BePresent vs ScreenZen

BePresent

• People who respond to streaks, points and leaderboards more than to hard limits
• Friends or families who want to cut screen time together
• Phone users who want timed app-blocking sessions for study or evenings out

ScreenZen

• People who want a screen time blocker without paying a subscription
• Adding a pause before social apps instead of removing them
• Keeping phones out of use in the bedroom with the optional halo device

BePresent

• BePresent publishes no prices on its website; the US App Store lists subscriptions at several different amounts.
• The vendor does not say which features are limited to BePresent Pro.
• It runs on iPhone and Android phones only; no iPad, Mac, Windows or web version is listed.
• A streak backed with a monetary stake costs you that stake if you exceed your screen time limit.

ScreenZen

• The app is funded by donations; its in-app purchases are optional tips, listed from $5 to $40 on the US App Store.
• The halo companion device costs $49, ships to the US only and works with iOS 16.4 or later and Android 12.0 or later.
• The Windows version is a direct download from ScreenZen's site, while the Mac version shares the App Store listing with the iPhone and iPad app.
• On Android, website blocking relies on the Accessibility permission.

BePresent

Present Sessions

Timed app-blocking sessions for study or time away from the phone, run alone or as a Group Session with friends. Beast Mode is the stricter version.

Daily goals and streaks

Set a daily screen time limit and keep a streak by staying under it. A streak can be backed with a monetary stake that is lost if you go over.

Leaderboards and challenges

Weekly leaderboards with tiers, and challenges against friends, turn lower screen time into a competition.

Real-life rewards

Points earned by limiting screen time can be redeemed for partner rewards; the App Store listing names Headspace, ClassPass and BetterHelp.

Scrolling awareness reminders

Hourly reminders can be set to flag how long you have been scrolling, so the time does not pass unnoticed.

Time tracking and daily reports

Daily and weekly breakdowns of the time you stayed off your phone, with a report covering the previous day.

ScreenZen

Delay before an app opens

A wait is added before a distracting app opens, and it can lengthen with each open. A message of your choice, such as a question to yourself, is shown meanwhile.

Interrupted sessions

Apps can be opened for short periods only, so each session ends with a prompt to decide whether to keep going.

Limits and strict blocks

Set a daily goal per app and optionally block it at the limit. Strict blocks can apply to time ranges, after a number of opens or after a set screen time.

Schedules by day and time

Settings can differ by day of the week and time of day for each app, for example stricter rules during work hours or at bedtime.

Lock mode

Settings can be locked so they cannot be changed on impulse, and the site says lock mode can prevent uninstalling the app.

halo companion device

An optional Bluetooth device, sold separately, that blocks chosen apps while the phone is inside its radius of up to 50 ft, such as a bedroom.

BePresent

• Free$0

  The app is a free download and the vendor refers to a free version; what it includes is not published.

• Monthly$3.99 or $14.99

  per month, US App Store; the $14.99 purchase has a 1-week trial

  The listing shows a purchase named Monthly at $3.99 and one named Monthly (1-Week Free Trial) at $14.99, without saying how they differ.

• Annual$24.99 to $59.99

  per year, US App Store; several purchases listed

  Purchases named Annual or BePresent Pro (Annual) appear at $24.99, $29.99 and $59.99. The listing does not say which one a new subscriber is offered.

• Family$59.99 or $99.99

  US App Store in-app purchase; billing period not shown

  BePresent Family is listed at $59.99 and BePresent Pro Family (iCloud) at $99.99, with no billing period or member count given.

ScreenZen

• ScreenZen$0

  The complete app: delays, limits, strict blocks, schedules and lock mode. Optional tips of $5 to $40 are listed on the US App Store.