# Brick - Ditch Distractions — Make your phone a tool again > Software and NFC hardware to temporarily block distracting apps and notifications. (iPhone/iPad app by Brick LLC (Wisconsin).) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Brick LLC (Wisconsin)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1686383161) - Category: Productivity, Lifestyle - Price: Free - Rating: 4.90/5 from 51,441 App Store ratings · 2,036 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 56 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2023-09-15 - Data updated: 2026-08-28 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069/reviews.md ## What is Brick? Brick is the world's first digital wellness tool designed to turn smartphones back into tools, helping people take back control of their time, attention, and technology. A small tool paired with a powerful app that temporarily removes distracting apps and their notifications from your iPhone, leaving only what you choose. In a world designed for constant distraction, Brick introduces a simple but powerful idea: friction. By requiring a physical tap to enable or disable distracting apps, Brick creates a deliberate pause between impulse and action - turning smartphones back into tools for what matters. HOW IT WORKS Choose which apps or websites to block: social media, games, news, streaming, or anything distracting Tap your iPhone to Brick to activate your chosen mode A focus timer starts automatically, tracking your distraction-free time Place Brick somewhere out of reach and go live your life When you're ready, tap again to regain access Not nearby? Activate Brick remotely in the app. You'll still need the physical Brick to unblock, keeping the commitment real. FEATURES Block any iPhone app (except the dialer, per Apple policy) and select Safari websites Create custom modes for different parts of your day: Work, Family, Sleep, Gym, Study, Focus, and more A built-in focus timer tracks how long you stay undistracted Strict Mode closes loopholes, preventing workarounds while you're in a session 5 Emergency Unbricks included for unexpected situations Usage history tracks your progress so you can see how your habits improve over time. No subscriptions and no monthly fees. Buy once, use forever DESIGNED FOR EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE Parents use Brick to create device-free family time and build healthier habits around technology. Students rely on it during study sessions and exam prep when focus matters most. Professionals use it for deep work without the constant pull of notifications. Athletes keep it in the locker room to stay locked in before competition. Brick is also a thoughtful gift for anyone trying to build a healthier relationship with their screen habits, reduce anxiety from constant notifications, or simply spend less time scrolling and more time living. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Economist, Fortune, Vogue, TechCrunch, CNET, Fast Company, The Washington Post, Business Insider, and The New Yorker. With over 35,000 five-star reviews, people describe Brick as the thing that finally helped them break free from screen addiction. Join a growing community choosing to take back their time and reclaim hours lost to technology. HSA & FSA ELIGIBLE Brick qualifies as an HSA and FSA eligible purchase through our partnership with Truemed. Use pre-tax health savings to invest in your digital wellness and mental health. WHAT'S INCLUDED Your purchase includes the physical Brick and full lifetime access to the companion app. No subscriptions. No hidden fees. No ads. Brick helps you take back your time, turn your phone back into a tool, and use technology the way it should be: with intention. ## Key features - Temporarily remove distracting apps - Block notifications - Customize unblocked apps - Track usage history - NFC hardware integration ## Chart rankings - #78 in Top Free · Productivity (US App Store) ## What do users think of Brick? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Great concept - 🚀 Helps reclaim time and attention - 🔒 Physical barrier prevents mindless usage - 💡 Customizable blocking/allowing modes - 🚀 Improves productivity and focus - 👍 Effective for breaking phone addiction **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes - 🐛 Unreliable app functionality - 🐛 Inconsistent app behavior after updates - 🐛 Difficulty setting up and configuring - 🐛 Limited number of apps that can be allowed **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when selecting apps to block/allow - Saved settings get deleted or reset unexpectedly - Inability to block certain apps like Safari - Bricked mode not working as expected after phone restart **Most requested features** - Scheduled bricking/unbricking modes - Remote bricking option - Ability to block more than 50 apps - Improved app stability and reliability ## Recent user reviews (10 of 2,036) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069/reviews.md ### 4/5 — Review *2026-08-24, version 2026.33.0* Great product! Really effective. Wish there were less emergency un bricks though :) ### 5/5 — Game changer *2026-08-23, version 2026.33.0* Eliminated late night scrolling ### 4/5 — Amazing! Small issue with schedule tho :/ *2026-08-22* I love this app, it has significantly lowered my screen time and it’s very easy to use. However I keep running into an issue regarding the schedules; it had been working before but recently whenever I have my schedule set and it ends (so it’s supposed to unbrick) it unbricks all the apps but then in the app it shows it’s still bricked, which means I cannot then brick it again, because it’s “already bricked”. I need to go up to the physical block and tap it to “unbrick” it and then brick it again. This happened last week especially when I went on vacation and accidentally left the physical brick behind, so I turned off the schedule so it wouldn’t brick, but in the app it still showed it was bricked the WHOOLE week. So in my activity for that week it shows my phone was bricked 24/7 when it was in-fact, not. All in all it’s a semi small issue, I’d still recommend the app highly, but hopefully they can fix it. **Developer response:** Thanks for sharing this detailed feedback! We’re glad Brick has significantly reduced your screen time, but we understand how frustrating it is when a Schedule ends and the apps unblock while Brick still shows an active session. That’s not the experience we want, especially when you’re away from your physical Brick. Please reach out to us at hello@getbrick.com. We truly appreciate your recommendation and patience! ### 5/5 — Staying focused *2026-08-22, version 2026.33.0* Helps me to stay focused on the things that matter most. ### 2/5 — Help - my iPad has been bricked but can’t unbrick *2026-08-22, version 2026.33.0* The app works great on my iPhone so I downloaded it for my iPad. I was able set up a mode and brick the mode correctly but now it won’t unbrick because it doesn’t support NFC (don’t know what that is). If the app doesn’t work on iPads, it should be clearly stated before bricking! Do I have to use one of my emergency unbricks? ### 5/5 — LOVE the Brick *2026-08-22, version 2026.33.0* I absolutely love the brick. As someone who is pretty addicted to my phone and has tried multiple different ways of lowering my usage, including frequently deleting apps. The Brick has helped actually shift my mindset into being more patient and not expecting to have access to things, including shopping online - immediately. It’s not only blocking access to the apps that can drain my energy, but it’s shifting my entire mindset around how I use my phone. ### 5/5 — Game changer for phone time *2026-08-22, version 2026.33.0* Have the mental block of not being able to use certain apps and having that extra level of barrier really levels up your phone time and makes it harder to access features that are distracting. I would say it’s a go ahead if you’re looking for a method you haven’t tried before when reducing phone time and time sucking apps! ### 3/5 — I Really Wish I Hadn’t Discovered A Workaround *2026-08-21, version 2026.33.0* This is an incredible idea manifested in an incredible product. For months, I felt like I was getting my life back. And then one day, I accidentally discovered how to bypass the shortcut and get access to settings via the control panel. I could now turn off Brick, and it became just like Apple’s screen time feature - if I wanted access, I could have it. I reported the bug several months ago, but unfortunately there hasn’t been a fix yet, and as such, Brick has become irrelevant in my life because of the workaround. And this is my fault. If I had control, the workaround wouldn’t be an issue. But if I had control, I wouldn’t need Brick. ### 5/5 — Got my mornings back *2026-08-21, version 2026.33.0* When I would take up I would install just get in my phone and start scrolling, I set that it automatically bricks at night, the brick is all the way in the kitchen I wake up and have a whole morning before I even think to unbrick. Definitely enjoying it ### 3/5 — Never Works *2026-08-21, version 2026.33.0* This was great until the device just stopped working, leaving me to count on emergency unbricks instead and having to email customer service over and over to refill them. It just means when I get the app back, I’m much less inclined to block it knowing that to get on I’ll have to actually email someone. It’s super annoying and I’m frustrated with how customer service keeps telling me the same thing—restart your phone, take off your phone case, etc. if I tell you it’s broken it’s broken! ## Frequently asked questions about Brick ### What does the Brick app do? The Brick app, in conjunction with NFC hardware, temporarily removes distracting applications and their notifications from your smartphone. This allows you to create focused periods for work, personal time, or other activities without constant interruptions. ### How do I use Brick to block apps? To block distracting apps, you simply open the Brick app and tap your NFC-enabled device. This action initiates the distraction-free mode. To regain access to all your apps, you tap the device again. ### Can I choose which apps are blocked? Yes, the Brick app allows you to customize which applications remain unblocked while the 'Bricked' mode is active. This ensures you can still access essential tools while blocking less important, distracting ones. ### Is this app free? Based on the provided information, this application is not free. It is a paid application that utilizes both software and NFC-powered hardware to achieve its distraction-blocking functionality. ### What kind of phone is compatible with Brick? The app requires an NFC-enabled device to function. While specific operating system versions are not detailed, any smartphone equipped with NFC technology should be compatible with the Brick app and its hardware component. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2026.35.0 — 2026-08-27 Thank you for updating the Brick app! We've updated our iOS app with bug fixes and changes to improve your overall experience. ### 2026.34.0 — 2026-08-24 Thank you for updating the Brick app! We've updated our iOS app with bug fixes and changes to improve your overall experience. ### 2026.33.0 — 2026-08-17 Thank you for updating the Brick app! We've updated our iOS app with bug fixes and changes to improve your overall experience. ### 2026.32.0 — 2026-08-10 Thank you for updating the Brick app! We've updated our iOS app with bug fixes and changes to improve your overall experience. ### 2026.30.2 — 2026-07-30 Thank you for updating the Brick app! We've updated our iOS app with bug fixes and changes to improve your overall experience. ## Apps similar to Brick | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Freedom: Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228) | 4.4 (5,715) | Free | Productivity | | [Blank Spaces Launcher](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blank-spaces-launcher/id1570856853) | 4.6 (8,190) | Free | Productivity | | [BePresent: Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bepresent-screen-time-control/id1644737181) | 4.8 (61,444) | Free | Productivity | | [Dumb Phone (dp)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dumb-phone-dp/id6504743503) | 4.6 (3,600) | Free | Productivity | | [ClearSpace: Reduce Screen Time](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clearspace-reduce-screen-time/id1572515807) | 4.7 (8,800) | Free | Productivity | | [Atoms - from Atomic Habits](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atoms-from-atomic-habits/id6474421906) | 4.8 (10,615) | Free | Productivity | ## Related topics [brick](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/brick) · [the brick](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-brick) · [brick phone blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/brick-phone-blocker) · [distraction blocking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/distraction-blocking) · [12th tech crescendo](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/12th-tech-crescendo) · [sapiens club](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sapiens-club) · [brickd](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/brickd) · [free app blockers](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/free-app-blockers) · [app blocking tools for productivity](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/app-blocking-tools-for-productivity) · [productivity app blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/productivity-app-blocker) · [block distractions](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/block-distractions) · [free app blocking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/free-app-blocking) · [yimultiscreen](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/yimultiscreen) · [brock](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/brock) · [app blocker for productivity](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/app-blocker-for-productivity) · [app blocker for productivity free](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/app-blocker-for-productivity-free) · [block app timer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/block-app-timer) · [app screen time blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/app-screen-time-blocker) · [no distractions](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/no-distractions) · [phone distraction](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/phone-distraction) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*