Comparison

App Blocker vs Family

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

Head to head
About

App Blocker

Read full description

App Blocker: Screen Time — Focus is easier when distractions are out of reach. App Blocker combines a flexible focus timer with real app blocking, so your chosen apps and categories stay unavailable while you work, study, read, create, or take time for yourself. BLOCK DISTRACTING APPS Choose the apps and categories that pull you away. App Blocker uses Apple's Screen Time permissions to shield them during an active focus session, then restores access when the session ends. START WITH A CLEAR GOAL Write down what you want to finish, choose a session length, and begin. Pick Quick, Deep, Extended, or Open mode depending on the time and attention you have available. MAKE FOCUS FEEL BETTER Settle into an immersive timer with ocean, beach, forest, mountains, campfire, rain, or a clean minimal background. Keep the session visible through Live Activities and supported widgets. PUT FOCUS ON YOUR SCHEDULE Create recurring Smart Auto routines for the moments you want to protect. When a scheduled session is due, App Blocker asks you to Start or Skip, so you stay in control. TRACK REAL PROGRESS Review focused time, weekly goals, streaks, and session history. Completed, ended-early, and skipped sessions are recorded honestly, helping you see the routine you are actually building. BUILT FOR DAILY FOCUS • App and category blocking during active sessions • Flexible goal-led focus timer • Quick, Deep, Extended, and Open modes • Immersive animated backgrounds • Recurring Smart Auto schedules • Weekly goals, streaks, and history • Live Activities, Dynamic Island, and widgets • Calm design without a cluttered dashboard App blocking requires Screen Time authorization and only applies after you select what App Blocker should block. One full 15-minute focus session is free. No purchase or subscription trial is required for this session. Continued focus sessions and Smart Auto require a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. Existing lifetime owners keep access. Prices and any eligible annual trial are shown before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Family

Organize family life with a shared calendar, routines, shopping lists, and meal planning. Stay connected and coordinate daily tasks, fostering responsibility and ease for everyone.

Highlights
  • Shared family calendar
  • Personal routines and reminders
  • Location check-ins
  • Collaborative shopping lists
  • Meal planning
  • Family conversations
  • Age-appropriate responsibility
Features
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Less to remember. More to share. Family life has a lot of moving parts. Schedules, routines, groceries, meals, appointments, reminders, and everything in between. Family-Plan brings it all together in one place, giving everyone a simple way to stay organized, involved, and connected. When everyone knows what's happening and what's theirs to do, it's easier to coordinate the day, share responsibilities, and keep the whole family in sync. Family-Plan helps your family: • Keep everyone in sync with a shared family calendar • Create personal routines with schedules and reminders • Request check-ins and know when family members arrive safely • Share location with a check-in when they choose • Build and share shopping lists the whole family can contribute to • Let family members request shopping items for parent approval • Plan meals and let family members request what they'd like • Stay connected with built-in family conversations • Give children age-appropriate independence and responsibility • Keep your family's everyday planning together in one place Whether you're coordinating schedules, helping kids manage their routines, planning what's for dinner, or simply keeping everyone connected, Family-Plan gives your family one shared place to make everyday life easier. Less to remember. More to share.

Screenshots

App Blocker4 screens
Family4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Family at every 5 days against App Blocker's every 10 days. Family also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. App Blocker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Family sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

App Blocker ships an update every 10 days, Family every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
App Blocker versus Family: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApp BlockerFamily
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB177 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYurii KoshkinJon Torres

In-app purchases

4 purchases

App Blocker

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Monthly Pro$5.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$89.99
4 purchases

Family

Subscriptions4
  • Family-Plan Standard Monthly$5.491 Month
  • Family-Plan$9.991 Month
  • Family-Plan Standard Annual14 Days trial$44.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Family-Plan3 Days trial$99.001 Year

Questions

Is App Blocker free?
App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Family free?
Family is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do App Blocker or Family have ads?
Neither App Blocker nor Family shows ads.
Which is updated more often, App Blocker or Family?
App Blocker ships an update every 10 days, and Family every 5 days. Most recently, App Blocker was updated on October 26, 2026 and Family on October 18, 2026.

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