Phoneless vs Beacon
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Phoneless
This app encourages you to walk more by converting your daily steps into minutes you can spend in distracting apps. Set a step goal and choose which apps to limit. Once your minutes are used up, you'll need to move to earn more time.
- Convert steps to app time
- Limit distracting apps
- Set daily step goals
- Earn minutes by walking
- Subscription for full access
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Walk more, scroll less. Phoneless turns your daily steps into the time you’re allowed in distracting apps. How it works - Choose the apps you want to limit (e.g., TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat). - Set your daily step goal. - Phoneless converts your steps into minutes you can spend in those apps. Run out of minutes? Time to move. This feature is available with a Phoneless subscription, which includes access to all app functions and regular updates. Terms of Use: https://glowupllc.com/#phoneless-tos Privacy Policy: https://glowupllc.com/#phoneless-pp
Beacon
Enhance your productivity with timed focus sessions and app blocking. Connect with friends for shared accountability and challenges to stay on track. Track your progress and build consistent focus habits.
- Timed focus sessions
- App blocking via Screen Time
- Recurring scheduled sessions
- Focus streak and stats
- Home Screen widget and Siri Shortcuts
- Social accountability with friends
- Monk Mode for deep focus
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Beacon helps you put your phone down and get meaningful work done—with optional accountability from people you trust. FREE FOCUS TOOLS • Timed focus sessions — pick 25, 45, or 60 minutes (or custom) and block distracting apps with Apple's Screen Time • Recurring scheduled sessions — set daily or weekly focus windows that start automatically • Focus streak & stats — track completed sessions, minutes, and how consistently you show up • Home Screen widget & Siri Shortcuts — start focus from your widget or with a voice command • Custom shield screen — a calm reminder when you try to open a blocked app FOCUS WITH FRIENDS (BEACON PRO) Upgrade to Beacon Pro to unlock social accountability: • Circles — create or join private groups with friends • Peer Beacons — send a focus request to a friend; they can join your session • Monk Mode — open-ended, no-timer deep focus, solo or as a challenge with friends • Shared schedules — invite circle members to recurring focus windows • Circle leaderboard — compare streaks, completed sessions, and focus minutes Beacon Pro is optional. Personal timed focus and your own scheduled sessions work without a subscription. SUBSCRIPTION Beacon Pro is $5.99/month (price may vary by region). Eligible new subscribers may start with a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Subscription auto-renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. REQUIREMENTS Beacon uses Apple's Screen Time APIs to block apps you choose. You'll be asked to grant Screen Time permission during setup. Beacon does not see your app usage history—only the apps you select to block. PRIVACY & SUPPORT Privacy Policy: https://beaconfocus.app/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://beaconfocus.app/terms.html Questions? Visit beaconfocus.app
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Beacon at none against Phoneless's shown. Phoneless's advantage is ratings volume (12 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. Phoneless sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Beacon sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Phoneless against 5.0 for Beacon. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phoneless has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Phoneless ships an update every 4 weeks, Beacon fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Phoneless | Beacon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (12 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 18.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Glow Up | John Cain |
Customer experience
Phoneless
Beacon
In-app purchases
Phoneless
- Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
- Monthly$17.991 Month
- Annual subscription$29.991 Year
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- Annual access7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Annual7 Days trial$69.991 Year
Beacon
- Beacon Pro7 Days trial$5.991 Month
