# WhyNow vs Intentional

The clearest difference is monetization model: WhyNow at freemium against Intentional's subscription. Intentional's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhyNow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Intentional sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. 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 WhyNow against 5.0 for Intentional. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

WhyNow ships an update every 9 days, Intentional every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhyNow | Intentional |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whynow-screen-time-control/id6759068920/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intentional-screen-time-ctrl/id6759545167/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 108 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Taseen Tanvir](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876638120) | [Nicholas Kneafsey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209887722) |

## What reviewers say

### WhyNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whynow-screen-time-control/id6759068920)

This app helps you reduce time spent on distracting applications by requiring intentional unlocks. Create custom blocking profiles and choose from various unlock methods like physical movement, QR codes, or timers to build better phone habits.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Create focused profiles, Unlock with movement challenges, Use QR codes or NFC tags, Add timers and delays, Track focus progress

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WhyNow Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| WhyNow Annual Save Offer | $39.99 | per year |
| WhyNow Annual | $59.99 | per year |


### Intentional

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intentional-screen-time-ctrl/id6759545167)

This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by introducing a brief pause before opening distracting applications. Set time limits and lock apps automatically when your session ends, breaking autopilot behavior without relying on willpower.

**Highlights:** Brief pause before app opening, Set time limits for apps, Automatic app locking, Game mode during countdowns, Session reminders, Background enforcement, Distraction-free design

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Intentional Monthly | $2.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhyNow free?

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

### Is Intentional free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WhyNow or Intentional?

WhyNow and Intentional are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do WhyNow or Intentional have ads?

Neither WhyNow nor Intentional shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, WhyNow or Intentional?

WhyNow ships an update every 9 days, and Intentional every 2 weeks. Most recently, WhyNow was updated on October 6, 2026 and Intentional on September 30, 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.*