# Screen Time Control vs Sway

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sway at none against Screen Time Control's 4. Sway also leads on update cadence (daily vs fortnightly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Screen Time Control's advantage is ratings volume (77 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Sway asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sway holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screen Time Control has 77 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Screen Time Control ships an update fortnightly, Sway daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screen Time Control | Sway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-hazel/id6753145492/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sway-screen-time-budget/id6755695366/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **77** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 128 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Vibe Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842693137) | [Manifest Global, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850812476) |

## What reviewers say

### Screen Time Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-hazel/id6753145492)

This app helps you stay focused and manage screen time through gamified streaks and rewards. It offers flexible blocking options and engaging analytics without guilt or judgment.

**Highlights:** Daily streaks for momentum, Earn rewards for focus goals, Engaging screen time analytics, Flexible app blocking options, Customizable schedules and time limits, Cute and friendly user interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hazel Plus Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Hazel Plus Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Hazel Plus Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Hazel Plus Yearly | $79.99 | per year |


### Sway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sway-screen-time-budget/id6755695366)

Manage your digital habits by setting daily limits on addictive apps. Earn points for extra time or wait for midnight resets. This app prioritizes your privacy by keeping all data on your device.

**Highlights:** Set daily app limits, Midnight resets, Earn extra time with Sway Points, Impulse-proof deactivation, Private and safe data handling, Utilizes Apple's Screen Time API

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screen Time Control free?

Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Sway free?

Sway is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Screen Time Control or Sway?

Sway is rated higher. Screen Time Control averages 4.8 out of 5 from 77 ratings, while Sway averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Screen Time Control or Sway have ads?

Neither Screen Time Control nor Sway shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Sway?

Screen Time Control ships an update fortnightly, and Sway daily. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 30, 2026 and Sway on October 23, 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.*