# Thru vs StarPause

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Thru at none against StarPause's 2. Thru also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (133 vs 33). StarPause's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StarPause sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year. Thru asks for nothing beyond the download.

Thru holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 133 and 33 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Thru's written reviews are positive against 88% of StarPause's.

Thru ships an update every 9 days, StarPause every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thru | StarPause |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thru-virtual-hiking/id6753733703/reviews)** | [4.4 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starpause-stop-scrolling/id6757177033/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **133** | 33 |
| Positive reviews | **93.5% of reviews** | 87.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 29 MB | 244 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aaron La Lau](https://appshunter.io/developer/1844744161) | [Hangzhou Jihe Digital Culture and Creativity Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1865089471) |

## What reviewers say

### Thru

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thru-virtual-hiking/id6753733703)

Conquer legendary hiking trails virtually by tracking your real-world steps. Progress through illustrated landscapes, collect badges, and check in at landmarks on an interactive map. Every mile walked brings your virtual hiker closer to the finish line.

**Highlights:** Virtual thru-hiking expeditions, Real-world step tracking integration, Interactive progress map, Illustrated landscape representations, Trail badge collection, Landmark check-ins

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### StarPause

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starpause-stop-scrolling/id6757177033)

This app helps you regain control of your phone usage. It prompts you to consider your intentions before opening distracting apps and allows you to set time limits. Earn rewards by putting your phone down or staying focused.

**Highlights:** App usage prompts, Customizable time limits, Focus session timer, Reward system for breaks, Digital well-being tracking

**Features:** Safari Extension

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StarPaus Pro - 1 Year | $6.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thru free?

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

### Is StarPause free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Thru or StarPause?

Thru is rated higher. Thru averages 4.9 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while StarPause averages 4.4 from 33 ratings.

### Do Thru or StarPause have ads?

Neither Thru nor StarPause shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Thru or StarPause?

Thru ships an update every 9 days, and StarPause every 3 days. Most recently, Thru was updated on November 9, 2026 and StarPause on November 9, 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.*