People who search for a BePresent alternative usually like the goal, less time on the phone, but not the way it gets there: leaderboards, group sessions and money on the line. The honest short answer: BePresent is built for people who are motivated by others. ReadFirst is built for people who want a quiet rule between them and the feed, paid in pages of a real book. We make ReadFirst, so we are not neutral. We checked every fact about BePresent on its App Store page on 20 October 2026.
What is BePresent?
BePresent ("BePresent: Screen Time Control", by Screen Detox Inc) is a social, game-like screen time app. Its main tool is Present Sessions: "Dedicate breaks from screens, whether it's a focused study session or a no-phone night out." You can run them alone, "team up with friends for Group Sessions," or enter "BEAST MODE" for a stricter break.
It adds commitment and competition on top. You can "back your commitment with a monetary stake," which you lose if you go over your limit. There are weekly leaderboards, a streak for staying under your limits, and points you can redeem for real-life rewards.
BePresent is free to download with in-app purchases. As listed on the US App Store on 20 October 2026, plans range from $3.99 a month to $59.99 a year, with several trial lengths, and family plans are listed too. It runs on iPhone with iOS 16 or later and on Apple Vision.
The same developer also makes BibleScroll, an app that keeps your apps locked until you read the day's Bible passage. If your reading is scripture, that one may suit you better than either app on this page.
BePresent vs ReadFirst at a glance
| BePresent | ReadFirst | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A social screen time app with sessions, stakes and rewards | An app blocker plus a reading tracker |
| How you get back into your apps | Sessions and limits; go over and you can lose your stake | Read a page of a printed book and take a live photo of it |
| Reading built in | No | Yes: pages, books, streak, goal, medals |
| Printed books | No | The key to your apps |
| Streaks and goals | Screen time streak, leaderboards, rewards | Daily page goal, reading streak, 60 medals |
| Price (US App Store, 20 Oct 2026) | Free with in-app purchases; from $3.99 a month to $59.99 a year | $39.99 a year (3 days free for new subscribers), $7.99 a month or $99.99 one-time purchase |
| Platforms | iPhone (iOS 16+), Apple Vision | iPhone and iPad (iOS and iPadOS 18+) |
| Best for | People driven by friends, competition and stakes | Turning phone time into reading time |
Where BePresent is a great choice
BePresent is a strong pick if you do better with other people. A group session with friends turns a phone-free dinner into something you do together, and a leaderboard gives you a reason to check in that isn't the feed. If you're competitive, that energy is hard to beat.
The money stake is a serious tool too. Losing real money if you go over is a sharp reason to stop, and some people need exactly that. Rewards you can redeem add a pleasant pull in the other direction. And you can start for free.
Where ReadFirst is different
ReadFirst measures something else. BePresent counts the time you stay away from the screen. ReadFirst counts the pages you read before you go back to it.
- Your way back in is a book. Open a locked app and you see "This page can wait." Read a page of a printed book, take a live photo of it, and your apps open. See how read to unlock works.
- Nothing to lose, only pages to gain. There is no stake and no leaderboard. You set a rule, for example one page gives you 15 minutes in your apps, and those minutes only run while you use the locked apps. See your reading rule.
- A private check. The page is checked on your iPhone or iPad and the photo is never saved. There is no ReadFirst account, and your reading syncs through your own iCloud. More on the page photo check.
- A streak that forgives. Your streak counts days you read, with one grace day a month, so one busy evening doesn't break it. The reading streak sits next to a daily page goal.
- Rewards that are about you. Instead of points, you earn 60 reading medals, from your first 100 pages to a full year of reading, and see your week, month and year in pages.
Can you use both?
Yes, if you keep their jobs apart. Use BePresent for the shared moments, like a group session at dinner or a phone-free night out with friends. Use ReadFirst for the apps that pull you in when you're alone, so your own evenings start with a page. Lock the same apps in only one of them, so you don't hit two walls at once.
Which one should you choose?
Choose BePresent if:
- friends, leaderboards and group sessions keep you motivated
- a money stake is the push you need
- you want to start with a free app
Choose ReadFirst if:
- you want a calm, private rule instead of a competition
- you want every return to your apps to start with a page of a real book
- you want to finish more books, with a shelf, a goal, a streak and medals
Frequently asked questions
Is ReadFirst free like BePresent?
No. ReadFirst has no free tier. It costs $39.99 a year with 3 days free for new subscribers, $7.99 a month or $99.99 as a one-time purchase on the US App Store.
Does ReadFirst have leaderboards or money stakes?
No. ReadFirst has no leaderboards and no stakes. You can share progress and medal cards as images if you want to, but your reading stays your own.
Does ReadFirst work with Kindle or e-books?
No. ReadFirst works with printed books only. Photos of phone and e-reader screens are recognized and do not count.
Does ReadFirst lock my whole phone?
No. Only the apps and websites you choose are locked through Apple Screen Time. Every other app keeps working as usual.