Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Screen Time & 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

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 small, 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, and the app unlocks for 15 minutes of intentional use. • 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. NINE CALMING PUZZLES Word Jumble, Mini Crossword, Sliding Tile, Ball Sort, Connect the Colors, Maze, Sixdoku, and more. Every unlock is a small mental reset instead of a mindless tap. DESIGNED FOR INTENTION, NOT RESTRICTION Pause isn't about locking yourself out—it's about adding just enough space to choose. No guilt, no lectures. Just a gentle pause. PAUSE PREMIUM • Unlock all nine puzzles • Remove ads • Start with a 7-day free trial, then annual or monthly Your privacy comes first. Pause uses Apple's Screen Time technology, and the apps you choose never leave your device. Scroll less by accident. Scroll more on purpose. — SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Pause Premium is an auto-renewing subscription. (7-day free trial for new subscribers) • Annual — $74.99/year • Monthly — $9.99/month Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. 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 URL: Terms of Use URL: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Screen Time & Focus

Read full description

Take back your time, without the guilt. Pausora is the gentle screen time app for students who want to focus, study, and scroll less. No punishment. No shame. Just a calmer relationship with your phone. Most app blockers treat you like the problem. Pausora doesn't. Instead of a hard wall, Pausora adds a mindful pause. The moment you reach apps, it checks in, reminds you of the goal you set, and helps you choose focus over autopilot. You stay in control, and the friction stays gentle, never a cage. WHAT PAUSORA DOES - A mindful pause, not a hard block When you open a distracting app, Pausora interrupts with a quick, kind check-in instead of a brick wall. One breath, one question, and you decide. - Block distractions on your schedule Pick the apps that pull you in and set focus hours for study time, sleep time, or deep work. Pausora keeps them gently out of reach using Apple Screen Time. - Take a break, on purpose Need an app for a moment? Choose a deliberate break instead of caving to a reflex. Pausora locks back automatically when your time is up. - A companion that never guilt-trips you Your companion celebrates progress and never "dies" or scolds you for a slip. Encouragement only, because shame doesn't build habits. - Forgiving streaks Miss a day? A streak freeze keeps your momentum alive. One bad day never erases your progress. - Progress you can feel See the hours you reclaimed, your focus streaks, and the distractions you avoided, all tied back to the personal goal you set on day one. - Calm, respectful reminders No spam and no nagging. Pausora nudges you only when it matters, with quiet hours by default. - Made for focus and study Beat doomscrolling, start a focus session, and get back to what actually matters to you. PERFECT FOR - Students who want to study without doomscrolling - Anyone trying a dopamine detox or a screen time reset - People who want to break a phone habit, gently - Focusing on deep work, better sleep, or simply being more present Whether it is one focus session or a whole semester, Pausora grows with you. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your screen time data stays on your device. Pausora has no account database. You sign in with Apple, and we never sell your data. SUPPORT Questions, ideas, or bugs? We are here: pausora@support.aivoryvn.com PAUSORA MEMBERSHIP Pausora is an auto-renewable subscription with a free trial, so you can try everything first with no payment due today. Your plan and price are shown before you subscribe. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in iPhone Settings, Apple ID, Subscriptions. Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Service: https://pausora.aivoryvn.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://pausora.aivoryvn.com/privacy

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Screen Time & Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Screen Time & Focus at none against Screen Time Control's shown. Screen Time & Focus also leads on update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 Screen Time & Focus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update fortnightly, Screen Time & Focus weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Screen Time Control versus Screen Time & Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlScreen Time & Focus
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCarlos VelasquezAIVORY COMPANY LIMITED

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions2
  • Pause Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Pause Premium (Annual)7 Days trial$74.991 Year
4 purchases

Screen Time & Focus

Subscriptions4
  • Pausora Monthly Premium$9.991 Month
  • Pausora Monthly Premium$19.991 Month
  • Pausora Yearly Premium7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pausora Yearly Premium7 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screen Time & Focus free?
Screen Time & Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time Control or Screen Time & Focus have ads?
Screen Time Control shows ads; Screen Time & Focus does not.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Screen Time & Focus?
Screen Time Control ships an update fortnightly, and Screen Time & Focus weekly. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 6, 2026 and Screen Time & Focus on October 15, 2026.

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