# ScreenBuddy vs Tonic

The clearest difference is monetization model: Tonic at freemium against ScreenBuddy's subscription. Tonic also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ScreenBuddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Tonic sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Tonic holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 44 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of ScreenBuddy's written reviews are positive against 96% of Tonic's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ScreenBuddy ships an update every 3 weeks, Tonic every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScreenBuddy | Tonic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screenbuddy-app-blocker/id6748612438/reviews) | **[5.0 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonic-earn-screen-time/id6760635258/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **44** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 95.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 42 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Gaffney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1826566834) | [Sets Studio LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885438054) |

## What reviewers say

### ScreenBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screenbuddy-app-blocker/id6748612438)

This app helps reduce screen time by introducing friction before accessing selected apps. It offers personalized daily limits and a pause before unlocking to break unconscious phone usage habits and combat digital addiction.

**Highlights:** Block selected apps 24/7, Pause before unlocking apps, Personalized daily screen time limits, Breaks unconscious phone use habits, Reduces digital addiction, Focus enhancement for work and study

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ScreenBuddy Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| ScreenBuddy Pro Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| ScreenBuddy Pro Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


### Tonic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonic-earn-screen-time/id6760635258)

This app helps you build good habits by making them unlock your other apps. It allows you to set limits on distracting apps and rewards productive behavior. You can customize rules to integrate with your existing life and achieve your goals.

**Highlights:** Habit-based app unlocking, Customizable screen time limits, Integration with Apple Health, Flexible rule setting, Productive minute banking, Escalating pause feature

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tonic Unlimited | $9.99 | per month |
| Tonic Unlimited | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScreenBuddy free?

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

### Is Tonic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ScreenBuddy or Tonic?

Tonic is rated higher. ScreenBuddy averages 4.6 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Tonic averages 5.0 from 44 ratings.

### Do ScreenBuddy or Tonic have ads?

Neither ScreenBuddy nor Tonic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScreenBuddy or Tonic?

ScreenBuddy ships an update every 3 weeks, and Tonic every 4 days. Most recently, ScreenBuddy was updated on October 24, 2026 and Tonic on October 25, 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.*