# 20 Seconds vs AppBlock

The clearest difference is ads: 20 Seconds at none against AppBlock's shown. 20 Seconds also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 55%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). AppBlock's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (6.9K vs 21). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 20 Seconds sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and AppBlock sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 — 4.6 for 20 Seconds against 4.6 for AppBlock. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AppBlock has 6.9K ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of 20 Seconds's written reviews are positive against 55% of AppBlock's.

20 Seconds ships an update every 3 months, AppBlock weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 20 Seconds | AppBlock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/20-seconds/id939295983/reviews) | **[4.6 (6.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appblock-block-apps-websites/id1515753232/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **6.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 54.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#179** |
| Size | 41 MB | 195 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nishco Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/829598361) | [MobileSoft s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/998289700) |

## What reviewers say

### 20 Seconds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/20-seconds/id939295983)

This app helps build new habits or break existing ones by using a 20-second countdown. It provides a progress indicator and optional sounds or music to aid in distraction and amusement during the countdown.

**Highlights:** 20-second habit timer, Progress indicator, Distracting sounds and music, Automatic start option, 30-day trial in Today widget

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Version | $0.99 | one-time |
| A Kind Tip | $0.99 | one-time |


### AppBlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appblock-block-apps-websites/id1515753232)

**Currently charting:** #179 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting applications and websites. It offers customizable schedules and strict modes to reduce screen time, improve focus, and support healthier digital habits.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Block time-wasting websites, Control screen time, Customizable blocking schedules, Strict mode to prevent bypassing restrictions, Detailed statistics on screen time usage, Focus sessions for work and study

**Features:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| AppBlock Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Effective at blocking apps
- 🚀 Helps reduce screen time and improve productivity
- 💡 Strict mode prevents bypassing of restrictions
- 🔒 Difficult to uninstall the app
- 🎉 Game-changer for managing phone addiction

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Blocking not always consistent or reliable
- 🔓 Easy to bypass restrictions by disabling Screen Time permissions
- 💰 Premium version required for full functionality
- 🤔 Confusing or limited free version
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Scheduled blocks not always activating properly
- App crashing or becoming unresponsive
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between modes

**Requested features**

- Add ability to block Safari and other browsers
- Implement syncing across devices
- Provide more granular control over blocking schedules
- Show remaining time for app limits
- Make strict mode truly unbreakable


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 20 Seconds free?

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

### Is AppBlock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 20 Seconds or AppBlock?

AppBlock is rated higher. 20 Seconds averages 4.6 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while AppBlock averages 4.6 from 6.9K ratings.

### Do 20 Seconds or AppBlock have ads?

AppBlock shows ads; 20 Seconds does not.

### Which is updated more often, 20 Seconds or AppBlock?

20 Seconds ships an update every 3 months, and AppBlock weekly. Most recently, 20 Seconds was updated on October 24, 2026 and AppBlock on October 27, 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.*