Comparison

DOOMSTARE vs Pause

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

Head to head
About

DOOMSTARE

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DOOMSTARE will break the scrolling loop with a reminder to see yourself. Choose the apps you want DOOMSTARE to watch and set a timer. No lectures. No productivity hacks. No breathing exercises. Just a small moment of awareness. You decide what happens next. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pause

This app inserts a brief puzzle before you open selected apps, creating a moment of intentionality to reduce mindless scrolling. It offers various puzzles and a premium version for ad removal and full puzzle access.

Highlights
  • Puzzle before app access
  • Reduces mindless scrolling
  • Nine calming puzzle types
  • Customizable app blocking
  • Intentional use timer
  • Premium ad-free option
Features
Read full description

Pause helps you scroll on purpose. Lowers your screen time. We all reach for the same apps on autopilot. Pause puts a short, calming puzzle between you and those apps, so opening one becomes a choice, not a reflex. HOW IT WORKS • Choose the apps you want to pause. • When you try to open one, Pause asks you to solve a quick puzzle first. • Solve it, then pick how long to unlock it: 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes. • When time's up, the pause comes back automatically. That tiny moment of friction is enough to break the autopilot and remind you why you picked up your phone in the first place. TEN CALMING PUZZLES • Word Jumble • Five Letters • Word Search • Memory Match • Ball Sort • Sliding Tile • Maze • Connect the Dots • Connect the Color • Sixdoku. Every unlock is a small mental reset instead of a mindless tap. Seasonal themes keep things fresh, and this November brings a new Gratitude puzzle. DESIGNED FOR INTENTION, NOT RESTRICTION Pause never locks you out. It adds just enough space to choose. No guilt, no lectures. Just a gentle pause. SEE YOUR PROGRESS Your Week shows how many times you walked away from scrolling and roughly how much time you got back. START WITH 7 DAYS OF PREMIUM, FREE • All ten puzzles, with Easy, Medium and Hard difficulty per app • Pause as many apps as you like • Schedules for work, bedtime or family time • No ads We'll remind you 2 days before your trial ends. Cancel anytime and keep a free version of Pause: 1 paused app, 3 puzzles, with ads. Your privacy comes first. Pause uses Apple's Screen Time technology, and the apps you choose never leave your device, nor do we see the apps that you choose. Scroll less by accident. Scroll more on purpose. — SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Pause Premium is an auto-renewing subscription with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. • Annual — $49.99/year • Monthly — $4.99/month Payment is charged to your Apple Account when the free trial ends, or at confirmation of purchase if no trial applies. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you start a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://try-pause.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

DOOMSTARE4 screens
Pause4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: DOOMSTARE at none against Pause'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. DOOMSTARE sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Pause sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DOOMSTARE ships an update every 2 weeks, Pause every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
DOOMSTARE versus Pause: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDOOMSTAREPause
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—9 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJavier FandosCarlos Velasquez

In-app purchases

2 purchases

DOOMSTARE

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$1.997 Days
  • Annual$29.991 Year
2 purchases

Pause

Subscriptions2
  • Pause Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Pause Premium (Annual)7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is DOOMSTARE free?
DOOMSTARE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pause free?
Pause is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DOOMSTARE or Pause have ads?
Pause shows ads; DOOMSTARE does not.
Which is updated more often, DOOMSTARE or Pause?
DOOMSTARE ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pause every 3 weeks. Most recently, DOOMSTARE was updated on November 5, 2026 and Pause on November 5, 2026.

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