Comparison

Detox vs BreathGate

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

Head to head
About

Detox

Features
Read full description

Your phone is built to keep you scrolling. Detox is built to help you stop. If you've ever looked at your screen time and felt a pang of regret, you're not alone. The average person unlocks their phone over 100 times a day and spends four or more hours in apps designed to maximize attention, not wellbeing. Detox hands the control back to you with a simple, powerful toolkit built on Apple's native Screen Time framework. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps or categories you want to block — social media, games, streaming, news, or anything else that steals your focus. 2. Detox activates Apple's system-level Screen Time shield the moment you confirm. Your chosen apps are blocked instantly and stay blocked even if you close Detox, restart your phone, or try to reinstall them. 3. When you need temporary access, unlock for 1, 5, 15, 30 minutes, 1, 2, or 3 hours. A live countdown keeps you accountable. No complicated setup. No daily permissions. No loopholes. KEY FEATURES • Block any app or category with one tap — instant system-level shield • Live Dynamic Island countdown shows unlock time remaining • Flexible unlock windows from 1 minute up to 3 hours • Daily focus score from 0 to 100 that rewards discipline • Streak counter that grows every day you stay under your limit • Weekly reclaimed time report • Complete app usage breakdown via Apple's DeviceActivityReport • Separate daily, weekday, and weekend screen time goals • Beautiful dark interface with smooth animations and haptic feedback • 40 rotating daily focus tips on attention and intentional living • Works entirely offline — no account, no cloud sync, no data collection THE DYNAMIC ISLAND DIFFERENCE Most screen time apps disappear the moment you close them. Detox doesn't. When an unlock is active, a live countdown lives in your Dynamic Island. You see the timer ticking while browsing, texting, or using any other app. It's your focus companion — always present, never intrusive. When the countdown ends, your shield snaps back automatically. FOCUS SCORE AND STREAKS Detox turns discipline into a game you actually want to play. Your daily focus score reflects how well you've stayed within your goals. Every day under the limit extends your streak. Every mindful moment compounds into a habit that sticks. PRIVACY FIRST Your data never leaves your device. Detox is built on Apple's privacy-preserving Screen Time APIs — we never see which apps you use, how long, or any personal information. No account, no email, no tracking. Everything is processed locally on your iPhone. START TAKING CONTROL TODAY Download Detox, choose the apps that drain your attention, and block them in under 30 seconds. Reclaim your hours. Reclaim your focus. Reclaim your life. --- Subscription options and pricing are displayed at the time of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew at the same price and duration unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://www.astra-dev.fr/apps/screen-time-detox/terms-of-use.html Privacy Policy: https://www.astra-dev.fr/apps/screen-time-detox/privacy-policy.html

About

BreathGate

Features
Read full description

BreathGate is a calm pause before you open distracting apps — a soft breath between impulse and scroll. BreathGate Premium is a paid subscription. All features described below require a BreathGate Premium subscription (weekly or annual) or the one-time Premium Lifetime purchase. A free trial is available for eligible new subscribers. Not a hard app blocker. Not a multi-minute meditation session. Just enough friction to notice why you reached for your phone. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps that pull you in (Instagram, TikTok, news — your list). 2. When you open one, BreathGate meets you with a quiet breath or cool-down. 3. Optionally tag your intent: Boredom, FOMO, Work, or Habit. 4. Open the app — or walk away. Both choices are yours. Both are logged. KEY FEATURES (included with BreathGate Premium — purchase required) • Soft pause before scrolling — a breath gate, not a lock • Intent chips in one tap (no journaling required) • Walk-away vs open logging so success feels clear • Weekly impulse report with your top triggers • Cool-down option if breath is not your style • Private by default — on-device, no account required • Calm UI: short sentences, no shame, no leaderboards WHY BREATHGATE Most screen time apps either hard-block your day or pile on streaks and scores. BreathGate does one job well: give you a moment to decide. Tagging Boredom, FOMO, Work, or Habit turns each impulse into insight. Your weekly impulse report shows pauses, walk-aways, and which triggers show up most — so you learn patterns, not punishments. PERFECT FOR • Anyone who opens social media on autopilot • People who want digital wellbeing without a digital prison • Users who tried hard blockers and felt trapped • Anyone who wants mindful phone habits with less guilt WHAT BREATHGATE IS NOT • Not a parental-control suite • Not medical treatment for addiction • Not a hard all-day app lock with no way through • Not a long guided meditation app PRIVACY Your pauses, intents, and impulse report stay on your device. No account required to start. You stay in control of Screen Time permissions. Start with a few apps. Take one breath. See how often you walk away. Download BreathGate — a breath between impulse and scroll. SUBSCRIPTION BreathGate requires a paid subscription to use. BreathGate Premium is offered as a weekly or annual auto-renewing subscription, or as a one-time Premium Lifetime purchase. Eligible new subscribers can start with a free trial; after the trial the subscription renews automatically at the listed price unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Prices are shown in the app before you buy. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions are billed and managed by Apple. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions on your device. Terms of Use (EULA): https://breathgate.avunia.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://breathgate.avunia.com/privacy

Screenshots

Detox4 screens
BreathGate4 screens

Verdict

The call

Detox and BreathGate are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Detox sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and BreathGate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Detox versus BreathGate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDetoxBreathGate
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSingabe DjonoumaSerhan Cetin

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Detox

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Pro3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Monthly Pro$24.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro$99.991 Year
3 purchases

BreathGate

Subscriptions2
  • BreathGate Premium Weekly3 Days trial$8.997 Days
  • BreathGate Premium Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • BreathGate Premium Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Detox free?
Detox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BreathGate free?
BreathGate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Detox or BreathGate have ads?
Neither Detox nor BreathGate shows ads.

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