Comparison

unhookd vs Arc

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

Head to head
About

unhookd

This app helps you break phone habit by blocking distracting apps by default. You intentionally choose when to access them through scheduled slots or quick peeks, promoting focus and mindful usage.

Highlights
  • Default-locked apps
  • Scheduled access slots
  • Mindful 'peek' feature
  • Healthy friction prompts
  • Usage insights and score
  • Focus on intentional use
Read full description

Your phone is designed to hook you. Notifications. Autoplay. Infinite scroll. unhookd is the antidote: the first app that blocks your distracting apps by default, 24/7. No willpower. No time limits you'll override. Just apps that stay blocked until you decide otherwise. —————————————————————— DEFAULT-LOCKED APPS The moment you install unhookd, your chosen apps are blocked. Around the clock. SLOTS Schedule recurring windows for when apps become accessible e.g. YouTube on Weekdays from 6-7pm PEEKS Need quick access outside a Slot? Set a duration (max 20m), pick a reason, get in, and get locked out when the time's up. INSIGHTS & SCORE See when, why, and how often you peek. Build real awareness of your digital habits. —————————————————————— All other screen-time apps: Apps available all day → you decide when to block unhookd: Apps blocked by default, 24/7 → you decide when to access That shift changes everything. Use unhookd to: → Stop opening Instagram or TikTok "just to check" → Protect deep work, study time, or creative flow → Be more present with the people who matter → Actually follow the rules you set for yourself "I've been using unhookd for a couple weeks now, and it has been amazing! I only use it for social media, and it has taken my daily average from 3.5 hours down to only 20 minutes a day! Works wonders for me, thank you." - JP Boyd Stop scrolling on autopilot. Block distractions by default. Use your phone with intention. —————————————————————— Terms of Use: https://www.unhookd.app/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.unhookd.app/privacy-policy

About

Arc

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting session limits and providing smart nudges for your to-do lists. It offers advanced analytics to understand your scrolling habits and offers AI-powered recommendations for improvement.

Highlights
  • Session limits for automatic breaks
  • Smart nudges for to-do reminders
  • Integrated to-do lists
  • Advanced session analytics
  • AI-powered recommendations
  • Bedtime mode with sleep reminders
Features
Read full description

THE ARC DIFFERENCE Arc doesn't just block apps - it redirects your attention with a powerful three-part system: - Session Limits: Automatic breaks when a session has reached the set limit. No more unintentional doomscroll sessions. Daily limits are not helpful when the problem is getting sucked into the scroll hole and not realizing it. That's why we built session limits! - Smart Nudges: Gentle reminders about your to-dos while you scroll - Integrated To-Do Lists: Track what really matters, all in one place - Advanced Analytics: Track every session with precision. See exactly when you close apps yourself (exits) vs. when the timer saves you (lockouts). Discover your most addicting apps through unblock tracking, identify your best and worst self-control patterns, and get AI-powered recommendations tailored to YOUR behavior. No more guessing where to improve, the data shows you exactly which apps need stricter limits, where you're building great habits, and actionable steps to reduce your screen time based on real patterns, not generic advice or behavior patterns. HOW IT WORKS Select your distracting apps (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) Add your daily tasks and goals Get Nudged with your to-do tasks when you're mindlessly scrolling Session Limits create automatic breaks after extended sessions Watch scrolling turn into productivity BUILT FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE Set your bedtime to switch from productivity Nudges to Sleep Reminders. Arc adapts to help you make better use of your time all day long. PERFECT FOR: People who unconsciously doomscroll and want to stop Professionals who lose focus to social media Students procrastinating on assignments Anyone who wants to build healthy daily habits Scroll Goblins People tired of feeling guilty after doomscrolling START SEEING RESULTS Reclaim hours of your day Complete the tasks you've been avoiding Track scrolling habits through intelligent insights Build habits that stick Rebuild a healthy relationship with social media Feel accomplished, not guilty Download Arc and turn scrolling into productivity. Your goals are waiting. Terms of Use (EULA): https://arcapp.io/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://arcapp.io/privacy-policy

Screenshots

unhookd4 screens
Arc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: unhookd at 100% against Arc's 64%. unhookd also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4). Arc's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. unhookd sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Arc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

unhookd holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of unhookd's written reviews are positive against 64% of Arc's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

unhookd ships an update every 3 weeks, Arc every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
unhookd versus Arc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterunhookdArc
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (18 ratings) — better4.4 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better63.6% of reviews
Number of ratings1825 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperunhookdArc Labs LLC (MT)

Customer experience

unhookd

All ratings18 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Arc

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

unhookd

Subscriptions7
  • unhookd Pro3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • unhookd Pro3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • unhookd Pro3 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • unhookd Pro3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • unhookd Pro3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • unhookd Pro7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • unhookd Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • unhookd Pro$49.99
  • unhookd Pro$129.99
  • unhookd Pro$149.99
3 purchases

Arc

Subscriptions3
  • Arc Pro (Weekly)$5.997 Days
  • Arc Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Arc Pro (Annual)3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is unhookd free?
unhookd is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arc free?
Arc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, unhookd or Arc?
unhookd is rated higher. unhookd averages 4.7 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Arc averages 4.4 from 25 ratings.
Do unhookd or Arc have ads?
unhookd shows ads; Arc does not.
Which is updated more often, unhookd or Arc?
unhookd ships an update every 3 weeks, and Arc every 2 weeks. Most recently, unhookd was updated on September 22, 2026 and Arc on September 23, 2026.

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