iOS Screen Time blocks an app outright behind a settings menu easy to bypass, easy to ignore. Pause adds a small puzzle in the moment instead, so opening a paused app becomes a choice, not a reflex. It's not a hard block; it's just enough friction to catch the habit before it catches you.
Is my data private with Pause? Yes. Pause is built on Apple's Screen Time framework, so the apps you choose to pause never leave your device there's no server-side tracking of what you're blocking or when. It's fully on-device by design. Is Pause free, and what's the pricing structure? Pause offers a free, ad-supported version. There's also a 7-day free trial of premium, which unlocks all nine puzzles and removes ads. After the trial, premium runs $4.99/month or $49.99/year but the free tier stays fully usable on its own if you'd rather not upgrade.
