Comparison

PeerPause vs Intentional

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

Head to head
About

PeerPause

This app helps you stick to your screen time limits by involving a trusted friend. When your time is up, it blocks apps, and you must ask your 'Time Buddy' for more time, adding social accountability to break scrolling habits.

Highlights
  • App blocking that enforces limits
  • Real-time accountability with a Time Buddy
  • Request additional screen time
  • Approval required for limit changes
  • No easy self-override options
  • Private by design for user data
Features
Read full description

Screen time limits only work when you can't quietly undo them. PeerPause fixes that by putting one person you trust between you and the "just five more minutes" button. Set a daily limit for the apps that eat your day. When the time is gone, the app locks. If you genuinely need longer, you send a request to your Time Buddy — a friend, partner, or sibling who taps accept or deny. No secret override, no deleting the limit at 1am. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick the app that distracts you most. 2. Set its daily limit. 3. Add a Time Buddy. 4. When you hit the limit, the app locks. 5. Ask for more time, with a note if you want. 6. Your Time Buddy decides. WHAT YOU GET • Blocking for social, video, game, dating, and shopping apps • Daily limits built on Apple's Screen Time • Time extension requests, answered by a real person • Buddy confirmation before a limit is changed or removed • Streaks and insights that show what's actually improving • No instant self-override when you hit the limit WHY A BUDDY BEATS WILLPOWER Every other blocker lets you turn it off. That is the whole problem — the moment you want to break the limit is exactly the moment you are least able to argue with yourself. Handing that one decision to someone else takes about two seconds and changes the outcome. Your Time Buddy is not a parent or a monitor. They see the app name, how much time you asked for, and any note you send. They cannot see your messages, your browsing, your photos, or what you do inside any app. Your Screen Time data stays on your device. BEING SOMEONE'S TIME BUDDY Answering requests for a friend costs nothing — install PeerPause, get added, and tap accept or deny when they ask. A PeerPause Pro subscription is what lets you create and manage your own limits. Pause first. Scroll less. Take your time back. TERMS OF USE https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Intentional

This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by introducing a brief pause before opening distracting applications. Set time limits and lock apps automatically when your session ends, breaking autopilot behavior without relying on willpower.

Highlights
  • Brief pause before app opening
  • Set time limits for apps
  • Automatic app locking
  • Game mode during countdowns
  • Session reminders
  • Background enforcement
  • Distraction-free design
Features
Read full description

Your phone takes hours from you every day. Intentional gives them back. Instead of blocking your apps, Intentional adds one simple step — a brief pause before you open them. That moment is enough to break the autopilot and put you back in control. Pick the apps that waste your time. Set a time limit. Use them on your terms. When your session ends, they lock again — no willpower required. Features include game mode during countdowns, session reminders, background enforcement, and a clean distraction-free design. Subscription required for core app features. The average person spends over 4 hours a day on their phone. Intentional can help you reclaim over 400 of those hours this year.

Screenshots

PeerPause4 screens
Intentional4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: PeerPause at freemium against Intentional's subscription. PeerPause also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. PeerPause sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Intentional sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. 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 PeerPause against 5.0 for Intentional. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PeerPause ships an update every 4 days, Intentional every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PeerPause versus Intentional: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPeerPauseIntentional
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB1 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAndrei TarceNicholas Kneafsey

Customer experience

PeerPause

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Intentional

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PeerPause

Subscriptions3
  • PeerPause Weekly$3.997 Days
  • PeerPause3 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • PeerPause3 Days trial$24.991 Year
1 purchases

Intentional

Subscriptions1
  • Intentional Monthly1 Month trial$2.991 Month

Questions

Is PeerPause free?
PeerPause is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Intentional free?
Intentional is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PeerPause or Intentional?
PeerPause and Intentional are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do PeerPause or Intentional have ads?
Neither PeerPause nor Intentional shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PeerPause or Intentional?
PeerPause ships an update every 4 days, and Intentional every 2 weeks. Most recently, PeerPause was updated on October 15, 2026 and Intentional on September 30, 2026.

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