Comparison

Intent Note vs Spinbrek

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

Head to head
About

Intent Note

Capture thoughts and intentions quickly with a focus on what matters. This app helps you avoid distractions by setting intentions before device use and offers instant note-taking with smart tagging and review features. It provides a calm, private experience designed to help you remember why you're using your device.

Highlights
  • Set intentions before device usage
  • Instant, keyboard-free note-taking
  • Smart tagging and search operators
  • Calendar-aware agenda and natural language creation
  • Review sessions with a reels-like interface
  • Lock screen widgets for intentions and notes
  • Daily streak building for intentions
Read full description

- Set an intention, capture notes fast, and gently review what matters. - Intent Note is perfect for those who want to retain meaningful information fast without  being overwhelmed by unnecessary info cluttered in most note-taking and to-do apps. Set an intention before you scroll—capture notes fast and review them when it matters. Intent Note pairs one‑tap digital and off-screen intentions with focus‑friendly widgets and a calendar‑aware agenda so you remember why you picked up your phone—and put it down sooner. Features & Benefits - Set an intention before device usage. Wanted to just check your email?  Take a moment to declare that and avoid autopilot behavior afterwards. - Intentions can also be goals that are obtainable but also slightly challenging. Afterwards, log what you noticed and use it as motivation during the next intention. - Instant notes: Launch to autofocus; press Return to save—no keyboard flicker. - Smart tagging & search: Inline #tags, auto date; operators #tag, @date, ! star. - Filters that fit your day: All, Today, Starred, and sort by Tags! - Review Session: Scroll through favorited notes in a reels-like fashion! - Calendar‑aware agenda: “In 2h” and “tomorrow 9a” labels; natural‑language create. - Helpful summaries: Choose when to receive a summary of the day ahead and what to look forward to tomorrow! - Widgets: Lock Screen widgets for Intentions and one note of your choosing! - Delightfully calm: Liquid‑glass cards on device running iOS 26, soft haptics, subtle animations on note review completion - Streaks: Build a daily streak for Intentions with a 1×/week skip grace. - Controls that respect you: Summary time, streak grace, review cadence, optional iCloud sync, toggle. Trust & Privacy - Private by design: No ads. - Minimal analytics: Opt‑in only; collects a small set of non‑identifying events to improve experience to capitalize on user-favorite features. Requirements & Permissions - Requires iOS 17 or later. - Optional: Calendar access for agenda and event creation; notifications for summaries and reminders. Download Intent Note, set your first Intention, and capture your next thought in seconds! Terms of Use: https://quixoteapps.github.io/intentnote-site/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://quixoteapps.github.io/intentnote-site/privacy/

About

Spinbrek

Regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting applications. Schedule automatic blocking for work or study, or initiate manual sessions. Earn rewards for focused time and watch your productivity improve.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Customizable schedules
  • Manual blocking sessions
  • Earn stars for focus
  • Flexible controls
  • Simple setup
Features
Read full description

Spinbrek is the only screen time control app blocker that ACTUALLY helps. It's aesthetic enough for your desk setup and strict enough to keep you off your phone. When the urge to scroll hits, spin the wheel instead. Not a fan of pastel colors? There's a dark mode as well! SPIN INSTEAD OF SCROLL When you try to open a blocked app, Spinbrek gives you a moment to pause. Spin the wheel and land on something better to do: stretch, read, tidy up, or anything on your own list. If you have ADHD or deal with decision paralysis, you know the feeling: you put the phone down, then freeze because you can't pick what to do instead. The wheel makes that choice for you. One spin, one clear next step, no overthinking. Small wins add up, and breaking the scroll habit one spin at a time can change your whole day. YOUR WHEEL, YOUR RULES - Add your own tasks or use a ready-made to-do list - Paste a whole list at once - Strict Mode limits your spins so you commit to your pick FLEXIBLE CONTROLS - Block specific apps or all apps at once - Custom schedules for any time of day - Lock an App: limit how many times a day you can unlock it - Daily time limits per app - Pomodoro Mode - Take short breaks without losing your session - Track your focus session right from your Lock Screen with Live Activities PRIVATE BY DESIGN Spinbrek uses Apple's Screen Time framework to block apps. Your app usage stays on your device, and no account or sign-up is needed. TAKE BACK YOUR TIME No complicated setup. Block the scroll, spin the wheel, and do something that actually matters. Start your 7-day free trial today! ---------------- Terms of Service: https://eaglenguyen.github.io/pausenow-legal/terms_of_service Privacy Policy: https://eaglenguyen.github.io/pausenow-legal/privacy_policy

Screenshots

Intent Note4 screens
Spinbrek4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Intent Note at 5.0 against Spinbrek's 4.3. Spinbrek's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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. Intent Note sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Spinbrek sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Intent Note holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Intent Note ships an update every 2 weeks, Spinbrek every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Intent Note versus Spinbrek: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIntent NoteSpinbrek
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better4.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings33
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB161 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDominick GonzalezEagle Nguyen

Customer experience

Intent Note

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Spinbrek

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Intent Note

Subscriptions1
  • Intent Note Pro$4.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlock$49.99
3 purchases

Spinbrek

Subscriptions2
  • pause now Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • pause now Pro — Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • pause now Premium — Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Intent Note free?
Intent Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spinbrek free?
Spinbrek is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Intent Note or Spinbrek?
Intent Note is rated higher. Intent Note averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Spinbrek averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Intent Note or Spinbrek have ads?
Neither Intent Note nor Spinbrek shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Intent Note or Spinbrek?
Intent Note ships an update every 2 weeks, and Spinbrek every 5 days. Most recently, Intent Note was updated on October 19, 2026 and Spinbrek on October 28, 2026.

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