Comparison

ScrollKitty vs Shelly

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

Head to head
About

ScrollKitty

This app helps you reduce screen time by blocking distracting applications. It gamifies the experience by having a virtual cat's health decline when you access blocked apps, encouraging you to stay focused. Set schedules and track your usage patterns to build healthier digital habits.

Highlights
  • App blocking
  • Daily scheduling
  • Gamified focus with virtual pet
  • Usage tracking
  • Built-in timer for breaks
  • Daily timeline view
Features
Read full description

Your cat is counting on you. Screen Time Block: Scroll Kitty is the app blocker that makes reducing screen time feel personal. Block any app, set a daily schedule, and let your shields keep distractions out while your cat's health tracks how you're really doing. Every time you open a blocked app, your cat loses health. Keep it healthy. Keep your habits strong. WHAT MAKES SCROLL KITTY DIFFERENT - Your cat's health reflects how well you're staying off your phone - it's personal, not just a number - See exactly when and why you opened blocked apps throughout the day - A built-in timer keeps you from going right back into blocked apps after your break ends - Your daily timeline shows everything at a glance - every block, every break - Every morning is a fresh start - your cat heals overnight HOW SCROLL KITTY WORKS - Block any app - social media, games, browsers, anything - Set a daily schedule so your blocks turn on automatically - Need a quick break? Unblock for a few minutes, then shields go right back up Scroll Kitty is free to download. Full access requires a subscription - annual or weekly. Cancel anytime. Scroll Kitty uses Apple's Screen Time API. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://mp2025-cmd.github.io/scrollkitty-legal/privacy.html

About

Shelly

This app helps you build healthier phone habits with a visual motivator. It blocks distracting apps, offers focus schedules, and provides gentle breathing reminders to prevent mindless scrolling. Track your progress and improve your digital well-being.

Highlights
  • Visual motivation with a growing snail
  • App blocking and smart schedules
  • Breathing interventions
  • Shell Mode for total focus
  • Daily time allowances
  • Streak tracking
  • History and insights
Features
Read full description

Take back your day with Shelly — your friendly screen time coach to help you build healthy phone habits. Shelly is a cute snail who lives on your phone. The less you doom-scroll, the healthier Shelly gets. The more you mindlessly scroll, the more Shelly retreats into her shell. It's a simple visual nudge that works — no guilt trips, no lectures, just a little friend keeping you honest. Most of us spend 5+ hours glued to our screens without realizing it. Shelly flips the script: block the apps that drain your time, set focus schedules, and get gentle breathing reminders when you're about to spiral into another scroll session. WHY SHELLY WORKS - Visual motivation: Watch Shelly's health improve as your screen time drops - Gentle nudges, not guilt: Breathing exercises instead of harsh lockouts - Smart schedules: Auto-block apps during bedtime, work hours, or study sessions - Shell Mode: Total focus mode that blocks everything except what you whitelist - Real insights: See exactly which apps eat your time and track your progress FEATURES - Instant App Blocking: Pick the apps and sites to block. Done in seconds. - Shell Mode: Block everything except what you whitelist. Total focus. - Breathing Interventions: A 10-second breathing pause before any tracked app opens. - Smart Schedules: Auto-block apps at bedtime, work hours, or custom windows. - Daily Time Allowances: Cap usage on any app. Hit the limit, Shelly blocks it. - Escape Hatch: Need a blocked app? Simple unblock. - Streak Tracking: Stay under your goal. Watch the streak grow. - Home Screen Widget: Today's health score, always visible. - History & Insights: Weekly charts to spot patterns and celebrate wins. DESIGNED FOR - Students who lose hours to scrolling before exams - Creators who need to focus on making, not consuming - Professionals who want deep work without distractions - Parents building healthier phone habits for the family - Anyone who's tired of picking up their phone 150+ times a day PRIVATE & SECURE Shelly uses Apple's Screen Time API. All monitoring and blocking happen entirely on your device. Your usage data never leaves your phone — ever. No tracking. No ads. Just you and Shelly. FOUNDERS NOTE: I built Shelly because I was scrolling for 6 hours a day on my phone and couldn't stop. None of the screen time apps felt right — they were either too strict, too preachy, too complicated, or too easy to bypass. Shelly is the app I wished existed: simple, kind, and effective. All features described above require a subscription. Terms of Service: https://getshelly.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://getshelly.app/privacy

Screenshots

ScrollKitty4 screens
Shelly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: ScrollKitty at freemium against Shelly's subscription. ScrollKitty also leads on update cadence (every 5 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. ScrollKitty sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Shelly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 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 ScrollKitty against 5.0 for Shelly. 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

ScrollKitty ships an update every 5 days, Shelly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ScrollKitty versus Shelly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScrollKittyShelly
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.1
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPAW STUDIOS LLCSpindle Hyperlocal Solutions Private Limited

Customer experience

ScrollKitty

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

Shelly

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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

ScrollKitty

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Premium7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Annual Premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year
3 purchases

Shelly

Subscriptions3
  • Premium Plan$5.991 Month
  • One time offer$24.991 Year
  • Premium Plan$49.991 Year

Questions

Is ScrollKitty free?
ScrollKitty is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shelly free?
Shelly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ScrollKitty or Shelly?
ScrollKitty and Shelly are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do ScrollKitty or Shelly have ads?
Neither ScrollKitty nor Shelly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScrollKitty or Shelly?
ScrollKitty ships an update every 5 days, and Shelly every 2 weeks. Most recently, ScrollKitty was updated on September 19, 2026 and Shelly on September 23, 2026.

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