PeerPause vs Intentional
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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/
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.
- Brief pause before app opening
- Set time limits for apps
- Automatic app locking
- Game mode during countdowns
- Session reminders
- Background enforcement
- Distraction-free design
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | PeerPause | Intentional |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 100 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrei Tarce | Nicholas Kneafsey |
Customer experience
PeerPause
Intentional
In-app purchases
PeerPause
- PeerPause Weekly$3.997 Days
- PeerPause3 Days trial$5.991 Month
- PeerPause3 Days trial$24.991 Year
Intentional
- Intentional Monthly1 Month trial$2.991 Month









