Comparison

Barrier vs HourLimit

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

Head to head
About

Barrier

This app helps you regain control over your phone usage by creating a physical barrier to accessing distracting applications. Instead of simply closing apps, it requires you to wait a set amount of time with your phone face down before granting temporary access, prompting reflection on your digital habits.

Highlights
  • Select apps to limit
  • Automatic app locking
  • Face-down phone wait for unlock
  • Temporary app access
  • Customizable wait times (5-60 seconds)
  • Unlimited apps with paid version
Features
Read full description

Most blockers simply close apps. One tap and you’re back to scrolling. This app works differently. To open social media, you have to put your phone face down and wait. From 5 to 60 seconds — you choose. There’s no “cancel” button. You just sit there, staring at the back of your phone. In those seconds, your brain snaps out of autopilot. You remember that you actually had things to do. And you realize — is this feed really worth a minute of your life? Most of the time — it’s not. This isn’t blocking. It’s a physical barrier that brings back control. How Barrier works: 1. Choose apps → Select the apps you want to limit 2.Auto-blocking → Apps are locked automatically 3.Unlock → Put your phone face down for a set time 4.Temporary access → Apps become available for a limited time Paid features: - Unlimited apps and category (Free: 5 apps or 1 category) Privacy Policy: https://sabellus.github.io/portal/privacybarrier.html Terms of Use: https://sabellus.github.io/portal/termsbarrier.html

About

HourLimit

Features
Read full description

Daily screen time limits are easy to break. You burn the whole allowance before lunch, and the rest of the day has no guardrails at all. HourLimit works in hours instead. Give an app 15 minutes per hour, and when those 15 minutes are gone the app is blocked — until the top of the next hour, when the limit resets and you get a clean slate. Every hour, all day. It turns "I've blown it for today" into "I'll get another shot in 20 minutes." HOW IT WORKS • Pick the apps that pull you in • Give each one a limit between 1 and 60 minutes per hour • HourLimit blocks the app the moment its limit is spent • At the top of the hour, every limit resets automatically WHAT YOU GET • Hourly limits, not daily ones — a fresh start every 60 minutes • Real blocking through Apple's Screen Time, so it works even when HourLimit is closed • A calm dashboard showing what's left this hour for each app • A heads-up notification when a limit is reached • An optional reminder at the start of each new hour • Quiet hours, so nothing buzzes while you sleep • Adjust or remove any limit at any time — changes apply immediately BUILT TO BE CALM No streaks, no scores, no shaming graphs. HourLimit blocks an app and tells you when it's coming back. That's the whole product. PRIVACY Your limits and Screen Time usage stay on your iPhone. There is no account and no analytics. HourLimit uses Apple's Screen Time framework, which never reveals which apps you limit or how you use them. Purchases are processed by Apple and managed through RevenueCat. FREE AND PRO Save as many apps as you like. Free lets you keep up to 3 app limits active at once. Pro lets you activate every saved limit, with a monthly subscription or a one-time purchase. REQUIREMENTS HourLimit needs Screen Time (Family Controls) permission to block apps. iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Barrier4 screens
HourLimit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: HourLimit at weekly against Barrier's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Barrier sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and HourLimit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Barrier ships an update every 2 weeks, HourLimit weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Barrier versus HourLimit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarrierHourLimit
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSavelii VeprevSercan PASPAL

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Barrier

Subscriptions2
  • Premium for week$2.997 Days
  • Premium for month$4.991 Month
One-time1
  • Premium Forever$9.99
2 purchases

HourLimit

Subscriptions1
  • HourLimit Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
One-time1
  • HourLimit Pro Lifetime$14.99

Questions

Is Barrier free?
Barrier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HourLimit free?
HourLimit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Barrier or HourLimit have ads?
Neither Barrier nor HourLimit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Barrier or HourLimit?
Barrier ships an update every 2 weeks, and HourLimit weekly. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 24, 2026 and HourLimit on October 24, 2026.

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