# Screen Time Control App vs Holdback

The clearest difference is update cadence: Screen Time Control App at daily against Holdback's every 2 weeks. Holdback's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screen Time Control App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Holdback sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. 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 Screen Time Control App against 5.0 for Holdback. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Screen Time Control App ships an update daily, Holdback every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screen Time Control App | Holdback |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-app/id6758152591/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/holdback-app-blocker-and-steps/id6793691152/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 72 MB | 262 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lilucat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676061700) | [Raman Pazdniakou](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787426975) |

## What reviewers say

### Screen Time Control App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-app/id6758152591)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and providing insights into your usage. Set schedules for app blocking and receive motivational reminders to encourage a healthier digital balance and boost productivity.

**Highlights:** App Blocking, Scheduled Blocking, Instant Category Blocking, Usage Insights, Motivational Reminders

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ScreenTimeControl Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| ScreenTimeControl Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| ScreenTimeControl Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


### Holdback

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/holdback-app-blocker-and-steps/id6793691152)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by locking chosen apps until you meet a daily step goal, adhere to a schedule, or stay within a set time limit. It offers a 'never allowed' option for apps you wish to permanently block. Focus sessions can lock your entire phone for dedicated work periods.

**Highlights:** Unlock apps with step goals from Apple Health, Schedule app availability, Set daily time limits for apps, Permanently block apps, Focus sessions to lock entire phone, Hard mode to prevent changing settings, Track walking history and milestones

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Holdback Pro Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Holdback Pro Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screen Time Control App free?

Screen Time Control App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Holdback free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Screen Time Control App or Holdback?

Screen Time Control App and Holdback are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Screen Time Control App or Holdback have ads?

Neither Screen Time Control App nor Holdback shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control App or Holdback?

Screen Time Control App ships an update daily, and Holdback every 2 weeks. Most recently, Screen Time Control App was updated on October 24, 2026 and Holdback on October 8, 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.*