Comparison

Screenguard vs Screen Time Control

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

Head to head
About

Screenguard

This app helps you manage screen time by earning it back through real-life tasks. Instead of just blocking apps, it allows you to complete activities like exercising or studying to unlock distracting apps for a limited duration.

Highlights
  • Earn screen time by completing real-life tasks
  • Spend earned time to unlock distracting apps
  • Set custom unlock durations for apps
  • Track weekly progress and daily averages
  • Identify top distracting apps
  • Integrates with Apple's Screen Time tools
Features
Read full description

Earn screen time to save 2h+ each day. Screenguard is a fun, simple way to limit screen time by earning it back through real-life tasks. Before you open a distracting app, Screenguard helps you pause, choose how much time you actually need, and stay in control. Instead of just blocking apps, Screenguard lets you earn screen time by completing simple tasks like moving your body, going outside, studying, reading, and building a better routine. Less endless scrolling. More time doing things that actually make you feel good. How it works: Pick the apps you want to guard, then earn coins by completing tasks in real life. Spend coins to unlock distracting apps for a limited amount of time. Screenguard keeps you aware with timers, limits, unlocks, and progress tracking so you always know where your time is going. That’s it. Complete a task. Earn coins. Unlock apps with intention. What makes Screenguard different: Most screen time apps only block you after you’ve already wasted time. Screenguard gives you a better trade: earn screen time by doing something good first. • Earn coins by completing real-life tasks • Spend coins to unlock distracting apps • Choose how long you want to unlock apps for • Limit screen time without quitting your phone completely • Build healthier routines around focus, sleep, movement, and mornings • Track weekly progress, streaks, daily averages, and pickup trends • See your top distractors ranked by time spent • Use Apple’s Screen Time tools to guard the apps that pull you in most Private & safe: Screenguard uses Apple's Screen Time API. All monitoring and blocking happen entirely on your device. Your app usage data never leaves your phone. * Subscription required to unlock app features. Terms of Service: https://screenguard.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://screenguard.app/privacy

About

Screen Time Control

This app helps you break phone addiction by earning screen time through habit completion. Build streaks, use focus timers, and complete challenges to unlock your phone usage. It offers smart app blocking and on-device AI for photo verification.

Highlights
  • Earn screen time through habit completion
  • Smart app blocking with iOS Screen Time integration
  • Focus timers (Pomodoro, Deep Work)
  • Habit tracking across 8 categories
  • Photo quests with on-device AI verification
  • Pushup challenges with pose detection
  • Live Activities and widgets
Features
Read full description

Spudy turns phone addiction into earned screen time. Every habit completed unlocks your scroll — beat doomscrolling, dopamine spikes, and brainrot by building real streaks. App blocker meets habit tracker meets screen time control, all in one place. Spudy Premium is required to access all features. Start with a 3-day free trial. HOW IT WORKS Choose which apps to block. Complete habits, focus sessions, photo quests, and pushup challenges to earn Spudy Coins. Spend those coins to unlock minutes on your blocked apps. The more you invest in yourself, the more time you earn. SMART APP BLOCKING Select which apps to block using iOS Screen Time controls. When your time is up, apps stay locked until you earn more coins through real achievements. No more mindless scrolling. FOCUS TIMERS Stay in flow with Pomodoro (25/5 minutes, 4 cycles), Deep Work (no limit), or custom durations. Complete sessions to earn coins and keep your streak alive. HABITS IN 8 CATEGORIES Health, Study, Work, Creativity, Mindfulness, Reading, Sleep, and custom habits. Build your own with emoji, reminders, and category. PHOTO QUESTS Prove you're living life offline: touch grass, drink water, eat healthy, hang out with friends, do your skincare, stretch, write gratitude, take a cold shower, or take your vitamins. On-device AI verifies your photo — no cloud, no servers. PUSHUP CHALLENGES Do real pushups tracked with on-device pose detection. Each pushup earns 1 minute of screen time. Your body moves, your phone unlocks. SPUDY MASCOT An animated mascot reacts to your habits: celebrates when you complete, joins you during focus. Your progress has a face. LIVE ACTIVITIES & WIDGETS See your active focus session and daily streak from the Dynamic Island, lock screen, or widgets. Spudy present without opening the app. REAL STATS 90-day heatmap, "locked in" days, accuracy on scheduled habits, consistency score, and weekly patterns. Measure your progress without disguises. YOUR DATA, YOUR DEVICE No cloud sync, no account, no ads. Everything stays on your iPhone. Less doomscroll, more life. Earn your scroll today. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS All features above are part of Spudy Premium, an auto-renewing subscription. Plans available: • Monthly: $4.99 / month • Yearly: $39.99 / year (includes a 3-day free trial) Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off 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 at the price of the selected plan. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a Spudy Premium subscription. Terms of Use: https://www.spudy.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.spudy.app/privacy

Screenshots

Screenguard4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Screenguard at free against Screen Time Control's freemium. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Screenguard sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Screen Time Control sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Screenguard against 4.5 for Screen Time Control. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 20 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screenguard ships an update every 6 days, Screen Time Control every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Screenguard versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenguardScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (28 ratings) — better4.5 (20 ratings)
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings28 — better20
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.218.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size121 MB80 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMagicbase IncVictor Cristobal Gonzalez Martin

Customer experience

Screenguard

All ratings25 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

Screen Time Control

All ratings20 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Screenguard

Subscriptions7
  • Premium$4.997 Days
  • Premium3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Premium7 Days trial$4.997 Days
Show 4 more
  • Premium3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Premium7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Premium$29.991 Year
  • Yearly (2-Week Free Trial)14 Days trial$29.991 Year
7 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions7
  • Premium Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Exclusive 6-Month Offer$14.996 Months
  • Premium$29.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Premium$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Screenguard free?
Screenguard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Screenguard or Screen Time Control?
Screenguard is rated higher. Screenguard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.5 from 20 ratings.
Do Screenguard or Screen Time Control have ads?
Neither Screenguard nor Screen Time Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screenguard or Screen Time Control?
Screenguard ships an update every 6 days, and Screen Time Control every 9 days. Most recently, Screenguard was updated on October 31, 2026 and Screen Time Control on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons