Comparison

ScreenHalt vs Arc Lock

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

Head to head
About

ScreenHalt

This app helps you regain control of your digital habits by setting strict limits on app usage and opens. It enforces these boundaries to prevent mindless scrolling and encourage discipline. Take back your time and build healthier routines with its simple, distraction-free interface.

Highlights
  • Limit daily app opens
  • Set time limits for specific apps
  • Enforce strict usage boundaries
  • Simple and distraction-free interface
  • Build healthier digital habits
Features
Read full description

ScreenHalt helps you focus and reduce mindless scrolling by putting firm limits on how much time you spend on apps each day. Set daily limits for app opens and screen time, then let ScreenHalt enforce them. When you reach your limit, access is blocked — no extra scrolling, no exceptions. Designed for people who want real control over their digital habits, ScreenHalt encourages discipline without guilt. Features: • Limit daily app opens • Limit time spent in specific apps • Enforce strict usage boundaries • Simple and distraction-free experience Take back your time and build healthier habits with ScreenHalt. ScreenHalt offers premium features through auto-renewable subscriptions. • Payment will be charged to your App Store account at confirmation of purchase • Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period • You can manage and cancel your subscriptions in your App Store account settings Terms of Service: https://ScreenHalt.app/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://ScreenHalt.app/privacy-policy

About

Arc Lock

Features
Read full description

Companies fight for every second of your time to keep you distracted. Taking control of your screen time should be a human right, not something locked behind a paywall. Arc Lock blocks the apps and websites that eat your day, and once a block starts, it stays on. Every feature is free for everyone: no subscription, no account, no ads, no in-app purchases. SCHEDULES Pick apps, app categories and websites, choose the hours and days, and they lock on their own. Overnight windows like 11 PM – 7 AM work too (up to 22 hours). DAILY LIMITS Allow yourself a set time each day, from 5 minutes to 8 hours. See exactly how many minutes are used and left. When the time is used up, those apps lock until the limit resets: at midnight, or at the time you pick (say 4:00 AM, for late nights). A heads-up comes 5 minutes before. TIME-OUTS Not a full block, a pause. After a stretch of use, the apps take a short break, then open again. For example: after 20 minutes of short videos, a 10-minute break. It repeats all day and starts fresh at its reset time. BLOCK NOW Lock distractions right away, from 15 minutes to 12 hours. The Block now button is always one tap away. PLACES Pick one or more places on the map, like the library, your school or the gym, and the apps lock when you arrive. Each place block ends when you leave, or after a set time, whichever you choose, and starts only on the days you pick. Location access is asked for only when you set up a place block, and Arc Lock never sends your location anywhere. STRICT LOCK Every block can have Strict lock, and it's on by default. While a strict block runs: • it can't be stopped, loosened or deleted in Arc Lock • the date and time can't be changed by hand • the block screen has a single button: Close Daily limits and time-outs are locked in until they reset: you can make one stricter once a day, but looser settings only start at its next reset. Want a gentler block? Switch Strict lock off for that block, and you can stop it whenever you like. Switching Strict lock off for the whole app works right away: a block that's running or counting stays strict only until its own reset, or until it ends. DELETION PROTECTION On by default: no app can be deleted from your iPhone, Arc Lock included. Switching it off waits only until your strict blocks reset or end. LOCK-IN Freeze every rule for 1 to 30 days, even between blocks: no loosening, no deleting rules, no deleting apps. Changes you queued before it wait until it ends. WEBSITES BY ADDRESS Type a site like youtube.com and it's blocked in Safari and every other browser, in schedules, daily limits, time-outs and Block now. APPLE'S OWN LOOK Native lists and a compact Liquid Glass tab bar: Home, Blocks and Settings. Names are optional: a block without one is shown by its first app. Five themes (Navy, Graphite, Forest, Plum and Paper), each with a matching app icon. The phone-and-lock mark in the app closes while something is blocked. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Arc Lock works through Apple's Screen Time. Apple keeps your activity on your iPhone; Arc Lock never learns which apps you use and sends nothing anywhere. No account, no analytics, no tracking. OPEN SOURCE The complete source code is on GitHub under the MIT license: github.com/WeldingArc/arc-lock

Screenshots

ScreenHalt4 screens
Arc Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Arc Lock at none against ScreenHalt's 3. Arc Lock also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. ScreenHalt sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Arc Lock asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenHalt ships an update every 2 weeks, Arc Lock every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ScreenHalt versus Arc Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenHaltArc Lock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenHalt LLCJUN HYUK CHOI

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ScreenHalt

Subscriptions2
  • One Month Premium$8.991 Month
  • Annual Premium$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$149.99
None

Arc Lock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ScreenHalt free?
ScreenHalt is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arc Lock free?
Arc Lock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ScreenHalt or Arc Lock have ads?
Neither ScreenHalt nor Arc Lock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScreenHalt or Arc Lock?
ScreenHalt ships an update every 2 weeks, and Arc Lock every 8 days. Most recently, ScreenHalt was updated on October 31, 2026 and Arc Lock on October 31, 2026.

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