Comparison

Anti Screen Time vs Budli

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

Budli

This app helps you reduce screen time by gamifying app blocking. A virtual pet thrives when you stay off distracting apps, evolving as you reclaim your time. It offers gentle reminders and focus sessions, designed for distractible minds.

Highlights
  • Gamified app blocking with a virtual pet
  • Pet evolves based on time saved
  • Focus sessions for deep work
  • Gentle 'are you sure?' prompts
  • Personalized daily rituals
  • App blocking built on Apple Screen Time
Features
Read full description

Meet your Budli - a tiny pet that thrives when you stay off the apps that eat your day. Less doomscrolling, more life. No white-knuckle willpower required. WHY CARE WORKS WHEN GUILT DOESN'T Most blockers say "stop" - but your phone is right there, and one tap later you're back. Budli gives you a reason instead: a little creature that grows on the time you win back. You're not breaking a rule, you're looking after someone. That tiny shift is what makes it stick. HOW IT WORKS - Pick your trap apps - the ones you open without thinking - Stay under your daily limit and your Budli grows, evolves, and cheers you on - Go over and you lose XP - the next evolution stalls until you're back under - Open a trap app anyway and your Budli steps in with a soft "are you sure?" - a pause, not a wall of shame WHAT'S INSIDE - Real app blocking, built on Apple Screen Time - not another reminder you swipe away - One pet, seven forms - it evolves on the hours you win back, and stalls when the scroll wins - Deep Focus sessions for when you need to be unreachable - Honest stats that show where your hours really go - judged by no one - Tiny daily rituals - stretch, sunlight, a mindful break - for you and your pet - Emergency passes, because some days life actually needs your phone MADE FOR DISTRACTIBLE BRAINS If you've ever tapped "15 more minutes" and meant it every single time, Budli was built for you. Gentle structure, visible progress, zero shame - friendly to ADHD brains and anyone whose thumb has a mind of its own. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your Screen Time data never leaves your device. No accounts, no tracking, no selling your attention back to you. What would you do with two extra hours a day? Your Budli can't wait to find out. BUDLI PLUS Budli requires a subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account; subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings - no hoops, no dark patterns. Terms of Use: https://budliapp.netlify.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://budliapp.netlify.app/privacy

Screenshots

Anti Screen Time4 screens
Budli4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Anti Screen Time at free with in-app purchases against Budli's subscription. Budli's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 and Budli sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. 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 Anti Screen Time against 5.0 for Budli. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Anti Screen Time versus Budli: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnti Screen TimeBudli
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB278 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoseph CaseyJohn Uschold

Customer experience

Anti Screen Time

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Budli

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
7 purchases

Budli

Subscriptions6
  • Budli Plus: App Blocker Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Budli Plus Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Budli Plus: Screen Time Coach$19.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Budli Plus: Screen Time Coach$29.991 Year
  • Budli Plus: Focus Pet Annual$39.991 Year
  • Budli Plus: Focus Pet Annual$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Budli Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Anti Screen Time free?
Anti Screen Time is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Budli free?
Budli is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Anti Screen Time or Budli?
Anti Screen Time and Budli are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Anti Screen Time or Budli have ads?
Neither Anti Screen Time nor Budli shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Anti Screen Time or Budli?
Anti Screen Time ships an update every 5 days, and Budli every 4 days. Most recently, Anti Screen Time was updated on November 5, 2026 and Budli on October 31, 2026.

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