# Normal vs Habits First

The clearest difference is monetization model: Normal at free against Habits First's free with in-app purchases. Normal also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Habits First's advantage is ratings volume (170 vs 39). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Normal sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per month and Habits First sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Normal against 4.9 for Habits First. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 170 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Normal's written reviews are positive against 94% of Habits First's.

Normal ships an update every 2 days, Habits First weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Normal | Habits First |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/normal-screen-time-control/id6768861415/reviews) | [4.9 (170 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/habits-first/id6791076258/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 39 | **170** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 94.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Normal Engineering Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896611331) | [Eric Su](https://appshunter.io/developer/1763094575) |

## What reviewers say

### Normal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/normal-screen-time-control/id6768861415)

This app helps you reduce phone usage by blocking selected applications by default. To access blocked apps, you must physically scan an NFC tag, QR code, or barcode, or be at a specific location. It offers granular control, timed unblocks, and scheduling to help you regain control of your screen time.

**Highlights:** Block apps via NFC, QR codes, and barcodes, Use any NFC tag, QR code, or barcode, Unblock/block specific apps, Timed unblocks, Scheduling, Granular control, Bypass prevention options

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Support | $5.00 | per month |
| Monthly Support | $10.00 | per month |
| Monthly Support | $20.00 | per month |
| One-time Donation | $5.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $10.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $20.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $50.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $100.00 | one-time |
| One-time Donation | $200.00 | one-time |


### Habits First

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/habits-first/id6791076258)

This app helps you build healthy habits by blocking distracting social media apps until you complete your daily goals. It uses the Premack principle to reinforce desired behaviors, offering flexible tracking and commitment options. The core functionality is free, with an optional one-time purchase for advanced integrations.

**Highlights:** Blocks social media apps, Tracks custom habits (walks, workouts, reading), Integrates with health trackers, Flexible blocking schedules and locations, Commitment locks for long-term goals, Optional one-time purchase for advanced features

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Habits Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Normal free?

Normal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Habits First free?

Habits First is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Normal or Habits First?

Normal and Habits First are both rated 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 39 and 170 ratings respectively.

### Do Normal or Habits First have ads?

Neither Normal nor Habits First shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Normal or Habits First?

Normal ships an update every 2 days, and Habits First weekly. Most recently, Normal was updated on October 19, 2026 and Habits First on October 18, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*