Comparison

LimitSet vs Pause

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

Head to head
About

LimitSet

Features
Read full description

LimitSet helps you reduce mindless scrolling and set stronger boundaries with distracting apps using Apple’s Screen Time framework. ONE RULE. MULTIPLE APPS. Group distracting apps in one Lock Rule. With Session Locks, one app uses the group’s unlock slot, so switching to another app in the same rule doesn’t create a fresh unlock. When the session ends, the group cools down together. SESSION LOCKS β€’ Set a daily unlock budget. β€’ Choose how long each unlock session lasts. β€’ Add cooldowns after sessions. β€’ Use optional Session Reminders to decide whether to keep going or end a session early. β€’ Add extra friction before breaking a cooldown or relaxing protected settings. USAGE LOCKS β€’ Set a daily usage allowance. β€’ Choose active days. β€’ Lock selected apps automatically after the daily limit is reached. SCHEDULE LOCKS β€’ Block selected apps automatically during chosen hours and days. β€’ Create daytime, work, sleep, or overnight schedules. BUILT-IN FRICTION LimitSet is designed to make impulsive changes harder. Protected changes and deletions can require typing a verification sentence, so a moment of temptation doesn’t instantly erase your rules. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your app-usage data and Lock Rules are processed on-device. No LimitSet account is required for core use. LimitSet does not use cross-app tracking or behavior profiling for its core features. LimitSet uses Apple’s Screen Time framework to lock selected apps. Some features require LimitSet Premium. Terms of Use (EULA): https://nexus.bestapps.software/legal/terms_of_use_limitset.html Privacy Policy: https://nexus.bestapps.software/legal/privacy_policy_limitset.html

About

Pause

Features
Read full description

Most blockers let you turn them off the second you want to. Pause doesn't have to. Pick the apps. Pick how hard they are to reach. Get on with your life. DESIGNED FOR REAL LIFE Studying β€” A Time Limit on social apps, so a five-minute check can't turn into fifty. Deep work β€” Start a Session before you sit down and the apps that break your focus are gone until you end it. Evenings β€” A Schedule that blocks the doomscroll apps every night after dinner, automatically. The one app you reach for without thinking β€” A Friction Lock. Never blocked outright, just never one tap away again. When you know you'll cave β€” Strict Mode. Once it's running, it can't be switched off, edited, or quietly emptied out until it ends. FIVE WAYS TO BLOCK Session β€” Block now, for 30 minutes or until you say stop. Schedule β€” Block on a repeating timetable. Nine to five on weekdays, or every evening after eight. Time Limit β€” Give an app a daily budget. Forty-five minutes, then it's gone for the day. Open Limit β€” Cap how many times you can open it. Five opens a day, not fifty. Friction Lock β€” Solve a challenge first, every single time. Mix them. A Time Limit on Instagram, a Schedule across your work hours, a Friction Lock on the one you reach for without thinking. APP LISTS Build a list once β€” individual apps, whole categories, and websites β€” then point any rule at it. Change the list and every rule using it updates. WEBSITES TOO Add domains by hand. Safari and other browsers get the same shield your apps do. UNLOCKS, IF YOU WANT THEM Allow yourself a set number of unlocks per day, each lasting as long as you choose. Or allow none at all. YOUR OWN WORDS ON THE BLOCK SCREEN The shield shows a line you picked. Choose from the built-in set or write your own. INSIGHTS See where the hours actually went, and how often you stayed out. RULE HEALTH One screen listing every rule and whether it is genuinely armed. No silent failures. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT No account. No email. No sign-up. Your app lists, rules and history stay on your device. Pause uses Apple's Screen Time framework, so your app selections are handled by iOS and never sent to us. REQUIRES iOS 17 or later, and Screen Time permission β€” Pause cannot block anything without it.

Screenshots

LimitSet4 screens
Pause4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pause at none against LimitSet's 3. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. LimitSet sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Pause asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
LimitSet versus Pause: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLimitSetPause
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksβ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size10 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBest Apps TechEric Factor

In-app purchases

3 purchases

LimitSet

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Monthly3 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year
None

Pause

No in-app purchases

Questions

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

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