Comparison

Fluid Friction vs ScrollKick Screen Time Control

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

Head to head
About

Fluid Friction

This app introduces deliberate friction to prevent mindless scrolling on social media and other distracting apps. It offers customizable shields, timed sessions, and NFC tag integration to help users regain control over their screen time and improve focus.

Highlights
  • Deliberate friction for scrolling
  • App and website blocking
  • Timed sessions with cooldowns
  • NFC tag integration for unlocking
  • Focus timer and Pomodoro sessions
  • Calm Score and progress tracking
  • Customizable themes
Features
Read full description

Mindless scrolling stops working with Fluid Friction. Open Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, X, Snapchat, Facebook or LinkedIn inside Fluid Friction, or add any website you choose, and the feed pushes back. Fluid rises from the edge of the screen against your thumb. Drag through it until a bubble forms and rises off the screen. Only then does the next post arrive. Cross the threshold on purpose, or set the phone down. It doesn't shame you. It just makes you mean it. WHY IT WORKS Infinite feeds run on autopilot. Fluid Friction slips one deliberate moment between you and the scroll, so doomscrolling becomes a decision instead of a reflex. No workout to film, no quiz to pass, no habit checklist to clear first: the friction lives inside the scroll itself. Dial it from gentle to intense, set scroll limits per app, and let YouTube friction fire on Shorts only. CALM SHIELDS FOR YOUR OTHER APPS Block any native app, or a website, with Screen Time. Instead of a wall of shame you get a calm, warm screen, a clear count of the opens you chose to keep, a cooldown between opens, and a breathing, math or passphrase moment before you go in. Timed sessions count down right in the Dynamic Island and the shield returns when time is up. One toggle also blocks adult websites. Strict when you ask for it, dignified always. KEEP THE CHATS, SKIP THE RABBIT HOLE Hide Reels, Shorts, Stories, Explore and For You while messages keep working. Open apps to a calmer landing page, follow only the people you chose, hide recommendations and comments on YouTube, or go grayscale across every feed. Multiple accounts with separate sessions, YouTube background play and picture in picture are all built in, so the calmer way is also the comfortable way. TAP & SCAN Turn any NFC tag you already own into a physical key: a sticker, a card, even a transit pass. Tap to lock your distracting apps, tap to release them, or require a scan to unlock a shield. No extra hardware to buy; a QR code or a barcode in your kitchen works too. WAKE UP WITHOUT THE FEED An alarm that ends with a scan, not a scroll. Dismiss it with your tag or a barcode across the room, answer a quick wake challenge, and let a morning block hold the feeds until you are up. Wind down at night, track your wake streak, and earn 25 honest milestones. Snooze stays off unless you turn it on. On iOS 26 the alarm rings like the built-in clock; on earlier versions it alerts through notifications. SEE YOURSELF CLEARLY A Calm Score and Brainy, your small clay companion, reflect how your scrolling actually went. Real Screen Time numbers, weekly recaps, and tailored suggestions you can apply with one tap, like a schedule for the hour that always gets you. FOCUS WHEN IT COUNTS Focus timer, Pomodoro sessions, and a Focus Bank that turns focused minutes into earned, deliberate breaks. Breaks keep the feeds blocked by default, and the countdown lives in the Dynamic Island. MAKE IT YOURS 91 bubble themes, from aurora to plasma, with mystery unlocks and matching app icons. A quiet rank ladder climbs from Copper to Champion as you show up for yourself, and it never punishes a missed day. Home screen widgets too, including a minimalist launcher that routes tempting apps through the wave. PRIVATE AND FAIR No ads. No tracking. Your usage stays on your device. Every tool is free: the friction, the shields, the alarm, the insights. Fluid Pro, if you ever want it, unlocks themes and comfort extras like dark mode, with a 7 day free trial. MADE BY TWIN BROTHERS We're Manfred and Gustav. We built Fluid Friction because we needed it ourselves, and we kept the parts that matter calm, honest and respectful of your attention. No nagging, no guilt trips, no tricks. The wave is rising. Scroll like you mean it. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://fluidfriction.app/ios/privacy Terms of Service: https://fluidfriction.app/ios/terms

About

ScrollKick Screen Time Control

This app helps you manage your social media usage by setting limits on your scrolling sessions and daily app access. It offers customizable protection levels to interrupt your usage without forcing you to quit entirely, promoting healthier digital habits.

Highlights
  • Session limits for each scrolling session
  • Daily limits and blocked hours
  • Always Blocked for selected apps
  • Four protection levels
  • Custom pause and access timers
  • Screen-time insights
  • Kick Points and progress tracking
Read full description

You open social media for one quick check. Half an hour later, you’re still scrolling. ScrollKick helps stop that moment before it happens — without forcing you to quit social media. Set a Session Limit to keep each visit short. Add a Daily Limit, Blocked Hours, or Always Blocked when you want stronger boundaries. BREAK THE SCROLL, NOT YOUR SOCIAL LIFE When a limit is reached, ScrollKick interrupts the scroll. Choose how hard it should be to continue with four protection levels — from a short mindful pause to stronger protection. Temporary access ends automatically, and the app returns to protection. KEY FEATURES • Session limits for each scrolling session • Daily limits and blocked hours • Always Blocked for selected apps • Four protection levels • Custom pause and access timers • Strict Mode for stronger commitment • Screen-time insights • Kick Points and progress tracking Start free with essential protection for one app. ScrollKick Pro unlocks more apps, stronger protection, custom timers, Strict Mode, and extended insights. ScrollKick uses Apple’s Screen Time technology to protect selected apps on your device. Check social media. Don’t get stuck there. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Fluid Friction4 screens
ScrollKick Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ScrollKick Screen Time Control at 5.0 against Fluid Friction's 3.7. ScrollKick Screen Time Control also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Fluid Friction sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and ScrollKick Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ScrollKick Screen Time Control holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Fluid Friction's written reviews are positive against 100% of ScrollKick Screen Time Control's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Fluid Friction versus ScrollKick Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFluid FrictionScrollKick Screen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings33
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB13 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperGustav Mtenji Bergdal MjengwaIhor Pakhomov

Customer experience

Fluid Friction

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

ScrollKick Screen Time Control

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Fluid Friction

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
2 purchases

ScrollKick Screen Time Control

Subscriptions2
  • ScrollKick Pro Monthly$6.991 Month
  • ScrollKick Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Fluid Friction free?
Fluid Friction is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ScrollKick Screen Time Control free?
ScrollKick Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Fluid Friction or ScrollKick Screen Time Control?
ScrollKick Screen Time Control is rated higher. Fluid Friction averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while ScrollKick Screen Time Control averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Fluid Friction or ScrollKick Screen Time Control have ads?
Neither Fluid Friction nor ScrollKick Screen Time Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fluid Friction or ScrollKick Screen Time Control?
Fluid Friction ships an update weekly, and ScrollKick Screen Time Control weekly. Most recently, Fluid Friction was updated on October 12, 2026 and ScrollKick Screen Time Control on October 22, 2026.

Other comparisons