Comparison

Cue vs Timed Lock

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

Head to head
About

Cue

This app helps you use social media more mindfully by tracking your in-the-moment app session time. It offers daily app limits and locks, and prompts a search before opening apps to encourage intentional use. Widgets provide quick access to frequently used applications.

Highlights
  • Live Dynamic Island timer
  • Daily app limits and app lock
  • Search before opening apps
  • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets
  • Supports popular social apps
  • Digital detox tool
Features
Read full description

You only meant to watch short videos for 5 minutes, yet two hours slip by in the blink of an eye? Content feed recommendation algorithms easily draw you into mindless scrolling, making you lose track of time — yet emptiness and regret linger once you put your phone down. Timing Dynamic Island — an exclusive real-time anti-addiction tool for iPhone’s Dynamic Island. It visually displays your screen time as you browse, keeping the passing hours constantly in sight, and lets you lock apps instantly the moment you feel the urge to stop scrolling. Why Choose Cue? Common screen time apps force harsh locks and strict limits that demand extreme willpower, which usually backfire and make you scroll more. Our app takes a mild, gradual approach. The Dynamic Island live timer tracks your usage in real time, paired with hourly, daily and weekly analytics to reveal wasted scrolling hours. You’ll naturally recognize the toll of overusing your phone and cut back voluntarily, without harsh external restrictions. Core Features 1. Real-Time Dynamic Island Timer (Exclusive Feature) Automate shortcuts to detect app launches and closures. The Dynamic Island persistently shows the running duration of your current app, letting you see exactly how long you’ve been scrolling and prompting you to break free from mindless browsing. 2. One-Tap Lock & System-Level Daily Time Limits A quick lock button sits right on the Dynamic Island to cut off scrolling the second you spot your addiction. You may set daily usage caps for apps. Powered by iOS’s native Screen Time framework, apps will lock automatically once your daily limit is reached, putting an end to the trap of "just one more minute". 3. Search-First Launch to Eliminate Mindless Opening Enter target keywords before jumping into the corresponding platform. This avoids aimlessly opening recommendation feeds and endless passive scrolling, ensuring every app session has a clear purpose. 4. Lock Screen & Home Screen Widget Quick Access Widgets available for both home and lock screens offer instant entry to frequently used apps, balancing convenient time management with a smooth user experience. 5. Multi-Layer Trend Data Analytics Dashboard No more vague, oversimplified duration figures. We provide comprehensive trend analysis across three time frames: hourly, daily and weekly. Automated visual line charts clearly display peak usage hours, daily time fluctuations and weekly usage patterns. Who This App Is For You easily get hooked on short videos and social media, struggling to put your phone down voluntarily You want to cut down unproductive screen hours without deleting entertainment apps entirely You wish to monitor app usage duration live via the Dynamic Island for constant self-discipline You need daily usage limits and app lock functions to manage your phone habits You aim to beat phone addiction and build a mindful, disciplined digital lifestyle Privacy & Security Statement Cue never accesses your third-party account passwords, private messages, browsing history, feed content, search records or any other personal private data. All functions including screen time tracking, daily usage limits and app locks run on iOS’s native Screen Time system. You must manually grant all required permissions, and all data is stored locally on your device only — never uploaded to third-party servers. End User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://economic-oval-cfc.notion.site/373369e95c9780ccbccae45dae46c262?pvs=74

About

Timed Lock

Features
Read full description

Fewer reminders. Agreements that follow through. EyeGuard Lock helps parents set clear screen-time boundaries on an authorized iPhone or iPad. Choose the apps, categories, or websites to limit, agree on a time, and Apple Screen Time shields only the selected content when time is up. COUNTDOWN TIMER • Choose 15, 30, 60, or 90 minutes, or set a custom duration • Kids can see the remaining time and target end time • Selected content is shielded automatically when the countdown ends QUICK ROUTINES • Save a duration and selected content together • Start homework, after-dinner, or bedtime rules with one tap RECURRING PLANS • Create up to 3 automatic plans • Set weekdays plus explicit start and end times • Shielding starts and ends automatically, including overnight plans • The active plan shows remaining time with the same aurora ring used on Home • Get a 15-minute reminder, or skip today after parent authentication PARENT VERIFICATION • Ending a plan early or removing shielding requires Face ID, Touch ID, or the device passcode • Overlapping plans remain shielded until the final active plan ends PRIVACY AND PURCHASE • No account, ads, analytics, or tracking • Settings stay on the device • No remote monitoring or cross-device control • Full 7-day trial, followed by an optional one-time Lifetime Unlock; this is not an auto-renewing subscription Requires iOS or iPadOS 17 or later.

Screenshots

Cue4 screens
Timed Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Timed Lock at every 2 days against Cue's every 5 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Cue sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Timed Lock sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cue ships an update every 5 days, Timed Lock every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Cue versus Timed Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCueTimed Lock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer鋆博 江方捷 胡

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Cue

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$5.991 Month
  • yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • lifetime purchase$39.99
2 purchases

Timed Lock

One-time2
  • 7-Day TrialFree
  • Lifetime Unlock$2.99

Questions

Is Cue free?
Cue is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Timed Lock free?
Timed Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cue or Timed Lock have ads?
Neither Cue nor Timed Lock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cue or Timed Lock?
Cue ships an update every 5 days, and Timed Lock every 2 days. Most recently, Cue was updated on October 1, 2026 and Timed Lock on September 26, 2026.

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