# Spool vs AppTimeOut

The clearest difference is monetization model: AppTimeOut at freemium against Spool's subscription. AppTimeOut also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and ads (none vs shown). Spool's advantage is ratings volume (171 vs 1) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spool sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and AppTimeOut sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AppTimeOut holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spool has 171 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Spool ships an update every 10 days, AppTimeOut every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spool | AppTimeOut |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (171 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-screen-time-control/id6749428484/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apptimeout/id6755306490/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **171** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 73.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 406 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Prafull Sharma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830399976) | [Harry Huynh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853045478) |

## What reviewers say

### Spool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-screen-time-control/id6749428484)

This app helps you break free from excessive screen time by making you pause and justify your phone usage. It uses research-backed techniques to disrupt habit loops and offers instant blocking for apps and websites to help you reclaim focus and improve mental clarity.

**Highlights:** Justify phone usage before scrolling, AI-powered trigger insights, Identify peak phone usage times, Instant app and website blocking, Reclaim focus and mental clarity

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spool Features Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Spool Weekly Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Full Access: Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Spool Premium Annual | $25.00 | per year |
| Full Access: Limited Time Offer | $34.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Yearly | $44.99 | per year |


### AppTimeOut

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apptimeout/id6755306490)

This app helps users break phone addiction by providing accountability features like friend-assisted unlocking and scheduled blocking. It allows users to block distracting apps and websites to improve focus and reclaim their time.

**Highlights:** Buddy Lock for accountability, Scheduled blocking of apps/websites, Timer-based blocking, Block any app or website, Safari website blocking, Screen Time integration

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spool free?

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

### Is AppTimeOut free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Spool or AppTimeOut?

AppTimeOut is rated higher. Spool averages 4.5 out of 5 from 171 ratings, while AppTimeOut averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Spool or AppTimeOut have ads?

Spool shows ads; AppTimeOut does not.

### Which is updated more often, Spool or AppTimeOut?

Spool ships an update every 10 days, and AppTimeOut every 5 weeks. Most recently, Spool was updated on October 17, 2026 and AppTimeOut on October 7, 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.*