# SoberUp vs Shield

The clearest difference is monetization model: Shield at free against SoberUp's freemium. Shield also leads on ratings volume (5 vs 1). SoberUp's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SoberUp sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Shield sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SoberUp against 5.0 for Shield. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shield has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

SoberUp ships an update weekly, Shield fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SoberUp | Shield |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soberup-sobriety-tracker/id6787512520/reviews) | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shield-screen-time-blocker/id6792581680/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 88 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BRIAN MATTHEW REYNOLDS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1868469813) | [Zak Riesen](https://appshunter.io/developer/6792581682) |

## What reviewers say

### SoberUp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soberup-sobriety-tracker/id6787512520)

This app helps you track your progress on your journey to sobriety. Monitor sober days, track your streak, and build healthier habits. It provides a simple, private space to stay motivated and focused on your personal goals.

**Highlights:** Track sober days and milestones, Monitor alcohol-free streak, Record progress over time, Build daily accountability, Stay focused on personal goals, Clean and simple design

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |


### Shield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shield-screen-time-blocker/id6792581680)

This app helps you regain control of your digital habits by blocking distracting applications until you complete real-world goals. Set daily objectives and earn access back to your chosen apps by achieving them.

**Highlights:** Goal-based app blocking, Set daily real-world objectives, Earn access to blocked apps, Temporary break option, Social accountability circle, Uses Screen Time technology

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shield Family | $7.99 | per month |
| Shield Family | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SoberUp free?

SoberUp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shield free?

Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SoberUp or Shield?

SoberUp and Shield are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 5 ratings respectively.

### Do SoberUp or Shield have ads?

Neither SoberUp nor Shield shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SoberUp or Shield?

SoberUp ships an update weekly, and Shield fortnightly. Most recently, SoberUp was updated on October 31, 2026 and Shield on November 5, 2026.

---

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