Comparison

Borrow vs Screen Time Control

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

Head to head
About

Borrow

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting daily limits and making each unlock a deliberate choice. It offers features like Focus Mode, customizable time budgets, and an Allowlist for essential apps. Track your usage patterns and take back your time.

Highlights
  • Daily time budget
  • Focus Mode
  • Allowlist for essential apps
  • Protected and Strict modes
  • Live Activity countdown
  • Siri Shortcuts
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You already know. You pick it up without thinking. Another evening gone. You meant to put it down an hour ago. Borrow doesn't judge you. It gives you a daily budget and makes every unlock a conscious choice. Focus Mode blocks everything on your phone. When you actually need it, you borrow time. You choose how long, you choose why, and when the time's up everything locks again. No streaks. No guilt. Just a limit that means something. Set your daily budget anywhere from 1 minute to 8 hours. Every borrow counts against it. When it's gone, it's gone. Resets at midnight. Each unlock asks you two things: how long, and why. Talk to someone. Something specific. Just need a break. The reason matters, and over time the patterns become obvious. If you need Focus Mode to actually stick, you can set it to Protected mode with a 30-second cooldown before you can turn it off, or go full Strict and lock yourself in until your commitment ends. No exceptions. Your bank app, phone calls, Maps, anything you need always available through the Allowlist. Sessions let you unlock specific apps for a set window. Schedules handle recurring blocks for work hours or evenings. There's a Live Activity countdown on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, home screen widgets, and Siri Shortcuts if you need them. Your Screen Time data never leaves your device. No servers, no account, no analytics, no ads. Take back your time. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Protected mode, Strict mode, and the Allowlist require Borrow Pro, an optional subscription.

About

Screen Time Control

Regain control of your phone usage with smart focus sessions and app blocking. Create custom schedules and receive reminders to reduce distractions, improve concentration, and build healthier digital habits.

Highlights
  • App blocking
  • Focus sessions
  • Customizable schedules
  • Personalized reminders
  • Screen time reports
  • Stickerbook for motivation
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Research shows that people spend over 23 years of their lives on their phones. Yet the time you want for self-growth, hobbies, exercise, and real-life moments is already there—it’s just quietly taken by scrolling, notifications, and app hopping. Blucky helps you take back control. With smart focus sessions, app blocking, customizable schedules, and personalized reminders, you can reclaim your attention, reduce distractions, and use your time intentionally. Even small daily changes add up to years of meaningful time regained over a lifetime. FEATURES App Blocking & Focus Sessions Stop wasting time on distracting apps. Block the apps that interrupt your work, study, or personal projects, and create dedicated focus sessions to stay fully concentrated. Smart Schedules & Custom Modes Automatically block apps at key times—mornings, work hours, or before sleep. Build routines like Work Focus, Study Time, Morning Routine, Family Time, or Digital Detox with settings tailored for each situation. Attention Support & Daily Routines Blucky helps users with concentration difficulties, including ADHD. Set work hours, sleep, and personal routines so your phone supports your lifestyle instead of stealing your time. Motivation & Reminders Stay encouraged with Blucky’s Stickerbook, celebrating milestones and progress. Receive timely nudges whenever you get distracted or hit your screen time limit to maintain consistency. Screen Time Reports Track your screen time, focus sessions, and offline moments. Clear reports help you understand your habits and measure your progress. BENEFITS • Reduce daily screen time • Improve productivity and concentration • Build healthier digital habits • Avoid social media distractions • Create better routines for work, study, and sleep • Stay more present offline and in real life PRIVATE & SAFE Blucky uses Apple’s Screen Time API to monitor and block apps securely. Your data stays private and is processed directly on your device. We do not collect or store personal usage data. BLUCKY PREMIUM We’re confident you’ll love Blucky. Start your 7-day free trial. Experience distraction-free focus and take control of your screen time. A yearly subscription unlocks everything—uninterrupted focus, healthier digital habits, and more time for what truly matters. Privacy Policy: http://drumpadapps.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: http://drumpadapps.com/terms-of-use If you have questions or feedback, contact us at support@dpmapps.com.

Screenshots

Borrow4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Screen Time Control at none against Borrow's shown. Borrow's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Borrow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Screen Time Control sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $59.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Borrow against 4.7 for Screen Time Control. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 9 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Borrow ships an update every 2 days, Screen Time Control every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Borrow versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBorrowScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (16 ratings) — better4.7 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.617.6
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPoteo de la unaDPM APPS LP

Customer experience

Borrow

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%

Screen Time Control

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Borrow

Subscriptions2
  • Pro3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year
1 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Access7 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Borrow free?
Borrow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Borrow or Screen Time Control?
Borrow is rated higher. Borrow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.7 from 9 ratings.
Do Borrow or Screen Time Control have ads?
Borrow shows ads; Screen Time Control does not.
Which is updated more often, Borrow or Screen Time Control?
Borrow ships an update every 2 days, and Screen Time Control every 2 weeks. Most recently, Borrow was updated on October 5, 2026 and Screen Time Control on October 16, 2026.

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