# Screen Time Control vs ReadUnlock

The clearest difference is update cadence: ReadUnlock at every 2 days against Screen Time Control's every 3 weeks. Screen Time Control's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and ReadUnlock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Screen Time Control ships an update every 3 weeks, ReadUnlock every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Screen Time Control | ReadUnlock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Size | 55 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.4 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicolas Gula](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777588714) | [Arbaz Patel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896418219) |

## What reviewers say

### Screen Time Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-guardian/id6800491060)

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |


### ReadUnlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readunlock/id6816839512)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ReadUnlock Plus Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| ReadUnlock Plus Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Screen Time Control free?

Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ReadUnlock free?

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

### Do Screen Time Control or ReadUnlock have ads?

Neither Screen Time Control nor ReadUnlock shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or ReadUnlock?

Screen Time Control ships an update every 3 weeks, and ReadUnlock every 2 days. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 17, 2026 and ReadUnlock on October 13, 2026.

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