# Pagelock vs CTRL

Pagelock 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. Pagelock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 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.

Pagelock ships an update every 4 weeks, CTRL every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pagelock | CTRL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pagelock-read-before-scroll/id6760515731/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 35 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Omar Darwish](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822966114) | [Jibran Ahmed](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896727466) |

## What reviewers say

### Pagelock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pagelock-read-before-scroll/id6760515731)

This app helps you build a reading habit by replacing mindless scrolling with engaging with a physical book. It requires you to read and answer a question about a scanned book page before you can access distracting apps, promoting focus and reducing screen time.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps until reading, Unlock phone through reading, Scan printed book pages, Complete reading checks, Timed reading sessions, Set daily reading goals, Track reading progress

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PageLock Pro Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| PageLock Pro Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| PageLock Pro Yearly | $39.99 | 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 Pagelock free?

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

### Is CTRL free?

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

### Do Pagelock or CTRL have ads?

Neither Pagelock nor CTRL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pagelock or CTRL?

Pagelock ships an update every 4 weeks, and CTRL every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pagelock 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.*