Comparison

Promise vs Daybreak

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

Head to head
About

Promise

This app helps you reduce screen time and digital distractions with playful app blocking and focus routines. It features a cute companion that keeps you accountable, offering gentle warnings before blocking access to distracting applications.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Reduce screen time
  • Set app limits
  • Focus routines
  • Soft warnings before blocks
  • Track screen time and usage
  • Build healthier phone habits
Read full description

Social media apps are designed to keep you scrolling. Promise helps you reduce screen time with playful app blocking, focus routines, and a cute companion who keeps you accountable. Set limits for distracting apps like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, games, or any app you want to use less. When you try to open a blocked app, Promise gives you a gentle pause before you continue. You can take a short break — or break your promise and watch your companion’s happiness drop. Promise is more than a screen time tracker or app blocker. It makes screen time control feel personal, visual, and motivating. Features: • Block distracting apps • Reduce screen time and doomscrolling • Set app limits and focus routines • Get soft warnings before hard blocks • Break the heart to unlock apps intentionally • Track screen time, phone pickups, and app usage • Build streaks and healthier phone habits • Choose cute companions like Whiskers, Mochi, or Capy Perfect for: • Reducing phone addiction • Spending less time on social media • Staying focused while studying or working • Building better digital wellbeing habits • Turning app blocking into something you actually care about Make a promise. Protect your companion. Take back your screen time.

About

Daybreak

This app automatically blocks distracting applications overnight and keeps them locked in the morning until a focus session is completed. It helps users prioritize their morning routine before accessing social media, games, or news.

Highlights
  • Automatic overnight app blocking
  • Morning focus session requirement
  • Customizable distraction selection
  • Simple, automatic scheduling
  • Emergency access with limits
  • Live Activities and Dynamic Island support
Read full description

Your phone should not be the first thing that takes your attention each morning. Daybreak automatically blocks the distracting apps you choose overnight and keeps them blocked after you wake. Dedicate time in the morning to complete a focus session before those apps become available for the day. HOW DAYBREAK WORKS 1. Choose your distractions Select the social media, video, news, games, or other apps that tend to cloud your mornings. 2. Set your schedule Choose when your apps lock for the night and when your morning focus period becomes available. Daybreak applies the schedule automatically, without requiring you to remember to turn it on. 3. Focus before distractions When you wake up, your selected apps remain blocked until you complete your chosen focus session. After completing it, your apps become available for the rest of the day. BUILT FOR PROTECTED MORNINGS • Automatic overnight and morning app blocking • A clear morning streak • Emergency access for unexpected situations • Live Activities and Dynamic Island support • A simple schedule that runs automatically • Screen Time controls powered by Apple’s Family Controls framework FRICTION WITH A PURPOSE Daybreak does not try to compete with distracting apps for your attention. It creates a clear boundary before the morning begins: focus first, then regain access. Emergency access remains available, but it includes deliberate limits so that it stays an exception rather than becoming the default. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your schedule, selected apps, and focus history are stored on your device. Daybreak does not upload your selected-app information to a remote database. An account is optional. Daybreak can be used without signing in. EARLY ACCESS Every part of Daybreak is available free during its launch while the app is refined with early users. Optional one-time early-support purchases grant lifetime access to Daybreak’s current and future features. There is no recurring subscription during this early-access release. Daybreak requires Screen Time permission to block the apps you select. Permission can be removed from your device settings.

Screenshots

Promise4 screens
Daybreak4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Promise at none against Daybreak's 3. Promise also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Daybreak sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Promise asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Promise against 5.0 for Daybreak. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Promise ships an update every 3 days, Daybreak every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Promise versus Daybreak: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPromiseDaybreak
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings)
Number of ratings44
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.6 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJAKUB ELIASRyan Setiawan

Customer experience

Promise

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Daybreak

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Promise

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Daybreak

One-time3
  • Supporter$9.99
  • Champion$19.99
  • Founding Member$39.99

Questions

Is Promise free?
Promise is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Daybreak free?
Daybreak is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Promise or Daybreak?
Promise and Daybreak are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 4 ratings respectively.
Do Promise or Daybreak have ads?
Neither Promise nor Daybreak shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Promise or Daybreak?
Promise ships an update every 3 days, and Daybreak every 2 weeks. Most recently, Promise was updated on October 24, 2026 and Daybreak on October 24, 2026.

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