Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Cat Lock

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

This app helps you reduce screen time by requiring a photo of your pet to access distracting apps. It uses image recognition to verify your pet and tracks your progress in reclaiming lost hours. Multiple modes are available for focused work or social accountability.

Highlights
  • Pet photo verification for app access
  • Block any distracting app
  • Screen time tracking and stats
  • Streak tracking for habit building
  • Multiple CatKey support
  • Loop, Focus, and Contract modes
Features
Read full description

CatNap helps you control your screen time by giving your cat (or dog) the keys to your phone. Create a CatKey, select your distracting apps, and switch to CatNap mode. If you want to use those distracting apps, you have to get up and take a picture of your pet. If you want to doomscroll, you're gonna have to pay the Cat Tax first. Doomscrolling is killing your productivity. You've tried willpower. Nothing sticks because bypassing a limit takes one tap. CatNap is different. When you want to open TikTok, Instagram, or any blocked app, you have to physically find your cat and scan them first. By the time you've gotten off the couch to find your pet, hopefully the urge to scroll has passed. And hey, you spend more time with your pets - everyone wins. HOW IT WORKS: You create a CatKey by scanning your pet's face. Then, you tell Evie, our Cat Mascot, which apps you want to block. When you try to open them, Evie will block them until pay the Cat Tax with a photo of your cat. Not just any cat (or dog) will work to unlock your apps. They have to be one your CatKeys! It's simple, it's fun, and it actually keeps you off your phone. Our cat coders reluctantly allowed dogs to use this app, but don't worry - despite it being called a CatKey, it still works for dogs! CATKEYS: CatNap uses image recognition to verify you've actually scanned your cat. You can collect as many as you want... just make sure you'll be able to find them again. Otherwise, you're going to have to commit Cat Tax Evasion with an Emergency Skip. More on those later... TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: Every time you pay the cat tax, we count the time you've spent in CatNap mode. Watch your screen time drop day by day. Build streaks and track hours saved. CatNap shows you exactly how much of your life you're reclaiming. CATNAP MODES: Loop - your apps are blocked by default and your cat only allows increments of screen time until your apps re-lock automatically Focus - session based app blocking Contract - session based app blocking with your friends as witnesses: remember when we mentioned Cat Tax Evasion? If you use an Emergency Skip, every cat on the block is going to hear about it immediately with a notification BLOCKING CAPABILITIES: Block any app: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, games, websites — you choose You can't fool our cat recognition Screen time tracking with daily and weekly stats Streak tracking to build better habits Multiple cats supported (enroll your whole clowder - tbh, we just learned what clowder meant while making this app lol) WE MADE CATNAP FOR: Anyone addicted to TikTok, Instagram, or social media People who've tried everything and nothing works Students who need to focus during study sessions Business owners losing hours to their phone Parents who want to model better screen habits Cat owners looking for an excuse to interact with their pet more Anyone doing a digital detox or dopamine reset THE CAT TAX PHILOSOPHY: We believe redirection works better than punishment. Instead of feeling guilty about phone use, CatNap turns the unlock into a fun moment. You get off your phone AND you hang out with your cat. That's a win-win. Pay the Cat Tax. Break the scroll. PREMIUM PLANS ($2.99/week, $7.99/month, $39.99/year or $24.99/year coupon, $99.99/lifetime): Unlimited app blocking Multiple CatKeys Full stats history with trends and insights By downloading this app, you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy: Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://trycatnap.com/privacy Support: https://www.format.partners/support Contact: hello@format.partners CatNap uses Apple's FamilyControls framework to block apps and Anthropic-powered image recognition to verify cat scans. This app is designed for personal screen time management — it's not a parental control solution. Use CatNap to break your phone addiction, build better habits, and spend more time with your cat.

About

Cat Lock

Read full description

Cat Lock blocks your most distracting apps after you've used them too long. When time's up, your cat takes over the screen — and won't leave until you take a real break. HOW IT WORKS • Choose which apps to block — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Reddit, Discord, even games and shopping apps • Set your usage limit — 5 minutes to 2 hours • Use your apps normally until your time is up • When time's up, your cat takes over the screen • Watch a real cat video for 5 minutes • Apps unlock. Clock resets. Repeat. NOT ANOTHER BORING BLOCKER Most screen time apps either lock your apps all day or add an annoying delay to every single open. Cat Lock lets you actually use your apps — with real breaks built in. Instead of guilt, you get a cat. Usage-based, not punishment-based. WHAT MAKES CAT LOCK DIFFERENT • Usage-based blocking — time only counts while you're actually in the app • Real cat videos during every break — a different cat every time • New cats added all the time — the break never gets old • See your progress at a glance — track distractions blocked, streaks, and time reclaimed. • Per-app or combined limits — track each app separately or share one pool • Blocks apps AND websites — no Safari bypass • Works silently in the background — no willpower required THE CAT LOCK EXPERIENCE Your cat notices patterns. It counts every attempt your most tempting app makes. It shows you what you got back — not minutes, but movies, walks, and books. No screen time app has done it like this. And when you win the day, it tells you: "The apps tried. You won." PERFECT FOR • Doomscrollers who can't stop once they start • Anyone who opens an app for five minutes and looks up an hour later • Anyone whose willpower needs a gatekeeper • Cat people. Obviously. "Less doomscrolling. More life." Cat Lock requires a subscription to access all features. Terms of Service: https://www.catlock.io/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.catlock.io/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Cat Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Cat Lock at none against Screen Time Control's shown. Cat Lock also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 10 days). 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 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Cat Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update every 10 days, Cat Lock every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on August 22, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Screen Time Control versus Cat Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlCat Lock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (16 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings16 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.617.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB168 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFormat Partners LLCChelsKat LLC

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions4
  • CatNap - Premium Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • CatNap - Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • CatNap - Premium Annual Coupon$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • CatNap - Premium Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • CatNap - Premium Lifetime$99.99
2 purchases

Cat Lock

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$9.997 Days
  • Cat Lock Pro Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cat Lock free?
Cat Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time Control or Cat Lock have ads?
Screen Time Control shows ads; Cat Lock does not.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Cat Lock?
Screen Time Control ships an update every 10 days, and Cat Lock every 2 days. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on August 22, 2026 and Cat Lock on September 20, 2026.

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