Comparison

Anti Screen Time vs Focus Blocks

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

Head to head
About

Anti Screen Time

This app helps reduce screen time through a unique session and rest rhythm, avoiding hard limits and permanent blocks. It offers a gentler approach to managing device usage by alternating periods of full access with short breaks where controlled apps are temporarily unavailable.

Highlights
  • Session and rest rhythm
  • No hard usage limits
  • No permanent app blocks
  • Controlled app unavailability during rests
  • Gentle approach to screen time reduction
  • Full access during sessions
Features
Read full description

Most screen time apps work by capping you. They set hard limits, block apps for the rest of the day, and leave you locked out the moment you hit a number. Anti Screen Time works differently. There are no usage limits and no permanent blocks. You move through a rhythm of sessions and rests, and your total screen time drops, often dramatically, without anything being capped or taken away for good. Here's how it works. You start a session and have full, unlimited access to everything on your phone. When the session ends, a short rest begins, a brief pause where your controlled apps become unavailable for a few minutes. When the rest ends, your apps return, ready for your next session. No daily cutoffs. No "you're out of time." Just a gentle in-and-out rhythm that adds up to far less screen time. Anti Screen Time is for people who've tried strict limits and bounced off them. If hitting a wall every day has never worked, a gentle rhythm of sessions and rests might. Use everything you love, in a calmer cadence. Lower your screen time. No limits, no daily cutoffs, just a gentler rhythm. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.antiscreentime.com/privacy

About

Focus Blocks

Read full description

Focus Blocks is an app blocker for iPhone and iPad that puts distracting apps out of reach during the time you set aside to focus. Choose the apps. Choose the rule. Block during focus hours, allow only inside chosen windows, or set a daily app budget. When a rule applies, selected apps are hidden system-wide until they are allowed again. No willpower games, no streaks, no social layer — just one clear setting that gives you your attention back. Built on Apple's Screen Time APIs, Focus Blocks works entirely on your device. It has no backend and no account. Your rules sync between your own devices through iCloud, under your own Apple ID. Screen Time app selections are private device-local tokens, so each device asks you to confirm the apps it should block before enabling a synced rule there. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Create as many focus blocks as you want — mornings, weekdays, deep-work afternoons • Pick specific apps and whole categories in one tap • Block during a schedule, allow only during a schedule, or set a daily limit • Enable synced rules separately on each device after confirming local app selections • Add a weekly setup window so blocks cannot be edited on impulse • Enable or disable any inactive block from one screen PRIVACY BY DEFAULT • No sign-up, no account • No analytics, no ads, no third-party SDKs • Uses Apple's Screen Time framework — selections and usage stay on-device • iCloud Key-Value Store is the only remote storage, and it lives in your own Apple ID Focus Blocks is self-directed. It is not a parental-control product and does not monitor or manage other people's devices. Requires iOS 18 or later.

Screenshots

Anti Screen Time4 screens
Focus Blocks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focus Blocks at none against Anti Screen Time's 6. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Anti Screen Time sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Focus Blocks asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Anti Screen Time ships an update every 5 days, Focus Blocks every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Anti Screen Time versus Focus Blocks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnti Screen TimeFocus Blocks
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoseph CaseyMikhail Nemilov

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Anti Screen Time

Subscriptions5
  • One Week Subscription$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Monthly Family Plan7 Days trial$4.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Yearly Subscription$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Family Subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$74.99
None

Focus Blocks

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Anti Screen Time free?
Anti Screen Time is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Blocks free?
Focus Blocks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Anti Screen Time or Focus Blocks have ads?
Neither Anti Screen Time nor Focus Blocks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Anti Screen Time or Focus Blocks?
Anti Screen Time ships an update every 5 days, and Focus Blocks every 4 days. Most recently, Anti Screen Time was updated on November 5, 2026 and Focus Blocks on October 31, 2026.

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