Comparison

FocusGuard vs Deny

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

Head to head
About

FocusGuard

Features
Read full description

Take back your time. FocusGuard blocks the apps that pull you in, and makes sure the block holds when your willpower doesn't. THE PROBLEM Most of us unlock our phones dozens of times a day, usually without deciding to. The apps are built to keep you scrolling, and a simple time limit is one tap away from "Ignore". Blocking only works if it's hard to undo. THE SOLUTION FocusGuard is built on Apple's Screen Time, so blocks are enforced by iOS itself. You choose how strict to be, from a gentle pause to a session that can't be cancelled. HOW IT WORKS 1. Tell us your goal. A short setup builds your plan: a daily focus goal, a starter schedule and the apps that distract you most. 2. Block in one tap. Start a focus session from a quick preset or with Siri. 3. Pick your strictness. Flexible allows a mindful pause, Focus asks for a 30-second challenge to quit, Strict can't be ended early. 4. Watch your streak grow. Every focused day counts toward your streak, gems and milestones. WAYS TO BLOCK • Focus Sessions: block the apps and sites you choose for a set time • Schedules: block automatically on the days and hours you pick, including overnight • Daily App Limits: give social apps a daily budget. When it's spent, they lock until midnight • Always On: keep apps blocked until you turn it off • Dumb Phone Mode: allow only the few apps you truly need. Everything else locks • Sleep Mode: distractions lock automatically at bedtime HARD TO BACK OUT OF • Strict Mode: no cancel button. One Emergency Pass per week for real emergencies • Mindful Pause: one slow breath and a reason before a short, timed unlock. Apps lock again on their own • See how many times you resisted today, right on the block screen • PIN and uninstall protection against impulse decisions STAY MOTIVATED • Focus Score: your progress toward today's focus goal • Weekly focus charts, streaks, evolving gems and milestones • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, plus a Live Activity while you focus • Siri and Shortcuts: start focusing or lock apps hands-free • Focus sounds: white, pink and brown noise WHY FOCUSGUARD IS DIFFERENT • Blocks are enforced by iOS Screen Time, not a reminder you can swipe away • No VPN profile, no account, no ads • FocusGuard never sees which apps you use. Apple keeps that private, and your data stays on your iPhone FREE • Unlimited Flexible focus sessions with Mindful Pause • 1 schedule plus Sleep Mode, and 1 daily app limit • Streaks, Focus Score, widgets and 7-day stats FOCUSGUARD PRO • Focus and Strict difficulty • Dumb Phone Mode • Unlimited schedules and app limits • PIN and uninstall protection • 30-day history and focus heatmap Pro is available as a weekly, monthly or yearly auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → your name → Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Deny

This app helps you regain focus by blocking distracting applications. It requires a friend's approval to unlock apps, fostering accountability and making screen time limits stick. Take back your attention with a collaborative approach to digital well-being.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps and sites
  • Schedule app blocking
  • Daily time limits for apps
  • Friend approval required for unlocks
  • Temporary unlock with countdown
  • Collaborative progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Deny locks the apps that waste your time — and puts a friend in charge of the key. Most screen-time apps fail for one reason: the moment you want back in, you just tap "ignore limit." Deny removes that escape hatch. Block your most distracting apps, and when you want to unlock them, you have to ask a friend to approve it. HOW IT WORKS • Build block groups — pick the apps and sites to lock, on a schedule or a daily time limit. • Stay locked. Blocked apps are shielded by iOS, so there's no sneaking past them. • Allow temporary unlocks — give yourself a set number of minutes, with a live countdown showing exactly when apps re-lock. • Bring in friends. Connect with an invite code, then ask a friend for screen time. They approve or deny — you stay accountable. • See each other's progress and keep one another honest. WHY DENY • Friends make it stick. Accountability beats willpower. • Honest by design — no one-tap "ignore." • Private. Your data is yours; we never sell it or use it for ads. Deny uses Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls) features to block apps on your own device. Take back your attention — together.

Screenshots

FocusGuard4 screens
Deny4 screens

Verdict

The call

FocusGuard and Deny 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 · 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
FocusGuard versus Deny: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocusGuardDeny
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developererdem caygorStepAI K.K.

In-app purchases

None

FocusGuard

No in-app purchases

None

Deny

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FocusGuard free?
FocusGuard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Deny free?
Deny is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FocusGuard or Deny have ads?
Neither FocusGuard nor Deny shows ads.

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