Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Pushbuddy

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

Head to head
About

Screen Time Control

Features
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Focus better. Scroll less. Take back control with Ocus. Ocus is a powerful focus and screen time app designed to help you stay productive, reduce distractions, and build healthier digital habits. Whether you're studying, working, reading, or simply trying to spend less time on distracting apps, Ocus gives you flexible tools to stay in control. Simple to set up and easy to use, Ocus helps you focus on what matters most. Key Features - Block distracting apps and websites instantly - Create deep focus sessions with custom schedules - Set app usage goals and intentional unlock limits - Pause before opening distracting apps - Reduce endless scrolling with smart interruptions - Customise focus rules by time and day - Stay motivated with streaks and productivity tracking - Lock settings to prevent bypassing restrictions - Minimal, fast, and privacy-friendly experience Ocus is built for students, creators, professionals, and anyone looking to improve focus and reduce screen time. Subscription & Pricing Some features may require an active subscription. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime from your Apple ID account settings after purchase. Pricing may vary by region. Privacy Policy Ocus is designed with privacy in mind. We do not sell your personal data to third parties. Any analytics or diagnostic information collected is used only to improve app performance, reliability, and user experience. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy: https://swiftybrains.com/privacy-policy/ Terms & Conditions By using Ocus, you agree to our Terms of Use and End User License Agreement. Terms & Conditions: https://swiftybrains.com/terms-of-use/ Contact Support Need help, found a bug, or have a feature request? Contact us anytime: contact.swiftybrains@gmail.com

About

Pushbuddy

Features
Read full description

Pushbuddy blocks the apps that eat your day. To get them back, you do something real. Pick what you lose hours to. Pushbuddy shields it. The shield lifts only when you have earned minutes โ€” and minutes come from push-ups, squats, jumping jacks, a walk, or focused work. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose what to block โ€” any app, any category, any website. 2. Earn minutes with a habit. Your camera counts the reps on device. 3. Spend them: 15, 30 or 60 minutes. The shield returns when time is up. WHAT A HABIT BUYS โ€ข 10 push-ups โ€” 15 minutes โ€ข 15 squats โ€” 15 minutes โ€ข 30 jumping jacks โ€” 15 minutes โ€ข 1,000 steps โ€” 10 minutes โ€ข 25 minutes of focus โ€” 25 minutes, one to one. Work never buys more scrolling than it cost. โ€ข 240 minutes a day, hard cap. You cannot bank a whole day and defeat the point. Lock early and the unused minutes come back to you. Changing your mind is not punished. SEE WHERE YOUR TIME GOES โ€ข Time in locked apps, today by the hour and this week by the day โ€” tap any bar for the exact time. โ€ข How often you reached for a locked app this month, and whether it is falling. โ€ข Every push-up, squat, step and focused minute you have put in. REPS ARE COUNTED, NOT CLAIMED On-device pose detection watches you move, so the phone has to actually see the work. No video is recorded, saved or uploaded. Steps come from your iPhone's own motion sensor. YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS No account, ever. Camera frames are processed live and never recorded or uploaded. Pushbuddy never learns which apps you picked. The only thing that leaves is anonymous usage counts โ€” no advertising ID, no profile. PRICE Free for 7 days with everything unlocked. Then one payment, once. No subscription, nothing to cancel. Pushbuddy uses Screen Time permission to shield your apps, and hands them back on your terms.

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Pushbuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pushbuddy at every 4 days against Screen Time Control's every 2 weeks. Screen Time Control's advantage is device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Pushbuddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 weeks, Pushbuddy every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Screen Time Control versus Pushbuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlPushbuddy
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 โ€” better18.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size52 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSwifty Brains LLPDhruwang Jariwala

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions2
  • Ocus Pro$6.991 Month
  • OCUS Pro$19.991 Year
1 purchases

Pushbuddy

One-time1
  • Digital Detox Lifetime$6.99

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pushbuddy free?
Pushbuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time Control or Pushbuddy have ads?
Neither Screen Time Control nor Pushbuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Pushbuddy?
Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pushbuddy every 4 days. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 8, 2026 and Pushbuddy on October 16, 2026.

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