BePresent and Pauza both believe stakes change behavior — the question is who holds them. BePresent gives you focus sessions, app limits, a strict 'beast mode', streaks, and a money stake you set against your own goals. Pauza points the stake at a friend instead: both of you put tokens in a pot and the lowest screen time wins it. Here's how they actually compare.
| 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+) |
pick BePresent if
- Putting real money on the line against your own goals genuinely scares you into compliance.
- You want blocking tools included — focus sessions, app limits and a strict beast mode.
- You prefer a solo journey: no friends, no opponents, just you versus your goal.
pick Pauza if
- Staking against yourself hasn't worked — you forgive yourself, move the goal, or quietly cancel.
- You want a real opponent: a friend on the other side of the bet who'll notice if you scroll.
- You'd rather risk tokens than money — losing stings, but never costs cash.
- You want the core experience free (BePresent is ~$59.99/year).
the honest verdict
BePresent's insight is right: skin in the game works. Its weakness is structural — when you stake against yourself, you're the player, the referee and the bank, and self-forgiveness is undefeated. Pauza moves the same stake across the table: a friend takes the other side, the lowest screen time wins the pot, and suddenly there's someone who'll actually collect. If solo money-stakes have held you accountable before, BePresent is a solid, full-featured choice. If you've already forgiven yourself out of one of those bets, you need an opponent — that's Pauza.
full disclosure
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.
Pauza rewards you with tokens for every minute you spend off social media — and lets you bet a friend that you'll scroll less. Free on iPhone.
Get Pauza on iPhone
Leaving BePresent? See the full BePresent alternatives shortlist.
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