# shells screen time controls vs Tempo

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tempo at none against shells screen time controls's 3. Tempo also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). shells screen time controls's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. shells screen time controls sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Tempo asks for nothing beyond the download.

shells screen time controls ships an update every 3 weeks, Tempo every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | shells screen time controls | Tempo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-screen-time-guard/id6774021443/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | — | Ad-supported |
| Size | 99 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andi Yao](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887084939) | [Harry Yuan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1738692027) |

## What reviewers say

### shells screen time controls

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-screen-time-controls/id6760968999)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


### Tempo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-screen-time-guard/id6774021443)

This app encourages intentional screen time by prompting mindful pauses before opening distracting applications. It helps users notice their digital habits, build better routines, and track progress through clear daily and weekly patterns.

**Highlights:** Mindful pause prompts, Habit tracking, Progress visualization, Routine building, Shame-free approach

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is shells screen time controls free?

shells screen time controls is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Tempo free?

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

### Do shells screen time controls or Tempo have ads?

Tempo shows ads; shells screen time controls does not.

### Which is updated more often, shells screen time controls or Tempo?

shells screen time controls ships an update every 3 weeks, and Tempo every 4 days. Most recently, shells screen time controls was updated on October 25, 2026 and Tempo on October 7, 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.*