Screen Time Control vs Step2Scroll
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Screen Time Control
This app helps you reclaim your time by blocking distracting applications on a schedule or for a set duration. It features a unique 'Focus Gate' to prevent accidental unlocks and rewards you with 'blocks' to build a virtual world for completed focus sessions.
- Scheduled app blocking
- On-demand focus sessions
- Focus Gate for accidental unlocks
- Virtual world building with earned blocks
- Privacy-focused design
- Offline functionality
Read full descriptionHide full description
You don't decide to lose an hour. You open one app, and it's gone. Paused protects the time you meant to keep. Choose the apps that pull you in, set the hours you want back, and they stay shielded — even when Paused isn't open. FEATURES WITH PAUSED PLUS The protection features below require paid Paused Plus access: a weekly or yearly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Apple Screen Time permission is required. PROTECT YOUR DAY ON A SCHEDULE - Build recurring windows like Deep Work, Mindful Morning, Evening Reset, or Sleep Shield. - Pick apps and categories with Apple's own Screen Time picker. - Set start and end times, choose your weekdays, and create windows that run past midnight. - Reuse a selection you already made instead of picking the same apps twice. OR PROTECT THE NEXT HOUR, RIGHT NOW - Start a 15, 30, 60, or 90-minute session whenever you need one. - The shield goes up immediately and lifts on time, whether or not Paused is running. SET A DAILY LIMIT - Give selected apps and categories a shared daily allowance. Usage already accumulated today counts; the allowance resets at midnight. - Once the allowance is reached, those selections are blocked for the rest of the day. - Turning off or removing an enabled limit requires a 10-minute cooldown and confirmation within five minutes. Protection stays on while you wait; confirming ends the current streak, not permanent progress. WHEN YOU REACH FOR A BLOCKED APP A Break Pass makes temporary access a deliberate choice. Name your reason, hold continuously for 10 seconds, then choose 15, 30, or 60 minutes. Releasing early keeps protection on. Review the consequence before confirming: one pass is used and your active streak ends. Only the requested app, category, or website opens temporarily; other protected selections stay shielded. Earned blocks, outposts, and unlocked worlds are never spent or lost. WATCH KEPT TIME TURN INTO SOMETHING - The first completed Focus Now or Schedule session for each day earns eight permanent blocks and one streak day. - Further sessions add to your minutes and session totals, not another block reward. Daily Limits do not earn blocks or complete the daily quest. - Blocks build a voxel world that grows as you do. Unlock visual worlds through streak milestones. - Interrupted sessions do not count as completed focus. Active schedule removal or deactivation also requires a cooldown. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your app and category choices are handled by Apple and stay on your device. Paused never decodes or uploads the names of the apps you pick. Schedules, streaks, and progress live on your iPhone and keep working offline. BUILT PROPERLY iPhone and iPad, portrait and landscape. Dynamic Type and VoiceOver supported. Reduce Motion respected. PAUSED PLUS ACCESS Choose a recurring weekly or yearly subscription, or one-time lifetime access, from the plans shown in the app. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled; manage or cancel them in your Apple Account settings. Lifetime access is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Blocks and worlds are earned through focus, not bought. Your first saved protection plan stays inactive until Plus access is confirmed. Terms of Use: https://paused.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://paused.app/privacy
Step2Scroll
Read full descriptionHide full description
Every step you take earns screen time. When the balance runs out, your chosen app(s) lock(s). Walk more to unlock them. Step2Scroll is the app blocker that makes your daily steps the currency for app access. No willpower. No timers to set. Just walk. How it works: - Walk -> earn seconds. Earn from 0.1s/step up to 1s/step (adjustable in settings). - Choose which apps to block (currently max one app in free version). Block for example social media to avoid doomscrolling. - When your balance hits zero, blocked apps are locked by iOS Screen Time automatically. - Spend your balance to unlock them for 5, 15 or 30 minutes. - When your unlock session expires, the app(s) are locked again. Tap "Lock Now" any time to lock early. - Track spending in activity tab. Step2Scroll never sends your data anywhere. Step counts come from Apple HealthKit and stay on your device. App blocking runs through Apple's own Screen Time API (Family Controls) - we never see which apps you choose or how you use them. Erase your device-stored data in settings. The app uses iCloud Key-Value Store to sync your daily unlock-time balance across your own devices. This data is stored in your personal iCloud account and is never accessed by us. Stop doomscrolling. Start walking. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Step2Scroll at every 2 days against Screen Time Control's every 4 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Step2Scroll sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Screen Time Control ships an update every 4 weeks, Step2Scroll every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Screen Time Control | Step2Scroll |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 36 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Worth A Try LLC | Jona Elias Fengler |
In-app purchases
Screen Time Control
- Paused Plus Weekly$6.997 Days
- Paused Plus Annual Offer$29.991 Year
- Paused Plus Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Paused Plus Lifetime$79.99
Step2Scroll
- Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
- Pro Yearly$12.991 Year









