# Arc vs BlockRot

The clearest difference is update cadence: BlockRot at daily against Arc's every 2 weeks. BlockRot also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (387 vs 25). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and BlockRot sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BlockRot holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BlockRot has 387 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Arc's written reviews are positive against 62% of BlockRot's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Arc ships an update every 2 weeks, BlockRot daily. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Arc | BlockRot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-screen-time-control/id6752133918/reviews) | **[4.7 (387 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockrot-screen-time-control/id6761429056/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 25 | **387** |
| Positive reviews | **63.6% of reviews** | 62.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 45 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Arc Labs LLC (MT)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838190035) | [Matthew Heester](https://appshunter.io/developer/1834464869) |

## What reviewers say

### Arc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-screen-time-control/id6752133918)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arc Pro (Weekly) | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Arc Pro Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Arc Pro (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |


### BlockRot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockrot-screen-time-control/id6761429056)

This app helps users break free from phone addiction and reclaim focus by rewarding healthy real-life habits with screen time. It uses a unique gem system and a virtual companion to motivate users to build discipline and reverse the effects of excessive digital consumption.

**Highlights:** Rot Gems system for earning screen time, Penguin companion for motivation, Photo-based task verification, 30+ healthy habit tasks, App blocking via Apple Screen Time, Private and secure by default

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Arc free?

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

### Is BlockRot free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Arc or BlockRot?

BlockRot is rated higher. Arc averages 4.4 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while BlockRot averages 4.7 from 387 ratings.

### Do Arc or BlockRot have ads?

Neither Arc nor BlockRot shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Arc or BlockRot?

Arc ships an update every 2 weeks, and BlockRot daily. Most recently, Arc was updated on September 23, 2026 and BlockRot on September 21, 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.*