Tempo vs Screen Time Control
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tempo
This app encourages intentional screen time by prompting mindful pauses before opening distracting applications. It helps users notice their digital habits, build better routines, and track progress through clear daily and weekly patterns.
- Mindful pause prompts
- Habit tracking
- Progress visualization
- Routine building
- Shame-free approach
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PausePass helps you turn screen time into something more intentional. Start with a simple mindful pause before opening distracting apps, notice your habits over time, and build better routines without shame or pressure. PausePass gives you a calm way to check in, choose what comes next, and see your progress through clear daily and weekly patterns.
Screen Time Control
This app inserts a brief puzzle before you open selected apps, creating a moment of intentionality to reduce mindless scrolling. It offers various puzzles and a premium version for ad removal and full puzzle access.
- Puzzle before app access
- Reduces mindless scrolling
- Nine calming puzzle types
- Customizable app blocking
- Intentional use timer
- Premium ad-free option
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Pause helps you scroll on purpose. Lowers your screen time. We all reach for the same apps on autopilot. Pause puts a small, calming puzzle between you and those apps, so opening one becomes a choice, not a reflex. HOW IT WORKS • Choose the apps you want to pause. • When you try to open one, Pause asks you to solve a quick puzzle first. • Solve it, and the app unlocks for 15 minutes of intentional use. • When time's up, the pause comes back automatically. That tiny moment of friction is enough to break the autopilot—and remind you why you picked up your phone in the first place. NINE CALMING PUZZLES Word Jumble, Mini Crossword, Sliding Tile, Ball Sort, Connect the Colors, Maze, Sixdoku, and more. Every unlock is a small mental reset instead of a mindless tap. DESIGNED FOR INTENTION, NOT RESTRICTION Pause isn't about locking yourself out—it's about adding just enough space to choose. No guilt, no lectures. Just a gentle pause. PAUSE PREMIUM • Unlock all nine puzzles • Remove ads • Start with a 7-day free trial, then annual or monthly Your privacy comes first. Pause uses Apple's Screen Time technology, and the apps you choose never leave your device. Scroll less by accident. Scroll more on purpose. — SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Pause Premium is an auto-renewing subscription. (7-day free trial for new subscribers) • Annual — $74.99/year • Monthly — $9.99/month Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you start a subscription. Privacy Policy URL: Terms of Use URL: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tempo at none against Screen Time Control's 2. Tempo also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). Screen Time Control's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, rating, ads 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
Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Tempo asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Tempo against 5.0 for Screen Time Control. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screen Time Control has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Tempo ships an update every 4 days, Screen Time Control fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tempo | Screen Time Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Harry Yuan | Carlos Velasquez |
Customer experience
Tempo
Screen Time Control
In-app purchases
Tempo
No in-app purchases
Screen Time Control
- Pause Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Pause Premium (Annual)7 Days trial$74.991 Year
