Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Focus

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

Head to head
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

About

Focus

This app helps you stay focused by blocking distracting applications for set periods. It uses your own words as reminders and offers features like scheduled focus windows and detailed screen time insights. An emergency pass allows brief access to a blocked app once per session.

Highlights
  • Strict app blocking sessions
  • Scheduled focus windows
  • Live Lock Screen countdown
  • One emergency pass per session
  • Screen time insights
  • Standalone timer and alarms
Features
Read full description

Focus is the app blocker that keeps your word for you. Pick a task, set a duration, and hold to commit. From that second, your chosen apps are locked behind a shield — and there is no snooze, no "remind me in 15 minutes", no way around it. The only way out is through. WHY FOCUS WORKS WHEN WILLPOWER DOESN'T Every distracting app is built by teams whose whole job is to keep you scrolling. Focus levels the field: once you commit, the decision is out of your hands. Open a blocked app and the shield answers with your own words — "I committed to finish my thesis until 21:30." Not a system warning. Your promise, held up to you. STRICT SESSIONS • Choose a task, a duration, and hold to start — a deliberate gesture, not an accidental tap • Blocked apps stay blocked until time is up; the session cannot be cancelled • A live countdown on your Lock Screen keeps the goal in sight • One Emergency Pass per session: unlock a single app for five minutes, then the wall returns FOCUS ON A SCHEDULE • Recurring focus windows for work, study, or sleep — your mornings block themselves • Real alarms that ring from a locked phone, so a schedule is a commitment, not a suggestion • Each rule runs on Apple's Screen Time system, enforced by iOS itself SEE THE PAYOFF • Watch your screen time fall week by week, right next to your focus hours • Per-app insight: what an app cost you before Focus, and what it costs now • Streaks and lifetime stats that never judge, only count TIMER & ALARMS • A clean standalone timer with proper, full-volume alarms • Pick a classic ring or search a song you love as your alarm sound PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account required. Blocking runs on Apple's Screen Time framework, and your activity never leaves your iPhone. We couldn't read it even if we wanted to, because iOS doesn't allow anyone to. The only thing we keep is anonymous usage statistics, never your content. WHO IT'S FOR Students who lose evenings to their phone. Writers, developers, and makers guarding deep work. Anyone who has deleted an app on Sunday and reinstalled it on Monday. Your time is the only thing you truly spend. Focus makes sure it goes where you promised. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ · Privacy Policy: https://itsfocusapp.github.io/focus-legal/privacy.html

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Focus at none against Screen Time Control's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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. Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Focus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update every 4 days, Focus every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Screen Time Control versus Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlFocus
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSoleia Technologies (OPC) Private LimitedMustafa Anıl Kaya

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Screen Time Control

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

Focus

Subscriptions2
  • Focus Pro Weekly$5.997 Days
  • Focus Pro Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus free?
Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time Control or Focus have ads?
Screen Time Control shows ads; Focus does not.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Focus?
Screen Time Control ships an update every 4 days, and Focus every 2 days. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 12, 2026 and Focus on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons