# Journal Lock: Focus & Detox — Stop Scrolling, Start Writing > Journaling app that blocks distracting apps until you write. (iPhone/iPad app by Pranav Ambwani.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-lock-focus-and-detox/id6759090015 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Pranav Ambwani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872323887) - Category: Lifestyle, Productivity - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 103 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-02-25 - Data updated: 2026-07-18 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-lock-focus-and-detox/id6759090015/reviews.md ## What is Journal Lock? Your phone opens a hundred times a day. Most of those opens end in the same scroll. Journal Lock puts a lock on your most distracting apps and hands you the key only after you write. A few lines in the morning, a page before bed, whatever the day needs. Finish your entry and your apps open. Skip it and they stay shut. It turns the urge to grab your phone into a moment to check in with yourself instead. Over a week you scroll less. Over a month you have a real writing habit and a streak you will not want to break. Built for people who want their attention back: Block the apps that pull you in, on your terms Write to earn your screen time instead of losing it Keep a daily streak that makes the habit stick Watch your focus grow as the doomscrolling fades No guilt, no lectures. A small daily trade that adds up. Start writing. Stop scrolling. Watch your streak grow day by day. Your mascot companion grows with you — journal daily to keep it thriving, miss a day and it starts to shrink. It's a small thing, but it works. - Daily streak tracking with milestone celebrations - Personalized journal prompts that evolve with you - Mood and alignment check-ins to track how you feel over time - Home screen widget showing your latest entry THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT Neuroscientists call it "affect labeling" — when you write about your emotions, your brain's stress center literally calms down. Studies show consistent journaling reduces anxiety, improves focus, and builds emotional resilience. Journal Lock just makes sure you actually do it. YOUR JOURNAL, YOUR PRIVACY All entries are stored locally on your device. No cloud uploads, no data mining, no ads. Your thoughts stay yours. SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS Journal Lock Pro unlocks unlimited entries, premium themes, and advanced features: - Weekly: $5.99/week - Yearly: $79.99/year (3-day free trial) Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your Account Settings. Privacy Policy: https://journallock.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://journallock.app/terms Download Journal Lock and turn your screen time into something meaningful. ## Key features - Block distracting apps - Write to earn screen time - Daily streak tracking - Personalized journal prompts - Mood tracking - Mascot companion ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Journal Lock Pro - Weekly | $79.99 | per year | | Journal Lock Pro - Yearly | $5.99 | per 7 days | ## Frequently asked questions about Journal Lock ### What is Journal Lock? Journal Lock is a lifestyle app designed to help users reduce phone scrolling and build a consistent journaling habit. It requires users to write journal entries before granting access to selected distracting apps. ### How does Journal Lock help with focus? By making users pause and write before accessing their phone, Journal Lock interrupts mindless scrolling. This practice, known as 'affect labeling,' is scientifically shown to calm the brain's stress center, improve focus, and build emotional resilience. ### Is Journal Lock free to use? The core features of Journal Lock are free. However, a subscription to Journal Lock Pro unlocks unlimited entries, premium themes, and advanced features for a weekly or yearly fee. ### What are the subscription options for Journal Lock Pro? Journal Lock Pro offers two subscription plans: a weekly plan for $5.99/week and a yearly plan for $79.99/year. The yearly plan includes a 3-day free trial. ### Does Journal Lock have ads? No, Journal Lock is ad-free. All journal entries are stored locally on your device, ensuring your thoughts remain private and are not used for advertising purposes. ### How do I cancel my Journal Lock Pro subscription? You can manage and cancel your subscription at least 24 hours before the end of the current period through your Account Settings on the Apple App Store. Payment is handled via your Apple ID. ### What devices is Journal Lock available on? Journal Lock is available for iPhone and iPad devices. It is rated for ages 4 and up. ### How often is Journal Lock updated? The latest version of Journal Lock is 1.2, and it was last updated on July 5, 2026. Updates typically include new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.2 — 2026-07-05 Thanks for writing with Journal Lock. This update brings small refinements and fixes so your focus time stays smooth. Keep your streak going. ### 1.1 — 2026-03-03 - Smoother onboarding: skip steps that aren't for you and come back to them later - New Screen Time setup guide that shows you exactly how app blocking works before you enable it - Homepage now prompts you to set up app blocking if you skipped it during onboarding - Lower barrier to start: only 5 words needed to save a journal entry - Bug fixes and performance improvements ### 1.0 — 2026-02-25 No release notes. ## More apps by Pranav Ambwani - [Manifest Lock: Daily Mindset](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manifest-lock-daily-mindset/id6758331593) All apps by Pranav Ambwani: https://appshunter.io/developer/1872323887 --- *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 2026-07-18.*