Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Aro

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

Head to head
About

Screen Time Control

Features
Read full description

Struggling with screen time? Tired of strict blockers that make you feel guilty for slipping up? Meet Screen Time Control: Forest, the first digital wellbeing app designed to support you, not punish you. We combine the powerful blocking features you need with a gamified, anxiety-free system that makes building healthy habits addictive. WHY YOU WILL LOVE US Supportive Gamification Most apps punish you for breaking a streak. We let you earn Focus Points to buy Streak Freezes. Had a bad day? Use a freeze. Your progress is safe. It is about long-term growth, not perfection. Beautiful, Calm Design Immerse yourself in our Google Stitch inspired interface. No clutter, just a clean, calming aesthetic designed to lower your dopamine levels and help you enter a flow state. Powerful Focus Tools Take control of your digital life with our suite of professional tools. Customize your experience with immersive themes like Classic, Midnight, Forest, and Ocean. Collect Trophies Turn your productivity into a game. Unlock unique trophies for your milestones and build a gallery of your achievements. SCREEN TIME CONTROL PRO Unlock the full potential of your focus with our optional Premium subscription: • Deep Focus Mode: The ultimate commitment. Lock your session so it cannot be cancelled. • Premium Environments: Access all immersive themes (Midnight, Forest, Ocean) to set the perfect mood. • Advanced Statistics: Gain deep insights into your habits. Track your focus hours and understand your peak productivity times. • 3x Focus Points: Earn rewards faster to protect your streak with more Freezes. PRIVACY FIRST Your data stays on your device. We believe your digital habits are personal, so we built this with a Local-First architecture. No creeping, just focusing. Download Screen Time Control: Forest today and turn your screen time battle into a game you can win. Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/screen-time-control-forest/main-page Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Aro

This app uses the Pomodoro technique to help you focus on tasks. It offers calming environments and customizable timers to create a ritual for deep work. Track your progress and build streaks without guilt.

Highlights
  • Customizable Pomodoro timers
  • Calming focus spaces
  • Live Activities and Dynamic Island integration
  • Session organization with intentions and tags
  • Progress tracking and streaks
  • Adaptive Pomodoro
  • Ad-free experience with Pro
Features
Read full description

Aro turns the Pomodoro method into a calm ritual for beginning what matters. Choose one intention, enter a beautiful focus space, and let Aro carry the rhythm. No clutter, no pressure—just a clear place to start and an honest record of the time you gave. FOCUS THAT FEELS DIFFERENT • Name the one thing that matters now • Work with a classic 25/5 Pomodoro or shape your own rhythm • Preview every space before beginning • Pair atmosphere, sound and timing into a repeatable ritual • Keep the timer visible with Live Activities and Dynamic Island • Organize sessions with intentions and tags • See daily progress, patterns and streaks without guilt BEAUTIFUL SPACES FOR REAL WORK Move between quiet mornings, deep-work studios and late-night atmospheres. Each space is designed to reduce friction and make returning to focus feel familiar. ARO PRO Unlock the complete ritual system: • The full collection of premium focus spaces • Smart rituals that prepare your room on the days and times you choose • Mix two soundscapes with independent volume controls • Adaptive Pomodoro that learns from sessions on your device • A private weekly coach with patterns and recommendations • Unlimited rituals, backgrounds and advanced personalization • A completely ad-free experience Your existing FocusRooms sessions and Pro access remain with you when you update to Aro. Privacy policy: https://aro.manurivas.dev/privacy/ Support: https://aro.manurivas.dev/support/

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Aro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Screen Time Control at none against Aro's shown. Screen Time Control also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Screen Time Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Aro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 days, Aro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Screen Time Control versus Aro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlAro
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB103 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOguzhan TurkManuel Jose Rivas Farinas

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Premium Access$2.997 Days
  • Monthly Premium Access$9.991 Month
  • Yearly Premium Access3 Days trial$14.991 Year
3 purchases

Aro

Subscriptions2
  • Focus Rooms Pro Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Focus Rooms Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Focus Rooms PRO Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aro free?
Aro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time Control or Aro have ads?
Aro shows ads; Screen Time Control does not.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Aro?
Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 days, and Aro every 2 months. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 30, 2026 and Aro on November 5, 2026.

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