# Pawl: Commitment Lock — Addiction & Habit Blocker. > Habit blocker using physical friction and security keys to enforce commitments. (iPhone/iPad app by JASON EVAN PAGE.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pawl-commitment-lock/id6783119309 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [JASON EVAN PAGE](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777743485) - Category: Health & Fitness, Productivity - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.0 · 5 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-06-29 - Data updated: 2026-07-18 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pawl-commitment-lock/id6783119309/reviews.md ## What is Pawl? Block gambling sites, adult content, or distracting apps—and make them impossible to unlock without a security key. Pawl turns willpower into physical friction. Pawl is a commitment device for the habits you can't stop on your own. It blocks the apps and websites you choose — gambling, adult content, or anything you keep reaching for — using Apple's Screen Time, and makes unblocking deliberately hard. Every other blocker has the same flaw: you can turn it off the second you crave it. A passcode you set is a passcode you can remove. Pawl replaces willpower with physical friction. HOW IT WORKS • Shield it. Choose what to block — sportsbook, casino, and crypto sites and apps; adult sites; or any distracting app. Pawl shields them with Screen Time and shows a calm "Locked by Pawl" screen with no unlock button on it. • Lock it behind a key you can't reach. Unblocking requires a physical USB-C security key (FIDO2). Put it somewhere out of reach — a drawer at a friend's, a locked box, anywhere that isn't your pocket at midnight. No key in hand, no unblock. • Cool off first. Even with the key, unblocking starts a 15-minute wait before anything lifts. The urge passes, the block holds, and it re-locks on its own. BUILT FOR THE HARD MOMENTS • A clean-day streak that survives deleting and reinstalling the app. • A one-tap "tough moment" button: breathe, pause, and call someone you trust — never a shortcut to unblock. • A relapse log to see your patterns without shame. OPTIONAL: A SPONSOR Add a trusted person as your sponsor. They approve your unlock requests and are alerted if your protection drops — so you're not doing this alone. HONEST ABOUT THE LIMITS Pawl is friction, not a cage. You could still delete the app or switch off Screen Time, and Pawl says so plainly instead of pretending otherwise. The point is to turn the impulsive choice into a deliberate one. For most people, a key placed out of reach is the difference that finally sticks. PRIVACY Pawl blocks through Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls), which gives the app only anonymous tokens — it never sees which specific apps or sites you use. Your streak stays on your device and in your own iCloud. Signing in and adding a sponsor are optional. The right friction makes quitting possible. FREE CORE, OPTIONAL PRO Everything above — blocking, the security-key unlock, cooling-off, streak, the tough-moment tools — is free, and being a sponsor for someone else is always free. Pawl Pro (subscription) adds the accountability layer: linking your own sponsor who approves your unlocks and gets protection-drop alerts. $29.99/year (7-day free trial) or $3.99/month; auto-renews until cancelled. The one thing you'll need separately is a USB-C security key (FIDO2) — any standard one works. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://getpawl.com/privacy ## Key features - Block distracting apps and websites - Requires physical security key to unlock - 15-minute cool-off period before unblocking - Clean-day streak tracking - Optional sponsor for accountability - Relapse log for pattern analysis ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pawl-commitment-lock/id6783119309/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Love the idea! *2026-07-06* Love human validation VHP ## Frequently asked questions about Pawl ### What is Pawl? Pawl is a commitment device designed to help users break unwanted habits by blocking access to distracting apps and websites. It uses a physical security key and a mandatory cool-off period to create friction, making it harder to give in to impulses. ### How does Pawl work? Pawl shields selected apps and sites using Apple's Screen Time and requires a physical USB-C security key for unblocking. It also enforces a 15-minute cool-off period before access is restored, and automatically re-locks afterward. ### Is Pawl free to use? The core features of Pawl, including blocking, security-key unlock, cool-off periods, and streak tracking, are free. An optional subscription, Pawl Pro, adds an accountability layer with sponsor approval for unlocks and alerts. ### What are the costs associated with Pawl Pro? Pawl Pro is available via subscription for $29.99 per year or $3.99 per month, with a 7-day free trial. These subscriptions auto-renew until cancelled. ### Does Pawl require a physical security key? Yes, to unlock blocked content, a physical USB-C security key (FIDO2) is required. This key needs to be stored out of immediate reach to be effective. ### Can I add a sponsor to Pawl? Yes, you can add a trusted person as your sponsor. They can approve your unlock requests and will be alerted if your protection settings are ever dropped. ### What devices does Pawl support? Pawl is available on iPhone and iPad devices. ### How often is Pawl updated? The latest version of Pawl, version 2.0, was last updated on July 12, 2026. The app was initially released on June 29, 2026. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 2.0 — 2026-07-12 Pawl 2.0 introduces Pawl Pro — the part you can't do alone. — Link your own sponsor: a trusted person approves your unlocks, so the impulsive choice at 1am isn't yours alone. — Protection-drop alerts: your sponsor is notified the moment your protection is removed or your phone goes quiet. — Try it free for 7 days with the yearly plan. Everything you already use stays free: blocking apps and websites, the security-key unlock, the cooling-off timer, your streak and relapse log, the tough-moment tools — and sponsoring someone else is always free. Already had a sponsor linked before 2.0? Accountability stays free for you. You were here first. Also in this release: support for more devices (iOS 18 and newer), plus fixes and polish. ### 1.1 — 2026-07-02 Thanks for using Pawl. This update makes the lock steadier and the whole experience smoother: - More reliable cooling-off timer - Easier-to-share sponsor invite code - New support and privacy pages at getpawl.com - Behind-the-scenes fixes and polish Pawl is friction, not a cage — and it stays honest about that. The right friction makes quitting possible. ### 1.0 — 2026-06-30 No release notes. ## More apps by JASON EVAN PAGE - [Wick: Daily Word Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wick-daily-word-game/id6777743483) - [Progressive Gin](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/progressive-gin/id6779775743) - [Mise: Save Recipes & Meal Plan](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mise-save-recipes-and-meal-plan/id6782430587) - [Stargazer: Roll & Write](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stargazer-roll-and-write/id6784056264) All apps by JASON EVAN PAGE: https://appshunter.io/developer/6777743485 --- *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.*