Comparison

Screen Time Limit vs Arc

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Screen Time Limit

This app helps you build a healthier relationship with your phone by setting limits on app usage and tracking your digital habits. It offers flexible blocking modes, streaks, and a visual representation of your progress to encourage focus and reduce distractions.

Highlights
  • Set daily time limits for apps
  • Limit app opens
  • Schedule app blocking
  • Instant distraction-free sessions
  • Track usage insights
  • Build streaks for consistency
  • Visualize progress with Focus Garden
Read full description

OnZen—Screen Time Balance & Digital Wellbeing Break free from endless scrolling and take control of your digital life with OnZen—the app that helps you build a healthier relationship with your phone. Whether you want to spend less time on social media or simply be more intentional with your daily habits, OnZen makes it easy to stay balanced, productive, and focused on what matters most. Just choose which apps to limit, set how long and when you want to use them, and let OnZen handle the rest. Why OnZen Works Traditional app blockers simply lock you out. OnZen helps you understand your habits, reduce screen time naturally, and build lasting awareness. The result is less distraction, deeper focus, and time that feels truly your own. Daily Screen Time Goal Start with a realistic daily goal based on your current habits. If you usually spend 4 hours a day on your phone, OnZen will suggest cutting that by just 30 minutes—a small, achievable step that compounds over time. When you go over your daily screen time limit, your goal card on the home screen changes color, helping you stay aware and accountable without pressure. Smart App Limits Stay in control with flexible blocking modes designed for real life: • Set Time Limits—limit total daily use on individual apps (e.g., 30 minutes on TikTok). • Set Open Limits—limit how many times you can open a particular app. • Create Schedules—block selected apps at certain hours or on specific days. • Block Now—start a distraction-free session instantly anytime you need to focus. All modes are fully customizable, helping you create the perfect balance between focus and freedom. Stay Consistent with Streaks & your Focus Garden Every day you stay within your goals strengthens your streak. If you exceed your limit, the streak resets, motivating you to stay consistent and keep building better habits. Your personal Focus Garden turns your progress into something you can see and grow: each productive hour or balanced day plants a new tree, symbolizing your focus taking root. You’ll collect trees for: • Focus Hours • Days with OnZen • Consecutive streak days Clear Usage Insights See exactly where your time goes. OnZen tracks which apps you use most and divides them into Productive or Distracting categories that you can edit anytime. With simple, clear analytics, you’ll understand your daily patterns so you can take back control of your attention. Privacy and Security Your data remains private and securely stored on your device. We do not save your information and will never share your details with any third party. PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION • Subscribe to Premium to get unlimited access to certain app features. • Subscriptions are billed automatically at the rate of your selected plan. All personal data is protected in accordance with the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: https://epicscale.io/onzen_ios/terms https://epicscale.io/onzen_ios/privacy

About

Arc

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting session limits and providing smart nudges for your to-do lists. It offers advanced analytics to understand your scrolling habits and offers AI-powered recommendations for improvement.

Highlights
  • Session limits for automatic breaks
  • Smart nudges for to-do reminders
  • Integrated to-do lists
  • Advanced session analytics
  • AI-powered recommendations
  • Bedtime mode with sleep reminders
Features
Read full description

THE ARC DIFFERENCE Arc doesn't just block apps - it redirects your attention with a powerful three-part system: - Session Limits: Automatic breaks when a session has reached the set limit. No more unintentional doomscroll sessions. Daily limits are not helpful when the problem is getting sucked into the scroll hole and not realizing it. That's why we built session limits! - Smart Nudges: Gentle reminders about your to-dos while you scroll - Integrated To-Do Lists: Track what really matters, all in one place - Advanced Analytics: Track every session with precision. See exactly when you close apps yourself (exits) vs. when the timer saves you (lockouts). Discover your most addicting apps through unblock tracking, identify your best and worst self-control patterns, and get AI-powered recommendations tailored to YOUR behavior. No more guessing where to improve, the data shows you exactly which apps need stricter limits, where you're building great habits, and actionable steps to reduce your screen time based on real patterns, not generic advice or behavior patterns. HOW IT WORKS Select your distracting apps (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) Add your daily tasks and goals Get Nudged with your to-do tasks when you're mindlessly scrolling Session Limits create automatic breaks after extended sessions Watch scrolling turn into productivity BUILT FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE Set your bedtime to switch from productivity Nudges to Sleep Reminders. Arc adapts to help you make better use of your time all day long. PERFECT FOR: People who unconsciously doomscroll and want to stop Professionals who lose focus to social media Students procrastinating on assignments Anyone who wants to build healthy daily habits Scroll Goblins People tired of feeling guilty after doomscrolling START SEEING RESULTS Reclaim hours of your day Complete the tasks you've been avoiding Track scrolling habits through intelligent insights Build habits that stick Rebuild a healthy relationship with social media Feel accomplished, not guilty Download Arc and turn scrolling into productivity. Your goals are waiting. Terms of Use (EULA): https://arcapp.io/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://arcapp.io/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Screen Time Limit4 screens
Arc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Arc at none against Screen Time Limit's shown. Arc also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.1). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Limit sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Arc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Arc holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Screen Time Limit's written reviews are positive against 64% of Arc's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Screen Time Limit versus Arc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time LimitArc
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (28 ratings)4.4 (25 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews63.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings28 — better25
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEpicScale IncArc Labs LLC (MT)

Customer experience

Screen Time Limit

All ratings28 ratings
Positive78.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

Arc

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Screen Time Limit

Subscriptions6
  • Weekly Premium$5.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium$6.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium3 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 3 more
  • Monthly premium access2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Monthly premium access3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Yearly premium access2 variants$39.991 Year
3 purchases

Arc

Subscriptions3
  • Arc Pro (Weekly)$5.997 Days
  • Arc Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Arc Pro (Annual)3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Screen Time Limit free?
Screen Time Limit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arc free?
Arc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Screen Time Limit or Arc?
Arc is rated higher. Screen Time Limit averages 4.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Arc averages 4.4 from 25 ratings.
Do Screen Time Limit or Arc have ads?
Screen Time Limit shows ads; Arc does not.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Limit or Arc?
Screen Time Limit ships an update every 2 weeks, and Arc every 2 weeks. Most recently, Screen Time Limit was updated on September 8, 2026 and Arc on September 23, 2026.

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