Foqos vs ScreenZen
We give Foqos a 3.6 GPA and ScreenZen a 3.8, out of 4.0. ScreenZen grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAFoqosExcellent | 3.8GPAScreenZenExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree on the App Store, with no subscription, no ads and no account. The only purchases are optional tips for the developer at $1.99, $4.99 and $9.99. NFC tags are yours to buy, but QR codes need no hardware at all. | AIt costs nothing. There's no subscription and no paid tier, and the in-app purchases are optional tips of $5 to $40. The only thing sold is halo, a $49 companion device you don't need. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole thing is free: app and website blocking, NFC and QR strategies, timers, breaks, widgets and insights, plus the Mac companion. Nothing is held back. | AThe complete app is free: delays, limits, strict blocks, schedules and lock mode. Nothing is held back for paying users, because there aren't any. |
| Features | AProfiles block apps, app categories and websites, and twelve strategies mix manual, NFC, QR and timer rules, so you can start in the app but stop only with a tag. There are break allowances, Siri and Shortcuts actions, widgets and a Live Activity. | AA wait before an app opens that can grow with each open, sessions cut short, daily limits, strict blocks by time, opens or screen time, and schedules by day and hour. Lock mode stops you changing the settings on impulse. |
| Ease of use | A4.9 from about 5,200 App Store ratings, and no account to make. Tag strategies do need NFC tags you buy yourself, but a QR code or the plain timer needs no hardware. | A4.9 from about 51,000 App Store ratings. Choose the apps, set a delay, and it shows a message of your choice while you wait. |
| Platforms and integrations | CiPhone only, on iOS 17.6 or later, plus a Mac companion that blocks the websites from your iPhone profiles and nothing more. The site points Android users to other apps. | BiPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows. But no integrations or API are listed, and the Windows version is a direct download from ScreenZen's site. |
| Best for | blocking iPhone apps with a tag or code, for free | a free pause before distracting apps open |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Foqos and ScreenZen. How we grade
Where they differ
- Foqos is free. ScreenZen is free.
- Only ScreenZen lists Android and Windows apps.
- Foqos is open source, according to its own site.
- ScreenZen also covers time tracking.
In commonFree planiOSmacOSSite & app blocker
At a glance
| Foqos | ScreenZen | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free on the App Store with no subscription, ads or account. The listing shows three optional tips for the developer, at $1.99, $4.99 and $9.99. | The app is free with no subscription. ScreenZen describes itself as donation-supported, and the in-app purchases are optional tips. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Ambition Software Inc. | ScreenZen LLC |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | screenzen.co |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Foqos
- iPhone users who want a free alternative to hardware app blockers
- Tying a block to a tag or printed code kept in another room
- People who want a blocker with no account, ads or tracking
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
Worth knowing
Foqos
- The App Store lists it as iPhone only, needing iOS 17.6 or later. The site says it is made for iPhone and points Android users to other apps.
- Foqos for Mac is a companion, not a standalone blocker: it blocks websites synced from iPhone profiles and needs macOS 14 or later and the same iCloud account.
- NFC strategies need an iPhone with NFC and tags you buy yourself; QR codes and the manual and timer strategies need no hardware.
- The App Store listing shows optional tip purchases of $1.99, $4.99 and $9.99, although the site's FAQ says there are no in-app purchases.
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.
Key features
Foqos
- App and website blocking
- Profiles for work, study or bedtime each block a chosen set of apps, app categories and website domains through Apple's Screen Time APIs. Adult content and app installs can be blocked too.
- NFC tags and QR codes
- Tap a standard NFC tag such as an NTAG213, or scan a QR code or barcode, to start or stop a session. A profile can be set so that only an approved tag or code will stop it.
- Twelve blocking strategies
- The README lists twelve strategies that combine manual, NFC, QR, timer, pause-timer and temporary-access rules, for example starting in the app but stopping only with a tag.
- Breaks and temporary access
- A profile can carry a break allowance that is split across several breaks, a short pause before blocking resumes, or a set number of brief opens that do not end the session.
- Siri, Shortcuts and widgets
- Sessions respond to Siri phrases and iOS Shortcuts actions, widgets (Control Center ones included) give quicker profile control, and a Live Activity shows status on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.
- Foqos for Mac
- A companion app for macOS 14 or later takes a profile's blocked websites from the iPhone through iCloud and blocks them on the Mac during focus sessions.
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.
Plans
Foqos
Foqos$0
The full iPhone app and the Mac companion: app and website blocking, NFC and QR strategies, timers, breaks, widgets and insights.
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.
