Comparison

Tempoa vs Normal

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

Head to head
About

Tempoa

Features
Read full description

Tempoa helps you take control of social media use without quitting it. Select the apps you want to track. Set daily limits. Get notified before scrolling turns into hours. When you stay within your limits, you earn world pieces and grow your own evolving world. Less mindless scrolling. More intentional time. HOW TEMPOA WORKS 1. Track What Matters Choose the social media apps you want to monitor. Tempoa tracks daily usage and gives you a clear picture of where your time goes. 2. Smart Usage Notifications Receive gentle alerts as you approach your limit. No guilt. No shaming. Just awareness when you need it most. 3. Earn World Pieces Stay within your daily threshold and unlock a new piece of your world. Build landscapes, grow environments, and watch your planet evolve with every focused day. 4. Visualize Your Habits See your usage through clean block timelines and charts. Identify patterns. Spot improvement. Make better decisions tomorrow. WHY TEMPOA IS DIFFERENT Most screen time apps focus on restriction. Tempoa focuses on growth. Instead of locking you out, Tempoa rewards consistency. Instead of punishing excess, it helps you build something meaningful. Your progress becomes visible. Your discipline becomes creative. Your focus becomes a world. FEATURES • App-specific time tracking • Threshold-based reminders • Daily rewards system • Visual usage blocks and charts • Weekly progress insights You don’t need to delete social media. You just need better balance. Build your world. Reduce the scroll.

About

Normal

This app helps you reduce phone usage by blocking selected applications by default. To access blocked apps, you must physically scan an NFC tag, QR code, or barcode, or be at a specific location. It offers granular control, timed unblocks, and scheduling to help you regain control of your screen time.

Highlights
  • Block apps via NFC, QR codes, and barcodes
  • Use any NFC tag, QR code, or barcode
  • Unblock/block specific apps
  • Timed unblocks
  • Scheduling
  • Granular control
  • Bypass prevention options
Read full description

Normal actually makes you use your phone less by keeping selected apps blocked by default. To unblock you have to physically scan an NFC Tag, QR Code or use a Location. This can be any NFC Tag, QR Code, Barcode, Location you set in the app. This 'opt-in' approach is backed by research and actual use. Normal is made to be the most powerful screen time app available. Saving your hours of your day. It's fully open-source and no features are behind paywalls. It can also be made to be impossible to bypass. Highlights of Normal: - Block Apps via NFC Tags, QR Codes and Barcodes - Use ANY NFC Tag, QR Code or Barcode - Unblock/Block specific Apps - Timed Unblocks - Emergency Unblocks - Scheduling - Complete Granular Control - Can make it as easy or as hard to bypass Normal was made because of issues with some other screen time apps. - Other screen time apps are easy to bypass. Normal can be made to be impossible to bypass, or easy to bypass. You have complete control. - Most other screen time apps work on opt-out strategy, where you have access to all apps, then lose access through usage. - Normal works on opt-in strategy. The apps you have blocked are always blocked, to use them you have to physically get up and scan your NFC tag or QR Code. - Most screen time apps are paid, either one-time or more commonly, subscriptions. There are no paid features. Everything is free and open-source. - Normal is privacy-focused. We don't log any data, everything stays on device. Since we're open source, you can check our code and confirm. - Normal allows timed unlocks. Other NFC/QR Code blockers don't have this. If you want to use an app for 15min, you can unlock it for 15min only. You don't have to remember to reblock. Normal was made by actual users, research on smartphone addiction and developments in dumbphones in-mind. If you want to turn your iPhone into a dumbphone, you can. Block all smart apps, block the app store, prevent disabling normal (via preventing delete and the shortcuts trick). Now you have a dumbphone, which you can't make smart without your NFC Tag (which you can make as difficult as you need). If you want a semi-dumbphone, you can. Do the above but have some apps like maps, music, messaging, etc. If you're a professional who needs access to apps distracting sometimes, Normal is for you! Block all distractions with Normal. Set schedules for you work apps or used timed unblocks. Need 15min to post content or check email? You can do that! You just have to physically get up and scan your NFC Tag, QR Code, or Barcode. The apps will automatically reblock after your timer is over. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Tempoa4 screens
Normal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Normal at none against Tempoa's shown. Normal also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Tempoa's advantage is iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). 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. Tempoa sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Normal sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tempoa ships an update weekly, Normal every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Tempoa versus Normal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTempoaNormal
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (39 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—39 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB5 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTio SpicarNormal Engineering Inc.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Tempoa

Subscriptions4
  • Pro$9.991 Month
  • Pro7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Pro$59.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
9 purchases

Normal

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Support$5.001 Month
  • Monthly Support$10.001 Month
  • Monthly Support$20.001 Month
One-time6
  • One-time Donation$5.00
  • One-time Donation$10.00
  • One-time Donation$20.00
Show 3 more
  • One-time Donation$50.00
  • One-time Donation$100.00
  • One-time Donation$200.00

Questions

Is Tempoa free?
Tempoa is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Normal free?
Normal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tempoa or Normal have ads?
Tempoa shows ads; Normal does not.
Which is updated more often, Tempoa or Normal?
Tempoa ships an update weekly, and Normal every 2 days. Most recently, Tempoa was updated on October 7, 2026 and Normal on October 15, 2026.

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