# Arc vs Polanthos

The clearest difference is rating: Polanthos at 5.0 against Arc's 4.3. Polanthos also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 64%) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). Arc's advantage is ratings volume (27 vs 3) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Polanthos sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Polanthos holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Arc has 27 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Arc's written reviews are positive against 100% of Polanthos's.

Arc ships an update every 2 weeks, Polanthos every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Arc | Polanthos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-screen-time-control/id6752133918/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polanthos-pause-scrolling/id6773573378/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **27** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 63.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 45 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Arc Labs LLC (MT)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838190035) | [HAIYI NING](https://appshunter.io/developer/6773573380) |

## 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 |


### Polanthos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polanthos-pause-scrolling/id6773573378)

This app helps you pause before opening distracting applications, encouraging intentional social media use and reducing mindless scrolling. It offers a mindful moment to decide if you truly want to proceed, with features like focus schedules and reclaimed time tracking.

**Highlights:** Mindful pause before app launch, Focus schedules, Gentle reminders, Reclaimed time tracking, Simple redirects, Calm design

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Polanthos Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Polanthos Pro Yearly | $17.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Arc free?

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

### Is Polanthos free?

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

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

Polanthos is rated higher. Arc averages 4.3 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Polanthos averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Arc or Polanthos have ads?

Neither Arc nor Polanthos shows ads.

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

Arc ships an update every 2 weeks, and Polanthos every 2 days. Most recently, Arc was updated on October 24, 2026 and Polanthos on October 18, 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.*