# ctrl vs Tandem

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tandem at none against ctrl's 2. Tandem also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ctrl sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Tandem asks for nothing beyond the download.

ctrl ships an update every 5 days, Tandem every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ctrl | Tandem |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Size | 16 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Giuseppe Renna](https://appshunter.io/developer/1860337640) | [Isaac Barham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1505586677) |

## What reviewers say

### ctrl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrl-time/id6756376092)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ctrl-time Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| ctrl-time Premium Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


### Tandem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tandem-accountability-partner/id6759391069)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ctrl free?

ctrl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Tandem free?

Tandem is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do ctrl or Tandem have ads?

ctrl shows ads; Tandem does not.

### Which is updated more often, ctrl or Tandem?

ctrl ships an update every 5 days, and Tandem every 4 days. Most recently, ctrl was updated on September 22, 2026 and Tandem on September 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*