follow-up prompts •⁠ Find entries even when you can't remember the exact words •⁠ Revisit connected moments •⁠ Discover long-term themes, patterns, and insights •⁠ Receive quotes and affirmations shaped by your journal •⁠ Export or delete your entries whenever you like App blocking and journaling are always free. Compose isn't about giving up your phone. It's about using it on purpose and keeping more of your attention for the life around you.

Screenshots

TimeBack4 screens
Compose4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Compose at none against TimeBack's 8. TimeBack's advantage is ratings volume (36 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. TimeBack sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Compose asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for TimeBack against 5.0 for Compose. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TimeBack has 36 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
TimeBack versus Compose: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTimeBackCompose
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (36 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings36 — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB38 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperNicholas CamsonSamir Thapa

Customer experience

TimeBack

All ratings36 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Compose

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

TimeBack

Subscriptions3
  • TimeBack Premium Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • TimeBack Premium Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • TimeBack Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time5
  • TimeBack Premium$0.99
  • 100 TimeBack Points$0.99
  • 500 TimeBack Points$4.99
Show 2 more
  • 1000 TimeBack Points$9.99
  • 2500 TimeBack Points$19.99
None

Compose

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TimeBack free?
TimeBack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Compose free?
Compose is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TimeBack or Compose?
TimeBack and Compose are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 36 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do TimeBack or Compose have ads?
Neither TimeBack nor Compose shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TimeBack or Compose?
TimeBack ships an update weekly, and Compose weekly. Most recently, TimeBack was updated on October 17, 2026 and Compose on October 17, 2026.

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