Comparison

Screen Time Control vs EscapeLoop

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 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.

Highlights
  • Scheduled app blocking
  • On-demand focus sessions
  • Focus Gate for accidental unlocks
  • Virtual world building with earned blocks
  • Privacy-focused design
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read 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

About

EscapeLoop

Features
Read full description

EscapeLoop helps you break the doom-scrolling loop with calm, intentional friction. Choose the apps that pull you in, set daily tasks that matter, and create a personal “Why” page with your own motivation, photo, and reminders. When distractions are blocked, EscapeLoop gives you a mindful pause instead of a shame-based warning. Built with Apple’s Screen Time tools, EscapeLoop helps you protect your focus while keeping everything private and local to your device. Features Block distracting apps using iOS Screen Time controls Create daily or one-time tasks to finish before scrolling Add your personal “Why” for motivation Pause shields briefly when needed Track today’s focus, tasks, and unlock time Customize soft or strict focus modes Private by design, with no account required EscapeLoop is not about guilt. It is about making the better choice easier to remember. Take back five minutes, then another. Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
EscapeLoop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Screen Time Control at every 4 weeks against EscapeLoop's every 2 months. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and EscapeLoop sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update every 4 weeks, EscapeLoop every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Screen Time Control versus EscapeLoop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlEscapeLoop
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWorth A Try LLCOna Pacholo Asis

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions3
  • Paused Plus Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Paused Plus Annual Offer$29.991 Year
  • Paused Plus Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Paused Plus Lifetime$79.99
1 purchases

EscapeLoop

One-time1
  • EscapeLoop Pro$0.99

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EscapeLoop free?
EscapeLoop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time Control or EscapeLoop have ads?
Neither Screen Time Control nor EscapeLoop shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or EscapeLoop?
Screen Time Control ships an update every 4 weeks, and EscapeLoop every 2 months. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 15, 2026 and EscapeLoop on October 17, 2026.

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