Comparison

Takeback vs Screen Time Control

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

Head to head
About

Takeback

This app uses a drill sergeant persona to help you break free from excessive phone use. It negotiates your access to distracting apps and implements a progressive 60-day bootcamp to retrain your habits.

Highlights
  • Drill sergeant accountability
  • Negotiated app access
  • Progressive 60-day bootcamp
  • Customizable difficulty (Chill/Savage)
  • Habit retraining
  • Time and attention recovery
Features
Read full description

Every screen time app has an ignore button. That is why they stop working. Takeback does not. Open the app you swore you were done with and Sarge is there first. He is a drill sergeant, and he wants to hear your reasoning. Make your case. He decides. He is not easy. SARGE, YOUR DRILL SERGEANT He knows how long you have already scrolled today and answers accordingly. Ask for twenty minutes at midnight and see how that goes. Ask for five to reply to a message and he will probably wave you through. He negotiates. He counts. He remembers. YOU CANT FOOL HIM Try to talk your way past him and he will ask you to prove it. Say you are at the gym and he wants a photo from the gym. Pictures of pictures do not work on him. THE 60-DAY BOOTCAMP Your daily limit tightens every week. Every clean day pulls your baseline back down. By day 30 most people stop reaching for the phone on reflex. CHILL OR SAVAGE You pick how hard he goes. Chill hears you out. Savage makes you earn every minute. Switch whenever you want. WHAT YOU GET BACK Evenings that end in sleep, not a 2am feed. An attention span you can feel coming back. Hours a week that used to vanish with nothing to show for them. A phone you finally trust yourself with. HOW IT GOES Day 1, Sarge learns your habits and starts easing your limits down. Day 7, the feed starts feeling boring. Day 30, you have hours back and you are spending them on something. Day 60, you are not fighting your phone anymore. Start free for 3 days. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://trytakeback.com/privacy

About

Screen Time Control

Features
Read full description

Take back your screen time with ScreenPup, a playful focus blocker that helps you spend less time inside the apps you open by accident. Start focus sessions, block distracting apps, set daily limits, schedule screen-free windows, and track your progress with real usage reports. ScreenPup is built for people who want fewer compulsive pickups, less doomscrolling, better sleep, and more time back in their day. What You Get - Focus sessions that block distracting apps while you work, study, or reset - App Lock to limit how often certain apps can be opened each day - Daily time limits for the apps that drain the most attention - Smart schedules for mornings, deep work, wind-down, and bedtime - Limited unlocks and breaks so you can stay flexible without losing control - Real screen time reports with weekly and monthly trends - Focus score, streaks, pickups, and top app insights - Personalized onboarding based on your habits and goals - Reminders and progress signals to help you stay consistent Private & Secure ScreenPup uses your device's Screen Time and usage permissions to power blocking, schedules, and reports. Your focus controls are designed to run on your phone, and ScreenPup does not need access to the specific content you view inside apps. *Note: All features described above require a subscription. Terms of Use: https://www.screenpup.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.screenpup.app/privacy

Screenshots

Takeback4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Takeback at none against Screen Time Control's shown. Screen Time Control's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 10 days). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Takeback sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Takeback ships an update every 10 days, Screen Time Control every 4 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Takeback versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTakebackScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGatarn Games Ltd.Soleia Technologies (OPC) Private Limited

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Takeback

Subscriptions3
  • Takeback Monthly$19.991 Month
  • Takeback Annual$24.991 Year
  • Takeback Annual$29.991 Year
2 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions2
  • ScreenPup Premium Monthly V23 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • ScreenPup Premium Yearly V23 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Takeback free?
Takeback is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Takeback or Screen Time Control have ads?
Screen Time Control shows ads; Takeback does not.
Which is updated more often, Takeback or Screen Time Control?
Takeback ships an update every 10 days, and Screen Time Control every 4 days. Most recently, Takeback was updated on September 25, 2026 and Screen Time Control on September 25, 2026.

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