Comparison

Shelly vs PDF Utility

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

Head to head
About

Shelly

This app helps you build healthier phone habits with a visual motivator. It blocks distracting apps, offers focus schedules, and provides gentle breathing reminders to prevent mindless scrolling. Track your progress and improve your digital well-being.

Highlights
  • Visual motivation with a growing snail
  • App blocking and smart schedules
  • Breathing interventions
  • Shell Mode for total focus
  • Daily time allowances
  • Streak tracking
  • History and insights
Features
Read full description

Take back your day with Shelly — your friendly screen time coach to help you build healthy phone habits. Shelly is a cute snail who lives on your phone. The less you doom-scroll, the healthier Shelly gets. The more you mindlessly scroll, the more Shelly retreats into her shell. It's a simple visual nudge that works — no guilt trips, no lectures, just a little friend keeping you honest. Most of us spend 5+ hours glued to our screens without realizing it. Shelly flips the script: block the apps that drain your time, set focus schedules, and get gentle breathing reminders when you're about to spiral into another scroll session. WHY SHELLY WORKS - Visual motivation: Watch Shelly's health improve as your screen time drops - Gentle nudges, not guilt: Breathing exercises instead of harsh lockouts - Smart schedules: Auto-block apps during bedtime, work hours, or study sessions - Shell Mode: Total focus mode that blocks everything except what you whitelist - Real insights: See exactly which apps eat your time and track your progress FEATURES - Instant App Blocking: Pick the apps and sites to block. Done in seconds. - Shell Mode: Block everything except what you whitelist. Total focus. - Breathing Interventions: A 10-second breathing pause before any tracked app opens. - Smart Schedules: Auto-block apps at bedtime, work hours, or custom windows. - Daily Time Allowances: Cap usage on any app. Hit the limit, Shelly blocks it. - Escape Hatch: Need a blocked app? Simple unblock. - Streak Tracking: Stay under your goal. Watch the streak grow. - Home Screen Widget: Today's health score, always visible. - History & Insights: Weekly charts to spot patterns and celebrate wins. DESIGNED FOR - Students who lose hours to scrolling before exams - Creators who need to focus on making, not consuming - Professionals who want deep work without distractions - Parents building healthier phone habits for the family - Anyone who's tired of picking up their phone 150+ times a day PRIVATE & SECURE Shelly uses Apple's Screen Time API. All monitoring and blocking happen entirely on your device. Your usage data never leaves your phone — ever. No tracking. No ads. Just you and Shelly. FOUNDERS NOTE: I built Shelly because I was scrolling for 6 hours a day on my phone and couldn't stop. None of the screen time apps felt right — they were either too strict, too preachy, too complicated, or too easy to bypass. Shelly is the app I wished existed: simple, kind, and effective. All features described above require a subscription. Terms of Service: https://getshelly.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://getshelly.app/privacy

About

PDF Utility

Features
Read full description

PDF Utility - Merge, Split PDF is a powerful and easy-to-use tool designed to help you manage PDF files efficiently. Whether you need to combine multiple PDFs into one or split large files into smaller parts, this app provides fast and reliable solutions. Perfect for students, professionals, and everyday users, the app simplifies PDF handling with a clean and intuitive interface. Key Features:- Combine multiple PDF files into a single document quickly. Divide large PDF files into smaller, manageable parts. Organize and handle PDF files with ease. Quick operations for both small and large files. User-friendly design for smooth navigation. Export and share PDF files instantly. PDF Utility - Merge, Split PDF helps you work with documents faster, stay organized, and improve productivity. in-app purchase included Lifetime to Remove Ads Privacy Policy : https://semiconhub.in/manager/privacy.html Terms and Condition : https://semiconhub.in/manager/tcondition.html

Screenshots

Shelly4 screens
PDF Utility4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Shelly at none against PDF Utility's shown. PDF Utility's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.1). On price, 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. Shelly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and PDF Utility sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Shelly versus PDF Utility: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShellyPDF Utility
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSpindle Hyperlocal Solutions Private LimitedSachinbhai Surani

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Shelly

Subscriptions3
  • Premium Plan$5.991 Month
  • One time offer$24.991 Year
  • Premium Plan$49.991 Year
1 purchases

PDF Utility

One-time1
  • Lifetime premium$12.99

Questions

Is Shelly free?
Shelly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Utility free?
PDF Utility is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shelly or PDF Utility have ads?
PDF Utility shows ads; Shelly does not.

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