# Borrow vs Half Keyboard

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Half Keyboard at none against Borrow's 2. Half Keyboard also leads on ads (none vs shown). Borrow's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Borrow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Half Keyboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Borrow ships an update every 2 days, Half Keyboard every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Borrow | Half Keyboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 26 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Poteo de la una](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813543081) | [dick hartog](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791685913) |

## 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 |


### Half Keyboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/half-keyboard-compact/id6794408737)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Borrow free?

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

### Is Half Keyboard free?

Half Keyboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Borrow or Half Keyboard have ads?

Borrow shows ads; Half Keyboard does not.

### Which is updated more often, Borrow or Half Keyboard?

Borrow ships an update every 2 days, and Half Keyboard every 4 weeks. Most recently, Borrow was updated on October 5, 2026 and Half Keyboard on October 14, 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.*