# Shelly vs Daybreak

The clearest difference is monetization model: Daybreak at free with in-app purchases against Shelly's subscription. Shelly's advantage is iOS requirement (18.1 vs 26.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shelly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Daybreak sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Shelly against 5.0 for Daybreak. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively.

Shelly ships an update every 3 weeks, Daybreak every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shelly | Daybreak |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelly-screen-time-control/id6757734582/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daybreak-screen-time-control/id6787161673/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 46 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.1** | 26.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spindle Hyperlocal Solutions Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780345822) | [Ryan Setiawan](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787161675) |

## What reviewers say

### Shelly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelly-screen-time-control/id6757734582)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| One time offer | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Plan | $49.99 | per year |


### Daybreak

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daybreak-screen-time-control/id6787161673)

This app automatically blocks distracting applications overnight and keeps them locked in the morning until a focus session is completed. It helps users prioritize their morning routine before accessing social media, games, or news.

**Highlights:** Automatic overnight app blocking, Morning focus session requirement, Customizable distraction selection, Simple, automatic scheduling, Emergency access with limits, Live Activities and Dynamic Island support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter | $9.99 | one-time |
| Champion | $19.99 | one-time |
| Founding Member | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shelly free?

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

### Is Daybreak free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shelly or Daybreak?

Shelly and Daybreak are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do Shelly or Daybreak have ads?

Neither Shelly nor Daybreak shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shelly or Daybreak?

Shelly ships an update every 3 weeks, and Daybreak every 2 weeks. Most recently, Shelly was updated on October 18, 2026 and Daybreak on October 24, 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.*