# Read to Unlock vs CTRL

Read to Unlock and CTRL are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Read to Unlock sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per 7 days and CTRL sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Read to Unlock ships an update monthly, CTRL every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read to Unlock | CTRL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-to-unlock-app-blocker/id6759538712/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oleksandr Khomin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643414478) | [Jibran Ahmed](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896727466) |

## What reviewers say

### Read to Unlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-to-unlock-app-blocker/id6759538712)

Earn screen time for your favorite apps by reading books. Scan a page, answer a question, and unlock your device. This app restructures habits by making app access conditional on reading, offering flexible or strict modes and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** Earn screen time by reading, Scan book pages and answer questions, Unlock apps automatically, Flexible or strict lock-in modes, Track reading progress and streaks, Companion character 'Octopy'

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Challenge Discounted: Pro Weekly | $3.49 | per 7 days |
| Pro Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Challenge Discounted: Pro Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Pro Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


### CTRL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrl-earn-your-scroll/id6776657128)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read to Unlock free?

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

### Is CTRL free?

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

### Do Read to Unlock or CTRL have ads?

Neither Read to Unlock nor CTRL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Read to Unlock or CTRL?

Read to Unlock ships an update monthly, and CTRL every 3 weeks. Most recently, Read to Unlock was updated on October 24, 2026 and CTRL on October 28, 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.*