Abstain vs Intentional
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Abstain
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Willpower isn't something you're born with—it's something you build. Abstain helps you train self-control through "micro-fasting"—short, timed breaks from everyday temptations like social media, sugar, caffeine, snacking, or gaming. Choose your challenge, set a timer (30 minutes to 4 hours), and practice saying no. TRAIN YOUR WILLPOWER Think of each fast as a rep at the gym—but for your mind. The more you practice resisting small urges, the stronger your self-discipline becomes. Start with 30 minutes. Work your way up. TRACK YOUR URGES When temptation strikes during a fast, log it. Note what triggered the craving. Over time, you'll see patterns—and learn what makes you tick. REFLECT & GROW After each fast, rate the difficulty and add notes. Completed a tough one? Celebrate it. Broke early? No shame—reflect on why and try again. Every attempt builds awareness. EARN WILLPOWER POINTS Level up from Novice to Grandmaster as you complete fasts, build streaks, and improve your success rate. Watch your points grow and stay motivated. SURPRISE CHALLENGES Enable Surprise Fasts to get random challenges throughout the day. Set your active hours and frequency—stay sharp when you least expect it. INSIGHTS THAT MATTER See your stats: total fasts, hours abstained, longest streak, and category breakdown. Discover which temptations are hardest and when your willpower peaks. YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS No account required. No cloud sync. Everything is stored locally on your device. Your willpower journey is completely private. PERFECT FOR: • Reducing screen time and phone addiction • Cutting back on sugar or caffeine • Stopping mindless snacking • Taking breaks from gaming or streaming • Building daily discipline habits • Practicing mindfulness and self-awareness Small abstinences. Big results. Download Abstain and start building the willpower you've always wanted.
Intentional
This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by introducing a brief pause before opening distracting applications. Set time limits and lock apps automatically when your session ends, breaking autopilot behavior without relying on willpower.
- Brief pause before app opening
- Set time limits for apps
- Automatic app locking
- Game mode during countdowns
- Session reminders
- Background enforcement
- Distraction-free design
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Your phone takes hours from you every day. Intentional gives them back. Instead of blocking your apps, Intentional adds one simple step — a brief pause before you open them. That moment is enough to break the autopilot and put you back in control. Pick the apps that waste your time. Set a time limit. Use them on your terms. When your session ends, they lock again — no willpower required. Features include game mode during countdowns, session reminders, background enforcement, and a clean distraction-free design. Subscription required for core app features. The average person spends over 4 hours a day on their phone. Intentional can help you reclaim over 400 of those hours this year.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Abstain at none against Intentional's 1. Abstain also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Intentional sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Abstain asks for nothing beyond the download.
Abstain ships an update every 3 days, Intentional every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Abstain | Intentional |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Studio Next Ltd | Nicholas Kneafsey |
In-app purchases
Abstain
No in-app purchases
Intentional
- Intentional Monthly1 Month trial$2.991 Month









