Comparison

HabitUnlock vs Screen Time Control

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

Head to head
About

HabitUnlock

This app turns screen time into a reward for physical activity. Block distracting apps and earn your access back by completing various exercises, building streaks, and achieving goals. It's designed for those who need structure and want to break unhealthy digital habits.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Earn screen time through exercise
  • Track steps, push-ups, squats, and more
  • HealthKit integration for automatic step tracking
  • Deep Lock mode for maximum commitment
  • Gamified streaks and achievements
  • Widgets and Live Activities for progress tracking
Features
Read full description

A free app blocker that unlocks with movement: block 1 app or category, then walk or do push-ups to open it. No account, no ads. FREE: block an app or category behind real movement · blocking schedules (up to 8) · streak tracking with a monthly freeze. No account, no ads. HOW IT WORKS • Choose which apps or categories to block • Pick how you will earn them back: Walking, Push-Ups, or Guided Breathing • Complete the activity to unlock your apps • Build streaks and earn achievements Unlike screen time apps that just block your phone and rely on willpower, HabitUnlock turns the problem into a game. Want to scroll? Earn it first. Every unlock starts with movement — and that small shift changes everything. THE THREE WAYS TO UNLOCK • Walking — step-based, counted automatically • Push-Ups — timer-based, with live progress • Guided Breathing — a short breathing exercise when movement is not an option Three activities you will finish beat a long menu you never open. SMART BLOCKING • Block specific apps or entire categories • Up to 8 blocking schedules for focus time • Deep Lock mode for maximum commitment — no one-tap ignore • Emergency override with limited weekly uses APPLE HEALTH • Reads your step count so Walking completes on its own • Step data is processed on your device • Optional — decline it and the other activities still work BUILT FOR BRAINS THAT NEED STRUCTURE Many people who struggle with phone habits find external structure easier than willpower — and that is what HabitUnlock provides. Instead of fighting the urge to scroll, channel it: your phone becomes a reward for movement, not a source of guilt. STREAKS & ACHIEVEMENTS • Daily streaks with fire animations • Achievement badges for milestones • Share cards to show your progress WIDGETS & LIVE ACTIVITIES • Home screen widgets show your progress • Live Activity during activities • Dynamic Island countdown WHO IT'S FOR • Doom scrollers who want to break the cycle • Students who need to focus during exam season • People with ADHD looking for structure and accountability • Professionals who want to reclaim productive hours • Parents who want to control their own screen time PRIVACY • No ads. Your data is never sold. • Usage analytics can be turned off any time in Settings • Step data read from Apple Health is processed on your device • No account required — ever FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: Is HabitUnlock free? A: Core features are free — block 1 app and set up to 3 daily habits. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited habits, unlimited blocked apps, and Deep Lock mode. Q: Which activities can I use? A: Walking, Push-Ups, and Guided Breathing. Q: Does it track my fitness data? A: HabitUnlock reads your step count from Apple Health so Walking can complete automatically. That step data is processed on your device. Q: Does it work without internet? A: Yes. Blocking, activity tracking, and unlocking work offline. Internet is only needed for subscription management. Replace mindless scrolling with movement. Build habits that stick. HABITUNLOCK PRO • Unlimited habits • Unlimited blocked apps • Deep Lock mode • Streak freezes to protect your progress • Priority support HabitUnlock Pro is an auto-renewing subscription with a 7-day free trial. The available plans and the current price in your currency are shown in the app before you confirm. Payment charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled 24 hours before the period ends. Manage in Settings > Apple ID. Privacy Policy: https://www.habbitunlock.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.habbitunlock.com/terms

About

Screen Time Control

Features
Read full description

Ever open an app without meaning to? Mute makes the apps you choose unavailable during the hours you choose. Not willpower. A wall. THREE WAYS TO STOP - Schedule: block apps during set hours, like 10 PM to 7 AM, or weekday mornings. Pick the days. - Daily limit: "one hour a day." When you use it up, that app stays closed until midnight. - Focus timer: any length from 15 minutes up, in 5-minute steps. Leave it open-ended with ∞. The countdown lives on your lock screen and in the Dynamic Island. Ending early takes one breath first. BLOCKED MEANS QUIET Mute uses Apple's Screen Time framework. While an app is blocked, it can't be opened, and its notifications stop arriving. Nothing on your lock screen pulling you back in. Websites in Safari can be blocked by domain, too. LOCKOUT (MUTE PRO) Turn on Lockout, and a rule or session can't be switched off, edited, or deleted until it ends. Not from inside the app, not by deleting Mute, not by changing the clock. For the moment you genuinely need out, there's one emergency pass a week. TIME TAKEN BACK, AND YOUR STREAK When a session ends, Mute shows the time you took back. Keep your rules running day after day and your streak grows; Mute lets you know at milestones like 3, 7, and 30 days. Home also shows how much time went to which apps today. THE TERRARIUM A terrarium is a small garden sealed in glass: moss, a few tiny plants, a world you can hold in one hand. Your home screen in Mute holds one. As you take back time and your streak reaches milestones, you earn new terrariums and choose which one to display. No pep talks. A quiet, growing scene. YOUR USAGE STAYS ON YOUR PHONE Mute never sends records of which apps you use, when, or for how long to our servers. The apps you block are stored as tokens issued by Apple, and we can't turn them back into app names. No account, no email address. Delete everything from Settings whenever you like. IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE YOU - An hour of scrolling before bed you didn't plan - Opening social media between tasks without deciding to - Losing your focus every time a notification lands - Setting a Screen Time limit, then tapping "Ignore Limit" FREE AND MUTE PRO Free includes two rules and the focus timer without limits. Pro removes the rule limit and unlocks Lockout. GOOD TO KNOW - Requires iOS 26.5 or later and Screen Time access. - Mute Pro is an auto-renewing subscription (annual or weekly). Prices are shown in the app. Payment is charged to your Apple ID when you confirm the purchase, and the subscription renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage it in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. - Terms of Use: https://blossom-railway-09b.notion.site/Term-of-Use-3d137c58801d80788f90dddd1e760888 - Privacy Policy: https://blossom-railway-09b.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-3d137c58801d80ac910ce254e0843bf6

Screenshots

HabitUnlock4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: HabitUnlock at every 6 days against Screen Time Control's every 3 weeks. HabitUnlock also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.5). 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. HabitUnlock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HabitUnlock ships an update every 6 days, Screen Time Control every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
HabitUnlock versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHabitUnlockScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTyrian HortonYUTO OKURA

In-app purchases

3 purchases

HabitUnlock

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Premium$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Premium7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Annual Premium7 Days trial$39.991 Year
2 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$9.997 Days
  • Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is HabitUnlock free?
HabitUnlock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HabitUnlock or Screen Time Control have ads?
Neither HabitUnlock nor Screen Time Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HabitUnlock or Screen Time Control?
HabitUnlock ships an update every 6 days, and Screen Time Control every 3 weeks. Most recently, HabitUnlock was updated on October 12, 2026 and Screen Time Control on October 17, 2026.

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