Comparison

Para vs reason

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

Head to head
About

Para

This app uses a social contract to help you break bad app habits. Your friends act as gatekeepers, controlling access to apps you want to block. You must request permission from them to regain access, fostering genuine accountability.

Highlights
  • Friend-gated app blocking
  • Accountability through friends
  • Screen time stats and trends
  • Streaks and time-saved tracking
  • QR code and SMS friend invites
Features
Read full description

The free app blocker where a friend holds the key. Para locks the apps you scroll too much, and only a friend you pick can let you back in early. No passcode to guess, no setting to flip off at midnight. You've set screen time limits before. You've also tapped "Ignore Limit" fifteen seconds later. That's not a willpower problem, it's a design problem: when you're the only one who can undo the block, undoing it is always one tap away. Para hands that tap to someone else. HOW IT WORKS • Pick the apps that eat your day: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, games, anything. • Choose a friend to hold the key. They get Para free, too. • Want back in early? Ask for the time you need and say why, for the whole block or just one app. Your friend gets a notification and says yes or no. • They can end an unlock early, and they approve it if you want a block turned off. BLOCK YOUR WAY • Block now: lock apps for 30 minutes, an hour, or until tonight. • Schedules: weeknights, work hours, bedtime, or a custom schedule with your own days and times. • Daily limits: pick a cap, and the apps lock when you hit it. • Places: apps lock when you arrive at home, the office, the gym or bed, and unlock when you leave. • Mindful mode: no hard block, just a pause that asks how long you need before the app opens. HARD TO CHEAT • Strict mode: no ending a block early yourself. • Lock app deletion: deleting Para to get around a block needs your friend's OK. • Every early unlock goes through a real person, so the easy way out isn't easy anymore. BETTER TOGETHER • Hold the key for your friends, too, and keep each other honest. • Add friends by username, from your contacts, or with a QR code. • Build a streak of days you didn't need to ask. • See your real screen time, your most-used apps, and your daily average. • Prefer to go it alone? Solo mode lets you hold your own key. WHO IT'S FOR • Anyone who wants to stop doomscrolling and spend less time on their phone. • People who have tried Screen Time or other app blockers and kept turning them off. • Students during exams, and anyone who needs focus at work. • Couples, roommates and friends who want an accountability partner for screen time. • Night scrollers who want their phone out of bed. FREE, WITH NO ADS Every feature is free. There's no paywall and nothing locked. If you'd like to help keep it that way, you can back Para with an optional monthly Supporter plan or a one-time gift. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Para uses Apple's Screen Time framework, so your usage data stays on your iPhone. Your friend sees your requests, never what you do on your phone. Get your evenings back. Hand a friend the key. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ https://www.parascroll.com/privacy https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/

About

reason

This app helps you regain control over your screen time by requiring you to state a reason and set a time limit before accessing distracting applications. It introduces a moment of friction to discourage mindless app usage and reduce overall phone engagement.

Highlights
  • App blocking
  • Reason-based access
  • Time limits
  • Reduces screen addiction
  • Discourages mindless usage
Features
Read full description

Choose which apps are a problem for you and Reason will block them. When you want to use them, you'll have to enter a reason and set yourself a time limit. Often you'll just close these apps instead of entering a reason, but even if you don't, your open app will be blocked once your time limit runs out. If you're struggling with screen addiction, this app is for you. If you find yourself opening apps for no apparent reason, we're on the case. If you open messages from friends and then get stuck doomscrolling, we've got you covered. It's a small moment of friction, but by pausing and stating your reason for opening distracting apps, you'll find yourself spending less time glued to your phone. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Para4 screens
reason4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Para at 3.9 against reason's 1.0. Para also leads on ratings volume (7 vs 1) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). reason's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Para sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.00 per month and reason sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Para holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Para has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Para ships an update fortnightly, reason every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Para versus reason: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterParareason
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (7 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPilas Studios LLCThomas Woodruff

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Para

Subscriptions7
  • Para Supporter $1$1.001 Month
  • Pantalla Premium14 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Para Supporter $5$5.001 Month
Show 4 more
  • Para Supporter $10$10.001 Month
  • Para Supporter $15$15.001 Month
  • Para Supporter $20$20.001 Month
  • Pantalla Premium (Annual)14 Days trial$29.991 Year
2 purchases

reason

Subscriptions2
  • Reason Premium3 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Reason Premium7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Para free?
Para is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is reason free?
reason is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Para or reason?
Para is rated higher. Para averages 3.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while reason averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Para or reason have ads?
Para shows ads; reason does not.
Which is updated more often, Para or reason?
Para ships an update fortnightly, and reason every 10 days. Most recently, Para was updated on October 28, 2026 and reason on October 28, 2026.

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