Clearspace vs Unpluq

Clearspace

• People who want friction before social apps rather than a hard block
• Phone users who want a time budget for each scrolling session
• Anyone motivated by accountability partners, streaks and exercise challenges

Unpluq

• People who want a physical step between themselves and social apps
• Locking a set of apps during work hours, evenings or weekends
• Parents setting app limits on a child's iPhone or Android phone

Clearspace

• Clearspace publishes no pricing page; the only prices found are in-app purchases on the app stores.
• The US App Store lists three purchases named Clearspace Premium at $44.99, $49.99 and $59.99 without saying how they differ.
• The iOS app is for iPhone only and there is no Mac or Windows app; on a computer Clearspace runs as a Chrome extension.
• The Google Play listing leaves out the schedules and accountability partners that the iPhone listing describes.

Unpluq

• The free version stops at 2 blocked apps, 1 schedule and 2 barrier types.
• The Unpluq Tag only works with a Premium subscription, so the hardware price comes on top of one.
• Website blocking works only on iPhone and only in Safari; the FAQ says Android cannot block websites yet.
• Phone only: the App Store listing is iPhone-only, there is no desktop app, and the web store sets prices by country.

Clearspace

Pause before opening

A selected app opens only after a short centering exercise such as a deep breath, which gives you a moment to decide whether to go in at all.

Session limits

You tell Clearspace how long you want to spend in an app, and it pulls you out when that time is up.

Blocking and schedules

Distracting apps can be blocked outright, and schedules set the windows when chosen apps may be used.

Screen time challenges

Screen time challenges are meant to train your attention, and exercise modes make you do pushups, squats or steps to earn scrolling time.

Accountability and reporting

On iPhone, trusted accountability partners help you keep to your goals, and streaks and budgets summarize your screen time.

Chrome extension

Blocks or limits websites with the same pause-before-opening step, hides social media feeds and offers a Reader Mode that strips a page down to its text.

Unpluq

Scheduled app blocking

Pick the apps to block and the hours they stay locked, such as work time, evenings or weekends. Premium allows unlimited schedules, each with its own set of up to 49 apps.

Distraction barriers

Opening a blocked app means completing a task first: shaking the phone, tapping a pattern of buttons, scrolling, scanning a QR code or a random pick. Android adds a walking barrier.

Unpluq Tag

A keychain-sized NFC fob that unlocks blocked apps when tapped against the phone. It needs Premium and works with iPhone 8 or later and Android phones that have NFC.

Screen time statistics

The app shows screen time stats so you can follow your progress, and the subscription page mentions tracking the time you have saved.

Emergency Mode

Once a day, Emergency Mode opens full access for 5 minutes so schedules can be changed without the Tag. It can be switched off entirely.

Unpluq Family

A parental-control edition: the parent chooses which apps a child can open and when, and keeps the Tag that unlocks the restricted ones. Lite covers up to 3 phones.

Clearspace

• Free$0

  The app is a free download. The store listings do not spell out what the free version includes.

• Clearspace Premium (Monthly)$6.99

  per month, US App Store in-app purchase

  Premium paid month to month. The listing does not itemize what Premium adds.

• Clearspace Premium (Annual)$44.99

  per year, US App Store in-app purchase

  Premium billed yearly. The listing also shows purchases named Clearspace Premium at $49.99 and $59.99 with no billing period.

• Clearspace Premium Family$79.99

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

  A family version of Premium. The listing gives neither the billing period nor the number of people covered.

Unpluq

• Unpluq Free$0

  Blocks 2 apps on 1 schedule, with 2 barriers to choose from: tapping buttons or shaking the phone.

• Premium Monthly$6.99

  per month, US App Store in-app purchase

  Unlimited blocked apps (up to 49 per schedule), unlimited schedules, every barrier type and Tag support. One subscription covers one phone and one tablet.

• Unpluq Tag$26.50

  one-time purchase, hardware only (US web store)

  The NFC key fob on its own, for people who already subscribe. It only works with Unpluq Premium.

• Premium Subscription (web store)$29

  per 3 months, prepaid on unpluq.com (US web store)

  Prepaid Premium by activation code: $29 for 3 months, $42 for 6 or $76 for 12 without a Tag; $29, $46 or $81 with a Tag. The homepage calls the 3-month term a summer offer.

• Premium Yearly$59.99

  per year, US App Store in-app purchase

  The same Premium features billed once a year through the App Store. Google Play lists its in-app items at $6.99 to $59.99.

• Unpluq Family$79.95

  per year for Lite, up to 3 phones (US web store)

  One Tag plus a 1-year Family subscription that renews automatically. Full, at $99.95, covers unlimited phones.

Clearspace

• Annual discount

  Annual Premium costs about 46% less than monthly

  The US App Store lists Clearspace Premium at $44.99 a year against $6.99 a month, which comes to $83.88 over twelve months.

Unpluq

• Annual discount

  Yearly Premium costs about 28% less than monthly

  The US App Store lists Unpluq Premium Yearly at $59.99 against Premium Monthly at $6.99, which comes to $83.88 over twelve months.

• Education

  40% off for university and college students

  Non-dependent students at accredited universities and colleges get 40% off the Unpluq Tag with a 6 or 12 month subscription after emailing proof of enrollment.

• Other savings

  30% off for military service members

  Unpluq's FAQ offers 30% off to active or former military service members who send proof of their veteran or active duty status to its support team.