# Spool vs RelockIn

The clearest difference is rating: Spool at 4.4 against RelockIn's 3.7. Spool also leads on ratings volume (172 vs 3). RelockIn's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spool sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and RelockIn sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Spool holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spool has 172 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Spool's written reviews are positive against 100% of RelockIn's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Spool ships an update weekly, RelockIn every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spool | RelockIn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-screen-time-control/id6749428484/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relockin-app-limits-plus-browser/id6759315272/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **172** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 71.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 406 MB | 277 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Spooli Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830399976) | [Joel Happ](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878071677) |

## 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 |


### RelockIn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relockin-app-limits-plus-browser/id6759315272)

This app helps you reclaim your time by removing distractions from social media and YouTube. Set custom time limits for apps and websites to ensure intentional scrolling and protect your focus.

**Highlights:** Remove Shorts, Reels, and ads, Set timed unlock sessions, Create schedules for focus/sleep, Block clickbait and algorithmic feeds, Customize social media content, Use custom challenges for focus, Private and ad-free browsing

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RelockIn Pro - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| RelockIn Yearly | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spool free?

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

### Is RelockIn free?

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

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

Spool is rated higher. Spool averages 4.4 out of 5 from 172 ratings, while RelockIn averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Spool or RelockIn have ads?

Spool shows ads; RelockIn does not.

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

Spool ships an update weekly, and RelockIn every 5 days. Most recently, Spool was updated on October 22, 2026 and RelockIn on October 22, 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.*