Comparison

Spinbrek vs Pause

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

Head to head
About

Spinbrek

This app helps you break phone scrolling habits by offering a fun, interactive wheel to choose alternative activities. It provides customizable blocking options and focus timers to boost productivity and reclaim your time.

Highlights
  • Interactive focus wheel for activity selection
  • Customizable app blocking
  • Strict Mode for commitment
  • Daily time limits per app
  • Pomodoro timer
  • Live Activities for focus tracking
Features
Read full description

Spinbrek is the only screen time control app blocker that ACTUALLY helps. It's aesthetic enough for your desk setup and strict enough to keep you off your phone. When the urge to scroll hits, spin the wheel instead. Not a fan of pastel colors? There's a dark mode as well! SPIN INSTEAD OF SCROLL When you try to open a blocked app, Spinbrek gives you a moment to pause. Spin the wheel and land on something better to do: stretch, read, tidy up, or anything on your own list. If you have ADHD or deal with decision paralysis, you know the feeling: you put the phone down, then freeze because you can't pick what to do instead. The wheel makes that choice for you. One spin, one clear next step, no overthinking. Small wins add up, and breaking the scroll habit one spin at a time can change your whole day. YOUR WHEEL, YOUR RULES - Paste your own custom list - Strict Mode limits your spins so you commit to your pick - Getting more done throughout your day! FLEXIBLE CONTROLS - Block specific apps or all apps at once - Custom schedules for any time of day - Lock an App: limit how many times a day you can unlock it - Daily time limits per app - Pomodoro Mode - Take short breaks without losing your session - Track your focus session right from your Lock Screen with Live Activities PRIVATE BY DESIGN Spinbrek uses Apple's Screen Time framework to block apps. Your app usage stays on your device, and no account or sign-up is needed. TAKE BACK YOUR TIME No complicated setup. Block the scroll, spin the wheel, and do something productive! Start your 7-day free trial today! ---------------- Terms of Service: https://eaglenguyen.github.io/pausenow-legal/terms_of_service Privacy Policy: https://eaglenguyen.github.io/pausenow-legal/privacy_policy

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

Spinbrek4 screens
Pause4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pause at 5.0 against Spinbrek's 4.3. Pause also leads on ratings volume (9 vs 3). Spinbrek's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Spinbrek sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pause holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 9 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Spinbrek versus Pause: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpinbrekPause
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings)5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings39 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size162 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEagle NguyenCarlos Velasquez

Customer experience

Spinbrek

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Pause

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Spinbrek

Subscriptions2
  • pause now Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • pause now Pro — Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • pause now Premium — Lifetime$39.99
2 purchases

Pause

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

Questions

Is Spinbrek free?
Spinbrek is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pause free?
Pause is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Spinbrek or Pause?
Pause is rated higher. Spinbrek averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Pause averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.
Do Spinbrek or Pause have ads?
Pause shows ads; Spinbrek does not.
Which is updated more often, Spinbrek or Pause?
Spinbrek ships an update every 5 days, and Pause every 3 weeks. Most recently, Spinbrek was updated on November 5, 2026 and Pause on November 5, 2026.

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