# Pause vs ReadTime

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pause at 80% against ReadTime's 0%. Pause also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Pause ships an update every 5 days, ReadTime monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pause | ReadTime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 63 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Iku Yagome](https://appshunter.io/developer/6780103974) | [Ryosuke Hayashi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1841602798) |

## What reviewers say

### Pause

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pause-scroll-less-read-more/id6780103972)

This app helps you reclaim time spent on social media and videos by setting usage limits before you open them. It converts your social media time into an estimate of how many book pages you could have read, encouraging a shift towards reading.

**Highlights:** Set time limits for apps before opening, Automatically block apps when time expires, Convert social media time to book pages, Track reading progress with a virtual companion, Home screen widgets and live activities, Shareable progress cards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### ReadTime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readtime-read-to-unlock-apps/id6790185992)

This app encourages reading by allowing users to earn timed access to other apps based on the time spent reading. It features a digital bookshelf, progress tracking, and helps reduce phone addiction by creating a tangible reward for reading.

**Highlights:** Track reading sessions with a timer, Earn coins for reading time, Trade coins for timed app access, Digital bookshelf and book tracker, Progress tracking and reading reports, Reduce phone addiction

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pause free?

Pause is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ReadTime free?

ReadTime is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Pause or ReadTime have ads?

Neither Pause nor ReadTime shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pause or ReadTime?

Pause ships an update every 5 days, and ReadTime monthly. Most recently, Pause was updated on October 9, 2026 and ReadTime on October 13, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*