Comparison

FocusGuard vs NoStim

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

NoStim

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking addictive app features while preserving essential functions like direct messages. It offers customizable blocking, a unique portal to websites with distractions removed, and flexible modes for different needs.

Highlights
  • App feature blocking
  • Website portal with distractions removed
  • Customizable blocking budgets
  • Ratchet mechanism for stricter settings
  • Comfort, Driving, and Vacation modes
  • Optional social accountability circles
  • Partner lock feature
Features
Read full description

NoStim blocks the parts of your apps that pull you back, and keeps the parts that are about people. THE PORTAL — the feature nothing else on iOS has. Open Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or Twitch as their real websites with the addictive surfaces stripped out: no Reels, no endless feed, no Shorts — you choose what's hidden, per platform. Log in once, stay logged in. Your DMs still work. The posts your friends share still open. REAL BLOCKING — Apple's own Screen Time shields on the native apps you choose, with budgets that mean something: opens per day, minutes per open, opening odds if you want the dice to decide, locked hours, and a waiting room that offers you doors instead of a lecture. A RATCHET, NOT A CAGE — making NoStim stricter is instant; making it looser waits out a delay you chose in advance. Lock your settings for a weekend, a week, or with no end date at all — and if you want out early, the price is one you set for yourself when you were thinking clearly. KIND WHERE IT COUNTS — Comfort Mode for chronic-illness bad days, with no guilt copy and no interrogation. Driving Mode that's never held by any lock. Vacation mode you book a day ahead. Streaks that measure commitment, not abstinence: using your whole budget is a day held. TOGETHER — an optional circle of a few people who care, sharing only your streak and your stumbles, person to person through your own iCloud. A partner lock where someone you trust holds the key. Partner mode is free forever. THE BLOCKER IS FREE, FOREVER. No ads, no account, no analytics. NoStim Pro adds Circles and your full history — nothing that blocks is ever behind the paywall. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sashalawrence13.github.io/NoStim/privacy.html

Screenshots

FocusGuard4 screens
NoStim4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FocusGuard at none against NoStim's 8. NoStim's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. NoStim sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. FocusGuard asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FocusGuard ships an update every 2 months, NoStim every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
FocusGuard versus NoStim: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocusGuardNoStim
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB8 MB
Age rating4++4
Developererdem caygorWilliam Lawrence

In-app purchases

None

FocusGuard

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

NoStim

Subscriptions2
  • NoStim Pro (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • NoStim Pro (Yearly)$19.991 Year
One-time6
  • Tip the developer$0.99
  • Tip the developer$4.99
  • Tip the developer$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Tip the developer$14.99
  • Tip the developer$19.99
  • NoStim Pro — Forever$39.99

Questions

Is FocusGuard free?
FocusGuard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NoStim free?
NoStim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FocusGuard or NoStim have ads?
Neither FocusGuard nor NoStim shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FocusGuard or NoStim?
FocusGuard ships an update every 2 months, and NoStim every 3 days. Most recently, FocusGuard was updated on October 24, 2026 and NoStim on October 25, 2026.

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