Comparison

SmartBlock vs Screen Time & App Limits

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

Head to head
About

SmartBlock

This app requires children to solve math or logic challenges before accessing blocked applications. Parents can customize app blocking and challenge difficulty, with no ads or tracking. It offers a free tier for one app block and a premium subscription for unlimited blocking.

Highlights
  • Math and logic challenges for app access
  • Customizable app blocking
  • Adjustable challenge difficulty
  • Offline functionality
  • No ads or tracking
  • Supports iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Features
Read full description

Most parental control apps just block. SmartBlock makes kids earn access. Every time your child tries to open a blocked app YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, games they get a quick challenge: math, flags, number sequences and more. No solution, no access. Simple. HOW IT WORKS Set which apps get blocked SmartBlock intercepts each access attempt Child must solve a challenge to proceed Parents choose the difficulty MATH LEVELS From simple addition to mixed operations you choose what fits your child's grade. Addition and Subtraction Multiplication Adjustable difficulty (Easy to Hard) BUILT FOR PARENTS Native Screen Time and Family Controls integration No accounts required fully offline Zero ads, zero tracking Everything stays on your device (no servers) iPhone, iPad, and Mac (M1 or later) WHY PARENTS CHOOSE SMARTBLOCK "I don't want to just take away the iPad. I want her to do something useful first." SmartBlock solves exactly that. Screen time doesn't disappear it gets earned. Kids stay sharp during vacations, weekends, and after school without you having to fight over devices. Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian and Japanese. Free plan lets you block 1 app. Premium unlocks unlimited blocked apps via an auto-renewing subscription (Premium Weekly or Premium Monthly, part of the Smart Block Premium subscription group). Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID account settings. Privacy Policy: https://superapp.uy/smartblocks/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Screen Time & App Limits

Features
Read full description

Screen Time is a screen time manager for individuals and families. It uses the Screen Time capabilities built into iPhone and iPad to create a clear, sustainable rhythm for managed apps. Set the length of each use session, the break between sessions, and a daily allowance. Time is counted only while managed apps are actually used. When a session limit is reached, Screen Time pauses managed apps and restores access automatically after the break. You can also assign a separate daily limit to each selected app. Key features: • Custom use-and-break cycles and daily allowances • Individual daily limits for selected apps • Manage all apps or selected apps, categories, and websites • Protect settings with Face ID, Touch ID, or a local PIN • Add time for today, skip one break, or manually lock and unlock managed apps • One-time purchase to unlock automation permanently; no subscription Privacy first: no account, no ads, and no third-party analytics. Rules, status, and system-provided selection tokens stay on your device. Usage diagnostics: view local steps and outcomes and choose to share a diagnostic file. It contains no selected apps, websites or passwords and is not uploaded automatically. System calls and your experience reports are recorded separately.

Screenshots

SmartBlock4 screens
Screen Time & App Limits3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Screen Time & App Limits at every 5 days against SmartBlock's every 10 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. SmartBlock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Screen Time & App Limits sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmartBlock ships an update every 10 days, Screen Time & App Limits every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
SmartBlock versus Screen Time & App Limits: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartBlockScreen Time & App Limits
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAGUSTIN LUIS FORNIO LAINO少元 李

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SmartBlock

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
1 purchases

Screen Time & App Limits

One-time1
  • 永久解锁$3.99

Questions

Is SmartBlock free?
SmartBlock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screen Time & App Limits free?
Screen Time & App Limits is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SmartBlock or Screen Time & App Limits have ads?
Neither SmartBlock nor Screen Time & App Limits shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmartBlock or Screen Time & App Limits?
SmartBlock ships an update every 10 days, and Screen Time & App Limits every 5 days. Most recently, SmartBlock was updated on November 9, 2026 and Screen Time & App Limits on November 10, 2026.

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