Comparison

App Blocker vs Pause

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

Head to head
About

App Blocker

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App Blocker: Screen Time โ€” 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 โ€ข App and category blocking during active sessions โ€ข Flexible goal-led focus timer โ€ข Quick, Deep, Extended, and Open modes โ€ข Immersive animated backgrounds โ€ข Recurring Smart Auto schedules โ€ข Weekly goals, streaks, and history โ€ข Live Activities, Dynamic Island, and widgets โ€ข 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

Pause

Features
Read full description

Pause: Break the Doomscrolling Loop Break free from the doomscrolling loop and reclaim your time with Pause. Pause isn't another screen time blocker. Instead of locking you out of your phone or making you feel guilty, Pause interrupts your autopilot habits at the exact moment they happen. Whenever you instinctively open a distracting app, Pause steps in first with a mandatory 60-second mindful breathing exercise. It takes just one minute to break the cycle of mindless scrolling. Take a breath, identify what you're actually looking for, and decide intentionally whether you still want to open the app. HOW IT WORKS Create Intervention Plans: Select the apps that trigger your distracting or compulsive usage, such as Instagram, TikTok, or X. The 60-Second Intercept: When you open a targeted app, Pause appears first. Complete a 60-second mindful breathing exercise before continuing. Identify Your Triggers: Log how you're feeling in the moment โ€” Bored, Anxious, Procrastinating, or another trigger โ€” to better understand what drives your scrolling habits. Make a Choice: After 60 seconds, you're in control. Choose to continue to the app or step away and reclaim your time. BUILD HEALTHIER HABITS Evening Reflections: gentle reminder at the end of the day to check in with your mood and reflect on your screen time. Weekly Insights: Track your progress over time. Discover your most common trigger apps, peak urge times, and your Pause Success Rate the percentage of times you chose to step away. Privacy First: Your intervention plans and check-ins are private and securely tied to your account. TAKE BACK YOUR ATTENTION Stop letting algorithms control your attention. Add a little friction to distracting habits, build awareness around your screen time, and get your focus back. Take a breath. Take a Pause.

Screenshots

App Blocker4 screens
Pause4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pause at none against App Blocker's 3. Pause also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). App Blocker's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. App Blocker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Pause asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

App Blocker ships an update every 2 weeks, Pause every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences ยท 1 level
App Blocker versus Pause: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApp BlockerPause
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days โ€” better
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS17.615.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size59 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYurii KoshkinUPSTART INNOVATION, LLC

In-app purchases

3 purchases

App Blocker

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$8.997 Days
  • Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$89.99
None

Pause

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is App Blocker free?
App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pause free?
Pause is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do App Blocker or Pause have ads?
Pause shows ads; App Blocker does not.
Which is updated more often, App Blocker or Pause?
App Blocker ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pause every 4 days. Most recently, App Blocker was updated on October 16, 2026 and Pause on October 11, 2026.

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