FocusFirst Screen Time Control vs BrainWins
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FocusFirst Screen Time Control
This app helps you reclaim your time by blocking distracting applications and encouraging focused activity. It's designed to foster a more deliberate relationship with your phone, reducing mindless scrolling and guilt while building momentum towards your goals.
- Block distracting apps
- Earn screen time through focused activity
- Build healthy boundaries
- Reduce mindless scrolling
- Increase momentum towards goals
- Promotes deliberate phone use
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Take back control of your time. FocusFirst helps you spend less time scrolling and more time on the things that actually move your life forward. Whether you’re studying, building a business, learning a language, reading, exercising, or simply trying to be more intentional with your day, FocusFirst gives you a better way to protect your attention. Most apps compete for your focus. FocusFirst helps you reclaim it. Instead of relying on willpower alone, FocusFirst helps you build healthy boundaries around the apps that pull you off course. Block the distractions that interrupt your momentum, focus on something meaningful, and earn time back as you make progress. It’s a simple idea, but it changes the feeling of using your phone: - less mindless checking - less guilt - less friction when you want to stay on track - more momentum toward the work, habits, and routines you care about FocusFirst is built for people who want a calmer, more deliberate relationship with their phone. Not punishment. Not shame. Just a clearer way to stay aligned with your priorities. Focus first. Scroll later. FocusFirst is free to download, but a subscription is required to use the app. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
BrainWins
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Take back your time—and make every focused minute count. BrainWins is an app blocker, screen time control, and focus timer designed to help you stop doomscrolling without turning digital wellbeing into punishment. Create reusable Focus Modes for work, study, sleep, mornings, or any part of your day. Start a Focus Run whenever you need an immediate reset, or schedule your modes to protect time automatically. BLOCK DISTRACTING APPS AND WEBSITES Choose the apps, categories, and websites that distract you using Apple’s private Screen Time picker. BrainWins receives private control tokens—not the names of the apps or websites you select. CREATE MODES FOR REAL LIFE Build separate modes for deep work, studying, bedtime, mornings, or a quick doomscroll reset. Choose the protection level that fits each situation and activate a mode whenever you need it. START A FOCUS RUN Need to focus right now? Start a timed Focus Run, block distractions, and protect the next stretch of your day. TURN FOCUS INTO PROGRESS Track protected minutes, Daily Wins, streaks, BrainScore, XP, and your journey through BrainDrive. BrainWins makes the time you reclaim visible—and gives you a reason to keep going. FOCUS TOGETHER Join friends, crews, challenges, leagues, and focus rooms. Community features include in-app reporting and blocking controls. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your selected app names, websites, Screen Time tokens, and raw per-app activity stay on your iPhone. A cloud account is optional for local blocking and required only for cloud-backed progress and community features. BUILT FOR • Reducing screen time • Blocking social media and distracting apps • Breaking doomscrolling habits • Deep work and productivity • Studying and Pomodoro-style sessions • Healthier morning and bedtime routines • Building better digital habits Beat brainrot. Build focus. Win your time back. BrainWins requires an auto-renewable subscription after onboarding. Current pricing and any eligible introductory offer are displayed before purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://brainwins.app/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://brainwins.app/terms.html AUTO-RENEWABLE SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED AFTER ONBOARDING.
Screenshots
Verdict
FocusFirst Screen Time Control and BrainWins are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. FocusFirst Screen Time Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and BrainWins sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
FocusFirst Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 weeks, BrainWins every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FocusFirst Screen Time Control | BrainWins |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.1 | 26.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Michael Riehl | Shawn Gilronan |
In-app purchases
FocusFirst Screen Time Control
- Focus First | Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
- Focus First | Yearly1 Month trial$39.991 Year
- Focus First | Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
BrainWins
- BrainWins Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
Questions
Is FocusFirst Screen Time Control free?
Is BrainWins free?
Do FocusFirst Screen Time Control or BrainWins have ads?
Which is updated more often, FocusFirst Screen Time Control or BrainWins?
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