BePresent bets you'll behave when your own money is on the line — focus sessions, beast mode, streaks, and a stake you set against yourself. The catch: you're also the referee, and self-forgiveness is undefeated. Five apps people switch to, honestly compared: one is ours (bias disclosed).
A stake against your own goals is easy to waive when you slip — there's no opponent to collect.
Streaks and self-stakes are solo tools. If a real opponent is what moves you, BePresent doesn't have one.
Around $59.99/year sits in the upper half of the category; free and cheaper options exist below.
our app — bias disclosed, judge accordingly
people who want a solid free blocker without paying
Progressive open-delays, scroll interruptions and per-app goals to break automatic habits.
people who want polished, hard-to-bypass focus blocking and deep analytics
Scheduled focus sessions and Deep Focus that block chosen apps with no bypass, plus a focus score and analytics.
people who want elegant, native blocking with light social sharing
Rules, a strict mode, and 'squads' where you share your screen-time numbers — deeply iOS-native and design-forward.
people who want a gentle pause and autonomy rather than hard blocking
Adds a deep-breath pause before each app opens, then asks if you still want to continue — friction, not blocking.
| BePresent | Pauza | |
|---|---|---|
| Core approach | Focus sessions, app limits and a strict 'beast mode', with streaks and a money stake you set against yourself. | Rewards time OFF your phone: every minute away from social media becomes tokens, builds streaks, and can be staked in head-to-head bets with a friend — lowest screen time wins the pot. |
| Price | around $59.99/year | free core app; optional PRO tier |
| Social layer | streaks and a stake you set against yourself — there's no head-to-head opponent | real head-to-head stakes with friends — lowest screen time wins the pot (tokens only, no cash value) |
| When you slip | you lose the money you staked against your own goal — and you're the referee | streaks freeze instead of breaking; a lost bet costs tokens, never money |
| Privacy | usage processed by the app to power limits and streaks | per-app usage and your blocked-apps list never leave the device; friends only see an anonymous daily minute total |
| Platform | iPhone | iPhone only (iOS 26+) |
Full breakdown: Pauza vs BePresent
This page is written by the team behind Pauza, so read it with that in mind — we've kept every claim factual and point out where the other app is genuinely the better choice. Prices are approximate as of July 2026 and change often; always check the App Store for current pricing. All product names are trademarks of their respective owners; Pauza is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
ScreenZen — free open-delays, scroll interruptions and per-app goals. Pauza's core (tracking, tokens, streaks, friend challenges) is also free on iOS 26+.
Yes — Pauza's whole model: you and a friend both stake tokens head-to-head, and the lowest screen time wins the pot (tokens only, no cash value — losing never costs money, but there's a real person collecting).
Opal — focus sessions, hard-to-bypass Deep Focus and analytics (~$99.99/year), or Jomo for a similar toolset at ~$29.99/year. Neither uses money stakes. Prices are approximate — check the App Store.
More: Opal alternatives · one sec alternatives · ClearSpace alternatives · Jomo alternatives · Roots alternatives · ScreenZen alternatives · Forest alternatives · Unrot alternatives · Brainrot alternatives · all screen time apps compared
Every minute off social media earns tokens — and you can bet a friend on who scrolls less.
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