Looking for a Freedom Alternative
That Feels Modern?
Freedom has been around for years — but its desktop-era design and complex blocklist setup feel like they belong in 2015. Presence is built from scratch for iOS, with a mindful approach that builds habits instead of punishing you.
Why People Are Moving On from Freedom
Freedom pioneered app blocking. But users are outgrowing its limitations.
The UI Feels Dated and Clunky
Freedom’s interface looks like it was designed for desktop and ported to mobile as an afterthought. Navigating settings, schedules, and blocklists feels sluggish and unintuitive on iPhone.
Complex Blocklist and Schedule Setup
Want to block Instagram during work hours but allow it on weekends? Get ready to juggle multiple blocklists, recurring schedules, and device-specific rules. It shouldn’t take 10 minutes to set up a focus session.
Punitive All-or-Nothing Blocking
Freedom’s philosophy is strict restriction — hard blocks with no nuance. There’s no middle ground between “completely locked out” and “full access.” That rigidity makes it easy to resent the app and abandon it.
Syncing Issues Across Devices
Freedom markets itself as cross-platform, but users frequently report that block sessions don’t sync reliably between Mac, iPhone, and iPad. You end up re-configuring the same session on every device.
How Presence Does It Differently
We didn’t try to fix a desktop app for mobile. We built something native, beautiful, and mindful from day one.
Beautiful, Native iOS Design
Presence is designed specifically for iPhone — warm glass-card UI, smooth animations, and intuitive controls that feel like they belong on your home screen. No desktop leftovers.
Mindful Friction, Not Punishment
Instead of hard blocks that make you feel caged, Presence adds a gentle pause — a moment of awareness before you open a distracting app. You choose what happens next. That’s how real habits form.
Zero Complex Blocklists
No juggling schedules, device rules, or multi-step configurations. Presence keeps it simple: pick your distractions, set your intention, and start a focus session in seconds.
Presence vs Freedom: Side by Side
| Feature | 🌿 Presence | Freedom |
|---|---|---|
| Modern iOS UI | Native, warm glass-card design | Desktop-era interface ported to mobile |
| Mindful habit focus | Gentle friction that builds awareness | Strict blocking — comply or override |
| Quick setup | Pick distractions and go in seconds | Complex blocklists and scheduling required |
| Focus timer | Built-in with ambient zen sounds | Basic session timer |
| Streak tracking | Daily visual streaks and progress | Not included |
| Ambient audio | Brown noise, lo-fi, nature loops | Not included |
| Cross-device sync | iOS-native — no sync issues | Unreliable multi-device syncing |
| Pricing | Free core + affordable premium | ~$40/yr for full features |
Presence Is For You If...
- ✓You want an app blocker that feels native and modern on iPhone
- ✓You’ve tried Freedom but found the setup too complex
- ✓You prefer mindful friction over hard, punitive blocks
- ✓You don’t need cross-platform — you just need it to work beautifully on iOS
- ✓You want focus sessions that feel good, not like a chore
Ready for an App Blocker That Feels Like 2026?
Presence is launching soon on iOS. Join the waitlist and be the first to experience focus sessions that are simple, beautiful, and actually enjoyable.