# BarBlock vs CustomNotify

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BarBlock at 100% against CustomNotify's 50%. BarBlock also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and chart position (#164 vs unranked). CustomNotify's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

CustomNotify is free to download; BarBlock costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

BarBlock holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of BarBlock's written reviews are positive against 50% of CustomNotify's.

BarBlock ships an update every 2 weeks, CustomNotify weekly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BarBlock | CustomNotify |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barblock-barcode-app-blocker/id6757250972/reviews)** | [4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/customnotify-alert-scheduler/id6761061863/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#164** | — |
| Size | 15 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NAVON HAIM SOUSSAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1859059122) | [CustomApps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780928838) |

## What reviewers say

### BarBlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barblock-barcode-app-blocker/id6757250972)

**Currently charting:** #164 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

This app helps reduce screen time by requiring users to scan a real-world barcode to unlock selected apps. It adds friction to app usage, encouraging conscious choices and breaking automatic habits. Setup is simple, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases required.

**Highlights:** Block apps by scanning real-world barcodes, Unlock apps by rescanning the same barcode, Reduces screen time and automatic phone use, Privacy-first design, no accounts or sign-ups, Works offline, all data stored locally, Unlimited app blocking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### CustomNotify

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/customnotify-alert-scheduler/id6761061863)

Design and schedule personalized alerts with custom titles, messages, icons, and sounds. Set one-time or recurring reminders, and use persistent notifications with action buttons for easy management. Works entirely offline for enhanced privacy.

**Highlights:** Customizable notification design, Live lock screen preview, Template library, Natural language scheduling, Actionable notification buttons, Recurring and custom interval scheduling, Persistent and nagging alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BarBlock free?

BarBlock costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CustomNotify free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BarBlock or CustomNotify?

BarBlock is rated higher. BarBlock averages 4.9 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while CustomNotify averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do BarBlock or CustomNotify have ads?

Neither BarBlock nor CustomNotify shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BarBlock or CustomNotify?

BarBlock ships an update every 2 weeks, and CustomNotify weekly. Most recently, BarBlock was updated on October 25, 2026 and CustomNotify on October 25, 2026.

---

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