Comparison

Replace Scrolling vs BrainSober

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

Head to head
About

Replace Scrolling

This app helps you break the habit of mindless scrolling by offering a moment to pause and choose an alternative activity. Options include taking a breath, meditating, journaling, or stepping away. It aims to reduce screen time and build better habits.

Highlights
  • Interrupts app opening
  • Offers pause activities
  • Breathing exercises
  • Short meditations
  • Journaling prompts
  • Encourages breaks
Features
Read full description

REPLACE Break the scrolling habit. Designed for steady habit change, Replace helps you reduce screen time through small, mindful pauses. When you open apps like Instagram or TikTok, you're invited to pause, reflect, and choose intentionally. • Take a few deep breaths • Meditate for a minute • Write a quick journal entry • Step away for a short walk No pressure. No blocking. Just awareness. No Screen Time access required. Your activity stays private on your device. Reduce screen time. Build healthier habits. Create lasting change. Take back control of your attention. Small pauses. Better habits. Meaningful change. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

BrainSober

Read full description

Stop doomscrolling. Block Reels, Shorts and endless feeds, and earn your screen time back in real life. BrainSober turns your phone time into Brain Energy. Every scroll drains it. A walk, a book or a workout recharges it. Meet Brio, your little brain buddy, who thrives when you scroll less. Try BrainSober Pro free for 7 days. HOW IT WORKS • Pick the apps that pull you in. Apple's private Screen Time picker means we never see which ones. • Choose your commitment: Light, Committed or Locked in. • Your Brain Energy shows how many free minutes you have left today. When it runs out, your apps pause. • Need an app anyway? Unlock it on purpose for a few minutes for a little energy. • Set focus hours, like your evenings, to keep apps locked when it matters most. EARN YOUR SCREEN TIME BACK Take a walk, read offline, move your body, tidy your space or start a focus session. Snap a photo as proof and Brio checks it right on your iPhone. Every real-life quest restores Brain Energy. MEET BRIO Brio reacts to your Brain Energy: full of life when you're doing well, worn out when you scroll too much. Keep your streak going to open chests and collect new Brios. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account needed • We never see which apps you choose • Proof photos are checked on your iPhone and never uploaded • Your plan and activity history stay on your iPhone SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS BrainSober Pro is required for app protection, unlocks, quests and progress tracking. Choose a weekly, monthly or annual plan. Monthly and annual plans include a 7-day free trial for eligible new subscribers. Prices are shown in the app before you confirm with Apple. If you don't cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends, your subscription starts and payment is charged to your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://brainsober.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Replace Scrolling4 screens
BrainSober4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Replace Scrolling at none against BrainSober's shown. BrainSober's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Replace Scrolling sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year and BrainSober sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Replace Scrolling against 5.0 for BrainSober. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Replace Scrolling ships an update weekly, BrainSober every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Replace Scrolling versus BrainSober: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReplace ScrollingBrainSober
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.618.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB64 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMaryam FarhadiFritz doebel

Customer experience

Replace Scrolling

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BrainSober

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Replace Scrolling

Subscriptions1
  • Replace Premium7 Days trial$19.991 Year
9 purchases

BrainSober

Subscriptions9
  • BrainSober Pro Weekly$8.997 Days
  • BrainSober Pro Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • BrainSober Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • BrainSober Rescue Annual7 Days trial$22.991 Year
  • BrainSober Rescue Annual$22.991 Year
  • BrainSober Rescue Annual$29.991 Year
  • BrainSober Pro Annual7 Days trial$44.991 Year
  • BrainSober Pro Annual$44.991 Year
  • BrainSober Pro Annual$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Replace Scrolling free?
Replace Scrolling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BrainSober free?
BrainSober is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Replace Scrolling or BrainSober?
Replace Scrolling and BrainSober are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Replace Scrolling or BrainSober have ads?
BrainSober shows ads; Replace Scrolling does not.
Which is updated more often, Replace Scrolling or BrainSober?
Replace Scrolling ships an update weekly, and BrainSober every 2 days. Most recently, Replace Scrolling was updated on October 30, 2026 and BrainSober on October 31, 2026.

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