Comparison

App Blocker vs Mirror

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

Head to head
About

App Blocker

Reclaim your screen time and build better habits with this app. It helps you step away from distracting applications and create intentional breaks using native system features for a private and reliable experience.

Highlights
  • One-tap focus breaks
  • Smart scheduling for recurring breaks
  • App and category blocking
  • Gentle reminders for healthy breaks
  • Privacy-first insights and charts
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
Features
Read full description

Focus Pal - Take Back Your Screen Time Reclaim focus. Build better habits. Feel in control. Focus helps you step away from distracting apps and create intentional screen breaks - on your terms - using native Screen Time capabilities for a seamless, private, and reliable experience. Why You’ll Love It - Calm the noise and be present in moments that matter. - Make focused work (or true rest) effortless with one‑tap breaks. - See your progress with clear, privacy‑first insights. - Works with iOS Screen Time for trustworthy app shielding. What Focus Does - One‑Tap Focus: Instantly shield distracting apps you choose for a set duration. - Smart Schedules: Plan recurring breaks that fit your day (morning focus, evening wind‑down, deep‑work blocks). - App & Category Control: Select specific apps or entire categories to reduce temptation and save your attention. - Gentle Reminders: Nudge yourself to take healthy breaks before fatigue or doom‑scrolling kicks in. - Clear Insights: Track time saved and trends with beautiful, native charts (iOS 16+). - Widgets: Start a break or check progress right from your Home or Lock Screen. How It Works 1. Choose apps you find distracting. 2. Start a Focus (now or on a schedule). 3. Your chosen apps are gently shielded during the break. 4. Review insights to fine‑tune your routine and stay consistent. Thoughtfully Designed - Privacy‑First: No accounts, no ads - your data stays on your device. - Native & Lightweight: Built for fast, reliable performance. - Mindful Defaults: Sensible presets to help you start strong without overthinking. Perfect For - Focused work and study sessions. - Tech‑lite mornings and restful evenings. - Reducing social media or news overload. - Parents and caregivers encouraging healthy device habits on shared devices. Privacy & Safety - Built on Apple’s Screen Time framework for secure, system‑level app shielding. - Data stays on your device. - You control what’s shielded and when. Requirements - iPhone or iPad running iOS/iPadOS 16 or later. - Screen Time authorization is required to enable app shielding. A Quick Note Focus shields the apps you select during your breaks. You can always adjust which apps are affected, tweak schedules, or pause/resume with a tap. Take a breath. Take a break. Take back your time with Focus. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Mirror

Features
Read full description

Mirror is an app blocker that helps you stop doomscrolling and cut your screen time, without deleting your apps. It puts a pause before the apps that pull you in, holds them at bedtime and once your limit is up, and makes your rules hard to undo in a weak moment. FREE • A pause before the apps you choose: take a breath, then close the app or continue for a few minutes. In a study of 280 people, a pause like this cut how often they opened those apps by 57%. • Daily limits or a full block for up to 3 apps • Bedtime, which holds your apps at night • Quick Block: hold any apps for up to 12 hours, with a countdown on the Lock Screen • Block websites you choose • No Take-Backs: a rule can't be loosened while it's holding • A friend's key: someone you trust holds a code, and loosening a rule takes them • Today's screen time, pickups and busiest hours, a streak, and a weekly review • Reminders with quiet hours, and widgets for your Home Screen MIRROR PREMIUM • Rules for every app, not just 3 • Work hours and schedules of your own, on the days you choose • A daily screen time goal for the whole phone • Strict mode: blocks you can't end early • Lock In: for up to two weeks, your rules only get stricter • Routines: saved Quick Blocks you start from a widget, a Shortcut, the Action button or Control Center • A pause that gets firmer, a limit on Continues, and an adult website filter • Four weeks of trends PRIVATE BY DESIGN Mirror uses Apple's Screen Time framework. Your activity, history and answers stay on your iPhone. No account and no tracking. Purchases are recorded with RevenueCat under an anonymous ID, only so we can see how subscriptions are doing. Requires an iPhone and Screen Time access. Mirror Premium is a yearly subscription (with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers), a monthly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation, or when a free trial ends. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period; manage or cancel in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions. If Premium ends, Mirror carries on as the free version; you never have to pay to have an app unblocked. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Mirror Terms: https://mirrorscreentime.app/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://mirrorscreentime.app/privacy/

Screenshots

App Blocker4 screens
Mirror4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: App Blocker at every 4 days against Mirror's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. App Blocker sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Mirror sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

App Blocker ships an update every 4 days, Mirror every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
App Blocker versus Mirror: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApp BlockerMirror
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (74 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings74 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.017.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size268 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperManuel FessenIan Kiprotich

In-app purchases

9 purchases

App Blocker

Subscriptions7
  • Pro7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Pro$3.991 Month
  • Pro7 Days trial$4.997 Days
Show 4 more
  • Pro$4.991 Month
  • Pro7 Days trial$12.991 Year
  • Pro7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Pro$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • 60 Credit Pack$0.99
  • Pro$34.99
3 purchases

Mirror

Subscriptions2
  • Mirror Premium Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Mirror Premium Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Mirror Premium Lifetime$69.99

Questions

Is App Blocker free?
App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mirror free?
Mirror is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do App Blocker or Mirror have ads?
Neither App Blocker nor Mirror shows ads.
Which is updated more often, App Blocker or Mirror?
App Blocker ships an update every 4 days, and Mirror every 2 weeks. Most recently, App Blocker was updated on October 30, 2026 and Mirror on October 29, 2026.

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