# Borrow vs Merit.

The clearest difference is ads: Merit. at none against Borrow's shown. Borrow's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Borrow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Merit. sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Borrow ships an update every 2 days, Merit. every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Borrow | Merit. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrow-screen-time-control/id6749846085/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **16** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 26 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Poteo de la una](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813543081) | [Merit Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885067510) |

## What reviewers say

### Borrow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borrow-screen-time-control/id6749846085)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $49.99 | per year |


### Merit.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merit/id6760570469)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Merit Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Merit Pro Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Merit Pro Lifetime | $149.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Borrow free?

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

### Is Merit. free?

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

### Do Borrow or Merit. have ads?

Borrow shows ads; Merit. does not.

### Which is updated more often, Borrow or Merit.?

Borrow ships an update every 2 days, and Merit. every 3 days. Most recently, Borrow was updated on August 14, 2026 and Merit. on September 13, 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.*