# PhonePause vs TrueFocus

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TrueFocus at none against PhonePause's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PhonePause sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TrueFocus asks for nothing beyond the download.

PhonePause ships an update every 3 weeks, TrueFocus every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 22, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhonePause | TrueFocus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonepause-parent-lock/id6759881302/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 4 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Meyers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1879595732) | [Quillstone Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775419884) |

## What reviewers say

### PhonePause

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonepause-parent-lock/id6759881302)

This app helps parents manage their child's screen time with instant phone locking. It offers features like PIN-protected access, app whitelisting, and manual unlocking. Premium options include scheduled locks and blocking specific communication apps.

**Highlights:** Instant phone locking, PIN-protected parent access, App whitelisting during lock, Scheduled school hour locks, Timed punishment locks, Block messaging apps

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PhonePause Premium | $1.99 | one-time |


### TrueFocus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/truefocus-screen-time-control/id6799357571)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhonePause free?

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

### Is TrueFocus free?

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

### Do PhonePause or TrueFocus have ads?

Neither PhonePause nor TrueFocus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PhonePause or TrueFocus?

PhonePause ships an update every 3 weeks, and TrueFocus every 2 weeks. Most recently, PhonePause was updated on August 22, 2026 and TrueFocus on September 16, 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.*