shells screen time controls vs Spinbrek
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
shells screen time controls
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Take some of your hours back. Shells shows you where your phone time really goes, then helps you use it a little less. It gives you the whole range, from a gentle nudge to a short pause to a firm block, so you can start gentle and only go firmer for the apps that keep pulling you in. LIGHT: GENTLE NUDGES, NOTHING BLOCKED • Soft Nudges: a Volume Warning at 90% of your daily goal, Usage Milestones as your day adds up, a Daily Check-in Reminder for your streak, and Reach Alerts when you keep reaching for a paused or blocked app. MEDIUM: A SHORT PAUSE BEFORE AN APP OPENS • Mindful Pauses (iOS 26 or later): a Shortcuts automation brings up a calm 15 second breath when you open a chosen app, then you pick how long you'd like it for. Its notifications still come through. • Mindful Pauses + No Notifications: the Screen Time version. The app stays behind a shield between pauses, which can also keep its notifications out of the way. • Exercise Unlock: a few squats or a plank first, counted on your iPhone by the camera. • Steps Unlock: a short walk first. • Quick Session: an optional 20 second pass for a quick reply. STRICT: APPS STAY CLOSED WHEN YOU NEED THEM TO • Morning Block: keep your phone down first thing, apart from the essentials you pick. • App Limits: a daily allowance. Once it's used up, the app stays blocked until tomorrow, with 5 minutes of Emergency access if you really need it. • Scheduled Blocks: close apps at set times, like 9 to 5 on weekdays. • Location Blocks: block apps at the places you choose, or allow them only there. • NFC Locks: apps stay locked until you tap your own NFC sticker. AND A FEW EXTRAS • Holiday Mode: pause or relax any control while you're away. Everything switches back on by itself after the last day you pick. • Focus Sessions: block apps for a set time, with a Lock Screen countdown. • Calm browsing: open Instagram, YouTube, X, TikTok, Facebook and Reddit inside Shells with the parts you choose hidden, like the feed, Reels or Shorts. • Widgets: time left today, trends, the apps you choose, and one-tap Focus Sessions. SEE YOUR DAY CLEARLY • Three rings for productivity, screen time and a daily health score. • An hour by hour chart, pickups, a 30-day heatmap and a closer look at any app. • If you like, a timeline of the places where you use your phone most. YOUR DATA Your screen time, places and location history stay on your iPhone. What goes online: your optional Sign in with Apple account, referrals and feedback (Supabase), Pro status (RevenueCat), and product analytics with a device ID and your account ID (Statsig), never your screen time or location. Turn on iCloud backup and your settings, check-in notes, places and recent location history go to your own iCloud. We never sell your data. SHELLS AND PRO Each app you pause, each limit or block, each NFC Lock group and each Calm browsing site uses a Shell. Everyone starts with 1, and inviting friends earns up to 2 more. A free account adds basic Insights. Shells Pro gives you unlimited Shells, so every control runs at once, plus every Insights card. Widgets and Holiday Mode are free, and every control works on the free plan using your Shells. Pro comes as Monthly, Annual or Lifetime (one-time purchase). Annual and Lifetime have launch pricing, and new Monthly and Annual subscribers get a 1-month free trial (eligibility applies), until 31 December 2026 unless changed or extended. Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends; manage them in your App Store account settings. WHAT YOU NEED iOS 18 or later, Screen Time access and notifications (the Screen Time pause opens from a notification). Mindful Pauses via Shortcuts need iOS 26 or later. Location, Motion, Camera and NFC are optional. Privacy Policy: https://consciousscreentime.netlify.app/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Spinbrek
Regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting applications. Schedule automatic blocking for work or study, or initiate manual sessions. Earn rewards for focused time and watch your productivity improve.
- Block distracting apps
- Customizable schedules
- Manual blocking sessions
- Earn stars for focus
- Flexible controls
- Simple setup
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Spinbrek is the only screen time control app blocker that ACTUALLY helps. It's aesthetic enough for your desk setup and strict enough to keep you off your phone. When the urge to scroll hits, spin the wheel instead. Not a fan of pastel colors? There's a dark mode as well! SPIN INSTEAD OF SCROLL When you try to open a blocked app, Spinbrek gives you a moment to pause. Spin the wheel and land on something better to do: stretch, read, tidy up, or anything on your own list. If you have ADHD or deal with decision paralysis, you know the feeling: you put the phone down, then freeze because you can't pick what to do instead. The wheel makes that choice for you. One spin, one clear next step, no overthinking. Small wins add up, and breaking the scroll habit one spin at a time can change your whole day. YOUR WHEEL, YOUR RULES - Add your own tasks or use a ready-made to-do list - Paste a whole list at once - Strict Mode limits your spins so you commit to your pick FLEXIBLE CONTROLS - Block specific apps or all apps at once - Custom schedules for any time of day - Lock an App: limit how many times a day you can unlock it - Daily time limits per app - Pomodoro Mode - Take short breaks without losing your session - Track your focus session right from your Lock Screen with Live Activities PRIVATE BY DESIGN Spinbrek uses Apple's Screen Time framework to block apps. Your app usage stays on your device, and no account or sign-up is needed. TAKE BACK YOUR TIME No complicated setup. Block the scroll, spin the wheel, and do something that actually matters. Start your 7-day free trial today! ---------------- Terms of Service: https://eaglenguyen.github.io/pausenow-legal/terms_of_service Privacy Policy: https://eaglenguyen.github.io/pausenow-legal/privacy_policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Spinbrek at every 5 days against shells screen time controls's every 3 weeks. Spinbrek also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). 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
Both are free to download. shells screen time controls sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Spinbrek sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
shells screen time controls ships an update every 3 weeks, Spinbrek every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | shells screen time controls | Spinbrek |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.3 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 99 MB | 157 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andi Yao | Eagle Nguyen |
In-app purchases
shells screen time controls
- Pro Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
- Pro Annual1 Month trial$29.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$49.99
Spinbrek
- pause now Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- pause now Pro — Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- pause now Premium — Lifetime$39.99
Questions
Is shells screen time controls free?
Is Spinbrek free?
Do shells screen time controls or Spinbrek have ads?
Which is updated more often, shells screen time controls or Spinbrek?
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