Comparison

Intentional vs Strict App Blocker

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

Head to head
About

Intentional

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
Read full description

Your phone takes hours from you every day. Intentional gives them back. Instead of blocking your apps, Intentional adds one simple step — a brief pause before you open them. That moment is enough to break the autopilot and put you back in control. Pick the apps that waste your time. Set a time limit. Use them on your terms. When your session ends, they lock again — no willpower required. Features include game mode during countdowns, session reminders, background enforcement, and a clean distraction-free design. Subscription required for core app features. The average person spends over 4 hours a day on their phone. Intentional can help you reclaim over 400 of those hours this year.

About

Strict App Blocker

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting daily limits or blocking specific applications during designated hours. Features include a countdown timer, a strict "hard mode" for complete blocking, and a grayscale option to discourage usage. It offers a ten-day training period to build new habits.

Highlights
  • Daily time limits for apps
  • Scheduled app blocking (Hard Mode)
  • Grayscale mode for usage deterrence
  • Strict training mode to lock settings
  • Sixty-day usage history
  • No account required, data stays on device
Features
Read full description

Set a daily time limit on the apps that eat your day, or shut them off completely between the hours you choose. When the time is gone, it's gone. Free. No account, no subscription, no trial that runs out. DAILY BUDGET Pick your worst apps and give them a limit. The timer counts down while you use them and resets each morning. Open a blocked app and you see how long is left, not a wall with no explanation. HARD MODE Schedule a window and the apps simply don't open. 9 to 5. 11pm to 7am. Whatever you need. No countdown, no bargaining. GREYSCALE Turn the screen black and white the moment you open something you're trying to cut down on. It sounds like a gimmick. It works better than it should. STRICT TRAINING Ten days to get used to it, then you can lock the settings so the version of you at 1am can't undo what you decided at 10am. WHY IT'S FREE Every other blocker wants forty dollars a year to help you use your phone less. This one doesn't. There's a tip jar in Settings if you want to, and that's the whole business model. No account means there's nothing to leak, and your data never leaves your phone. Dark mode, a sixty day history of the days you left your rules alone, and Otto, who tells you where you're at without nagging.

Screenshots

Intentional4 screens
Strict App Blocker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Strict App Blocker at free against Intentional's subscription. Strict App Blocker also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). Intentional's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Intentional sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and Strict App Blocker sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. 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 — 5.0 for Intentional against 5.0 for Strict App Blocker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Intentional ships an update every 2 weeks, Strict App Blocker every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Intentional versus Strict App Blocker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIntentionalStrict App Blocker
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNicholas KneafseyCasebuddy Pty Ltd

Customer experience

Intentional

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Strict App Blocker

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Intentional

Subscriptions1
  • Intentional Monthly1 Month trial$2.991 Month
4 purchases

Strict App Blocker

One-time4
  • A small tip$1.99
  • A good tip$4.99
  • A generous tip$9.99
Show 1 more
  • A very generous tip$19.99

Questions

Is Intentional free?
Intentional is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Strict App Blocker free?
Strict App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Intentional or Strict App Blocker?
Intentional and Strict App Blocker are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Intentional or Strict App Blocker have ads?
Neither Intentional nor Strict App Blocker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Intentional or Strict App Blocker?
Intentional ships an update every 2 weeks, and Strict App Blocker every 3 days. Most recently, Intentional was updated on October 31, 2026 and Strict App Blocker on October 10, 2026.

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