Comparison

Brain Games vs Pause

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

Head to head
About

Brain Games

This app helps break mindless scrolling habits by requiring users to solve a quick puzzle before opening distracting apps. It turns passive screen time into active mental exercise, empowering users to regain control over their device usage and build discipline.

Highlights
  • Logic, math, memory, and pattern puzzles
  • App blocking by category or individual app
  • Tracks abandoned app unlocks
  • Difficulty scales with user speed
  • Privacy-focused, no data leaves device
  • Integrates with Apple's Screen Time framework
Features
Read full description

Let's be honest: you've opened Instagram, closed it, and reopened it within the same minute. No new notifications. No reason. Just thumbs moving on their own while your brain idles in the back seat. That's not a willpower problem. That's autopilot. And you can't out-discipline a habit your hands do without asking you. BrainScreen fixes the loop with one beautifully annoying idea: before you can open the apps that eat your day, you have to solve a quick puzzle. Logic, math, memory, patterns — 15 seconds of actually thinking. Two things happen. Sometimes you solve it, get in, and carry on (a little sharper than before). And sometimes, halfway through the puzzle, your brain catches up and goes "wait, why am I even opening this?" — and you close the app and get on with your life. That second moment is the whole point. Most of your unlocks aren't decisions. They're reflexes. A tiny puzzle is just enough friction to turn the reflex back into a choice. GET SMARTER, NOT NUMBER Every app you'd normally scroll into becomes a 15-second mental rep. Over a week that's hundreds of little workouts for your brain instead of hundreds of dead-eyed scrolls. Same phone. Opposite result. - Logic puzzles designed to catch you mid-autopilot - Quick math with just enough time pressure to wake you up - Memory and pattern challenges - Word and attention tests that are weirdly satisfying - Difficulty that scales up as you get faster YOU PICK THE GATEKEEPING You decide which apps get the puzzle treatment. Lock down the obvious offenders, leave your maps and music alone. You're in charge of where the friction goes. - Block any app or whole category - Set it once, forget it, let the puzzles do the work - Built on Apple's Screen Time framework, so the blocks actually hold — no flimsy workarounds WATCH THE WINS ADD UP BrainScreen counts the unlocks you started but abandoned — the scrolls you talked yourself out of. Turns out "didn't open it" is a stat worth celebrating. - See how many pointless unlocks you skipped - Build streaks that reward discipline, not screen time - Track your puzzle speed climbing as your brain wakes back up ACTUALLY PRIVATE Your app activity never leaves your phone. We use Apple's own Screen Time technology, which means we literally cannot see what you do — and we built it that way on purpose. Your business stays your business. THE MATH THAT SHOULD ANNOY YOU The average person burns 4+ hours a day on their phone. A lot of that is autopilot you'd happily skip if something just made you pause. BrainScreen is that pause. Trade the mindless scroll for a few seconds of thinking, and get back hours you didn't know you were losing. Your thumbs have been running the show long enough. Time to make your brain do the unlocking. BrainScreen offers an auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use - https://brainscreen.io/terms.html Privacy Policy - https://brainscreen.io/privacy.html EULA - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pause

Features
Read full description

Pause helps you reduce screen time, stop mindless scrolling, and take back control of distracting apps. Most app blockers only add limits or lock apps completely. Pause creates a meaningful interruption before you open social media, games, or other distracting apps. Instead of opening them automatically, you get a moment to breathe, remember your goals, and decide whether you actually want to continue. Pause is not designed to make you stop using your phone completely. It helps you use it with intention. YOUR PAST SELF KEEPS YOU ACCOUNTABLE Record a short video when you feel focused and motivated. The next time you try to open a distracting app, Pause can show you that message before you continue. Your Past Self can remind you what you were working toward, why you wanted to reduce your screen time, and what you would rather be doing. It is personal accountability from the person who understands your goals best: you. BREATHE—FOR REAL Pause includes an AI-assisted, camera-guided breathing activity. With your permission, the camera analyzes visible movement while you follow the inhale and exhale instructions. This helps make sure you are participating in the activity instead of simply waiting for a timer to finish. The breathing activity is designed for focus and mindfulness. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or health monitoring. INTERVENTIONS THAT STAY FRESH Repeating the same breathing exercise every time can become easy to ignore. Pause rotates between different short interventions so each app opening feels less predictable and harder to complete automatically. Activities may include: • Guided breathing • Quick reflection questions • Short movement exercises • Focus resets • Mindfulness activities • Goal reminders • Messages from your Past Self Each activity is designed to create a small break between the urge to open an app and the decision to continue. REMEMBER WHY YOU OPENED THE APP Before entering a distracting app, Pause can ask why you are opening it. Maybe you need to reply to a message, post something, look up information, or complete a specific task. Maybe you opened it because you were bored or acting out of habit. Choosing a reason helps turn an automatic app opening into an intentional decision. BLOCK DISTRACTING APPS Choose the social media apps, games, and other distractions that take your attention away from what matters. Pause can help you: • Block selected apps • Add friction before apps open • Create screen-time limits • Set focus schedules • Choose temporary access periods • Reduce impulsive app openings • Build healthier phone habits You remain in control, but Pause makes it harder to enter distracting apps without thinking. FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS Pause also includes productivity tools to help you move on from scrolling and start doing something meaningful. Use focus timers, tasks, routines, and other tools to plan what you want to accomplish next. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS See how your phone habits change over time. Pause can help you understand your intentional app openings, avoided distractions, focus activity, and screen-time progress. Small pauses can lead to better habits. Pause before you scroll.

Screenshots

Brain Games4 screens
Pause4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pause at none against Brain Games's 5. Brain Games's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.5). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Brain Games sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Pause asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Brain Games versus Pause: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrain GamesPause
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (21 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings21 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreentime Labs LLCMADHURI ANNABHEEMOJU

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Brain Games

Subscriptions5
  • Brain Screen Pro$7.997 Days
  • Brain Screen Pro$39.991 Year
  • Brain Screen Pro$49.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Brain Screen Pro$59.991 Year
  • Brain Screen Pro$69.991 Year
None

Pause

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Brain Games free?
Brain Games is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pause free?
Pause is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Brain Games or Pause have ads?
Neither Brain Games nor Pause shows ads.

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