Thumb Scroll vs Screen Time
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Thumb Scroll
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Your phone is always right there. One tap and you're back in. Thumb Scroll flips it: do something in real life first, then scroll. Block the apps that steal your time β TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, games, any app you pick β and unlock minutes only after you've earned them. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick the apps (and sites) to block 2. Do a real action: make your bed, touch grass, drink water, read a bookβ¦ 3. Snap a photo: AI verifies it and gives you coins 4. Spend coins to unlock minutes on your blocked apps No coins? Apps stay locked. Simple. You don't have to delete your favorite apps. You just have to do something first. WHY IT WORKS (where blocking alone fails) Other apps just say "stop." But your phone is one tap away and you cave. Thumb Scroll gives you a trade instead: a walk for TikTok, a book for Instagram, a glass of water for two minutes of scroll. Your phone comes after life, not instead of it. WHAT'S INSIDE β’ App & website blocking via Apple's Screen Time API β’ Coins earned with real actions, validated by photo + AI (no cheating) β’ 7 daily actions + Object Hunt: find an object with your camera β’ Store: turn coins into minutes β’ 3 difficulty levels (Light, Balanced, Intense) that change the coinsβminutes rate β’ Bedtime & wake schedule + custom time rules (days and time slots) β’ Daily and weekly reports, a 0β100 score, day streaks β’ Your thumb mascot: happy when you unplug, worn out when you scroll too much PRIVATE & SECURE Thumb Scroll uses Apple's Screen Time API: all monitoring and blocking run entirely on your device. Your usage data never leaves your phone. EARLY ACCESS Thumb Scroll is in early access: every feature is available for free, no subscription. Jump in and help us make it better. Less scrolling. More living. Terms of Use: https://thumbscroll-7ac7f.web.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://thumbscroll-7ac7f.web.app/privacy
Screen Time
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Stop the reflex before it becomes another lost hour. Unscroll is a Screen Time app blocker built for the moment when intention is weakest: the instant you reach for a distracting app, website, or category without really deciding to. Choose what pulls you in, start Focus, and create a deliberate pause between the urge and the scroll. The goal is not guilt or an unrealistic promise. It is practical friction that gives you another chance to choose. USE UNSCROLL TO β’ Block social media, short-form video, news, games, and other distractions you select β’ Run Focus sessions for work, study, sleep, reading, meals, or time with people β’ Protect chosen apps, categories, and websites with Apple Screen Time β’ Save reusable Routines so frequent sessions take fewer steps β’ Build replacement Habits with selected days and reminder times β’ Review protected time, completed sessions, streaks, and milestones in Journey β’ Explore private Daily Insights and seven-day Screen Time views A SHIELD AT THE RIGHT MOMENT The standard Shield introduces a 10-second pause before you decide again. That small interruption can break an automatic loop without pretending that willpower is unlimited. When you want a stronger boundary, Hard Mode provides a full 60-second intervention, making an impulsive override less immediate. You remain in control of what you protect and when a session begins. FOCUS THAT FITS REAL LIFE Create a session for the next task or save a Routine you can return to. Use different protected selections for deep work, study, bedtime, mornings, creative time, or a quiet weekend. Set the duration that makes sense now. Unscroll is useful for a short reset as well as a longer block of uninterrupted attention. REPLACE THE LOOP, NOT JUST THE APP Blocking creates space; a replacement gives that space direction. Habits let you define a better next action, select the days it matters, choose a reminder time, and mark genuine progress. Read a page, take a walk, stretch, journal, drink water, or return to the work already in front of you. The choice is yours. SEE PROGRESS WITHOUT FALSE PROMISES Journey brings together completed sessions, protected time, streaks, and collectible milestones. Daily Insights and seven-day Screen Time views help you notice patterns in the activity Apple makes available. Reports can vary with Screen Time data availability, and Unscroll does not promise a particular reduction. It gives you tools to observe, decide, and practise a more intentional response. START IN THREE STEPS 1. Allow Screen Time access on your iPhone. 2. Pick the apps, categories, and websites you want to protect. 3. Choose a duration and begin Focus. PRIVACY BY DESIGN Your protected selections and detailed Screen Time activity stay on your iPhone. Reports use Appleβs privacy-preserving Screen Time frameworks. Unscroll cannot see the private content inside the apps or websites you protect. Sign in with Apple is optional; the core experience does not require an account. Optional cloud backup is separate and under your control. BUILT FOR CONSISTENCY Use Unscroll before work, during study, at bedtime, or whenever a quick check tends to become an endless feed. Notifications can support selected Habit reminders, while the app remains useful if notifications are unavailable. Screen Time authorization and the protected items you choose can be reviewed through iPhone settings. UNSCROLL PRO Hard Mode and higher limits for Routines or Habits require Unscroll Pro. Subscription terms are displayed before purchase. Eligible App Store purchases can be restored from Settings. The app interface is available in 11 languages. Unscroll works with Apple Screen Time on iPhone. Availability and reporting depend on Screen Time authorization and iOS behavior. Privacy Policy: https://unscroll-app-ey1.pages.dev/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://unscroll-app-ey1.pages.dev/terms.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Thumb Scroll at every 6 days against Screen Time's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Thumb Scroll sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Screen Time sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Thumb Scroll ships an update every 6 days, Screen Time every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Thumb Scroll | Screen Time |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days β better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 β better | 17.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 136 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | VITO BICA | ILYAS TORUN |
In-app purchases
Thumb Scroll
- Weekly Pro$3.997 Days
- Annual Pro β Offer$24.991 Year
- Annual Pro3 Days trial$44.991 Year
Screen Time
- Unscroll Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
- Unscroll Pro Annual3 Days trial$39.991 Year









