# WhyNow vs Svala

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Svala at none against WhyNow's 3. WhyNow's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhyNow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Svala asks for nothing beyond the download.

WhyNow ships an update every 9 days, Svala weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhyNow | Svala |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whynow-screen-time-control/id6759068920/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 108 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Taseen Tanvir](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876638120) | [Sebastian Kalita](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896588321) |

## 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 |


### Svala

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/svala-screen-time-control/id6768594526)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhyNow free?

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

### Is Svala free?

Svala is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do WhyNow or Svala have ads?

Neither WhyNow nor Svala shows ads.

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

WhyNow ships an update every 9 days, and Svala weekly. Most recently, WhyNow was updated on October 6, 2026 and Svala on October 25, 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.*