How does HourTrue compare with Apple Screen Time and Focus?
Screen Time provides device-use reports, limits, and scheduled Downtime; Focus manages which notifications can reach you. HourTrue adds a task-based day plan and uses Apple’s Screen Time framework to shield selected apps during locked blocks.
| Feature | HourTrue | Apple Screen Time / Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Time blocks with set times or flexible windows; renegotiate a running block. | Screen Time: scheduled Downtime and app limits. Focus: scheduled notification settings, rather than a task timeline. |
| App blocking | Optional shielding of selected apps during explicitly locked blocks. | Screen Time can restrict apps during Downtime. Focus controls notifications; it is not the same as shielding selected apps. |
| Time estimates | Exchange rates adjust from finished blocks; deep work starts at 1.35×. | No. Screen Time limits apps but does not plan tasks or learn how long they take. |
| Account required | No HourTrue account required. | None. Screen Time is built into iOS; an Apple Account is only needed to sync across devices or use Family Sharing. |
| Platforms | iPhone, iOS 17 or later. | Apple documents Screen Time across iPhone, iPad, and Mac; Focus is available on supported Apple devices. |
| Price | Free to try; optional HourTrue Pro subscription. Launch pricing not yet announced. | Free, built into iOS. |
How HourTrue handles this
HourTrue suits someone who wants the schedule and distraction boundary tied to the same running task, with estimates that adjust as work is finished.
Apple’s built-in controls may suit you better if you mainly want device-use limits, Downtime, or notification filtering without an additional day planner. You can use Focus alongside HourTrue.
Questions
- Is Focus the same as app blocking?
- No. Focus manages notifications; Screen Time provides limits and Downtime restrictions for apps.
- Does HourTrue replace Apple’s Screen Time framework?
- No. HourTrue uses it for on-device counting and selected-app shields during locked blocks.
- Can I use Focus with HourTrue?
- Yes. Focus can manage notifications while HourTrue provides the task plan and optional locked blocks.