# WritersLock: Journal & Block — Write daily, unlock your apps

> Journaling app that blocks distracting apps until a daily writing goal is met. (iPhone/iPad app by Devin Starks.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writerslock-journal-and-block/id6781280831 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Devin Starks](https://appshunter.io/developer/6781280833)
- Category: Productivity, Health & Fitness
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 7 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.4 · 59 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-06-30
- Data updated: 2026-09-08
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writerslock-journal-and-block/id6781280831/reviews.md

## What is WritersLock?

Write first. Scroll later.

WritersLock is the writing app that makes daily writing a breeze by locking your apps until you've written. At the writing times you choose, your most distracting apps lock themselves and they stay locked until you write 20+ words. Once you've written, everything opens back up.

THE PROBLEM ISN'T WILLPOWER
The thoughts you keep meaning to write down lose to the feed every morning. Most screen time and app blocker tools just take your phone away—and willpower alone rarely lasts past the first hard day. WritersLock takes a different path. Instead of only saying "no," it gives you a small, meaningful thing to do first: write. It turns "stop scrolling" from a daily battle into a habit you actually keep.

HOW IT WORKS
1. Your apps lock. At your chosen writing times, the apps you picked lock—no way past them but to write.
2. You write today's entry. Free journal, gratitude log, dream diary, or a guided prompt. Hit a small, repeatable word goal.
3. Your apps unlock. The words are down, your apps open, and your streak grows.

FOUR WAYS TO WRITE
- Free Journal — a blank page for whatever's on your mind
- Gratitude Log — note what you're grateful for in seconds
- Dream Diary — capture last night's dream before it fades
- Creative Prompt — a fresh daily writing prompt so you never face a blank page

BUILT TO ACTUALLY STICK
- Per-app blocking — lock only the apps that pull you away (social media, news, games). Everything else keeps working.
- Your writing times — set when the locks hold the line: morning, midday, night, or all three.
- Streaks & momentum — track entries, words written, and your daily streak with a writing-days view. A simple habit tracker for your writing practice.
- Vacation mode — take a day off without breaking your habit. It's practice, not punishment.
- Snap to journal — write by hand and photograph the page; WritersLock reads it on-device and counts it as today's entry. No typing required.

WHY IT WORKS
Big changes rarely survive contact with a busy morning. Small ones do. WritersLock is built around tiny, repeatable wins: a few minutes of writing, tied to the moment you'd normally reach for the feed. Do it once and you've journaled. Do it daily and you've built a practice. The streak keeps you honest; the word goal keeps it easy.

GREAT FOR
- Reducing screen time and doomscrolling without a full digital detox
- Building a daily journaling, gratitude, or dream-logging habit
- Anyone who keeps meaning to start journaling but never quite does
- Writers, students, and creatives who want a daily writing practice
- Supporting mindfulness, self care, and mental wellbeing through reflective writing

PRIVATE BY DESIGN
Your writing is yours. Entries never leave your device—we only ever see anonymous metadata like word count, duration, streak, and which mode you used. We never read or track what you write. WritersLock uses Apple Screen Time only to lock and unlock the apps you choose.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
"My days start with clarity. I know what I want and I know how I feel. It's already changing me."
"Actually helped me build the habit—small daily wins that add up over months and years."

Trade endless scrolling for a writing habit that finally sticks — starting tomorrow morning.

WritersLock is a subscription with a 3-day free trial. No payment is due up front, and you can cancel anytime.
Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Privacy Policy: https://getwriterslock.com/privacy

## Key features

- Blocks distracting apps
- Requires daily writing entry
- Multiple writing modes
- Tracks streaks and progress
- Vacation mode
- Handwriting recognition

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WritersLock Pro — Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| WritersLock Pro — Monthly | $5.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WritersLock Pro — Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (7 of 7)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writerslock-journal-and-block/id6781280831/reviews.md

### 5/5 — WritersLock

*2026-08-12*

Writerslock has been an absolute game-changer for me. The interface is clean and distraction-free, and it helps me focus the moment I start typing. I love how intuitive the tools are, and the autosave gives me peace of mind. I’ve written some of my best work here, honestly. Highly recommen

### 5/5 — a great use of time

*2026-07-21*

I love this app! as someone who loves to jot down thoughts and ideas as they come, this is a great vehicle for that and such a good way to distract myself from scrolling unproductively. also love the prompts for a more guided experience. 

I’d love to see how we can connect with friends on the app. For example, sharing entries, allowing feedback or matchmaking genres or writing styles? Not sure! Lots of possibilities!

### 4/5 — Terrific writing-specific app

*2026-07-17*

I love this writing-specific app. It builds in focus time for me to write, which is essential as a distracted writer. It’s really easy to use. I like the variety of prompts it has, especially the free journal prompts and the dream diary. I also love that you can take a photo of your notebook.

I wish it would allow paste feature as sometimes I write in my notes app. I would also love the option to create your own category for writing since I’m working on 2 different writing projects, and I’d like to be able to choose from those to write in. The last thing I think would be very useful would be a way to link a Google or word doc for longer writing. A paste option would also work. 

I love this app, and I’m so glad it exists.

**Developer response:** Hey! Thanks so much for using WritersLock and for the thoughtful feedback! I'm getting started working on custom writing categories now. Google doc link is a great idea -- will take me a bit longer to make happen but it's definitely in the pipeline. Thanks!

### 5/5 — Do it!

*2026-07-13*

Truly truly truly the app I never knew that I’ve always needed! Getting it done! Finally!

### 5/5 — Writing freely at last

*2026-07-07*

How can something so easy bring about so much of change?  I became so more engaged, writing about moments and ideas that would otherwise be in limbo in my mind.  It’s simple to use and I am in control. 
Feeling self-affirmed!

### 5/5 — I didn’t know I needed this app

*2026-07-04*

Just in the last few days with this app, my days start with clarity. I know what I want and I know how I feel. It’s so good for me. It’s already changing me.

**Developer response:** I'm so happy it's been helping! Thanks for the feedback.

### 5/5 — Actually helped me build the habit

*2026-07-03*

I’m not usually someone who writes reviews, but my friend made this app and I’m genuinely impressed.

I’ve been using it for a few days and it’s actually helped me stay on track with writing. It reminds me of the concept behind the book Atomic Habits. Instead of trying to make huge changes overnight, it focuses on small daily wins that add up over months and years. I think that’s a much more realistic way to build a habit.

The app is really clean, easy to use, and just feels well thought out. I’m gonna keep using it for journaling and probably some other simple writing too.

Easy 5 stars.

**Developer response:** Yes Atomic Habits was definitely on my mind when building this. Thank you for the feedback!

## Frequently asked questions about WritersLock

### What is WritersLock?

WritersLock is a journaling app designed to help users reduce screen time. It blocks distracting applications until a daily writing entry is completed, encouraging a consistent writing habit.

### How does WritersLock block apps?

WritersLock utilizes Apple Screen Time functionality to lock the apps you designate as distracting. These apps remain locked until you meet your daily writing goal.

### What writing modes are available in WritersLock?

WritersLock offers four writing modes: Free Journal for open writing, Gratitude Log for quick entries, Dream Diary for capturing dreams, and Creative Prompt for daily inspiration.

### Can I write by hand in WritersLock?

Yes, WritersLock supports handwriting recognition. You can write by hand, photograph the page, and the app will read it on-device to count as your entry.

### Does WritersLock have ads?

No, WritersLock does not contain advertisements. The app is free to use with optional in-app purchases for premium features.

### What are the subscription options for WritersLock Pro?

WritersLock Pro offers monthly subscriptions for $5.99 and yearly subscriptions for $29.99, which includes a 3-day free trial.

### Is my writing private in WritersLock?

Yes, your writing is private by design. Entries never leave your device, and the app only collects anonymous metadata like word count and streak information.

### How often is WritersLock updated?

WritersLock was last updated on July 16, 2026, with version 1.0.19. The app is generally updated regularly to improve features and reliability.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.0.29 — 2026-09-07

Your apps now stay open until your first writing time — no more getting locked out the moment setup ends. Setup now finishes by telling you exactly when your apps lock, and after each entry you'll see when they lock next. Plus a fix: the keyboard opens reliably when you start writing. Thanks for writing with us!

### 1.0.26 — 2026-08-24

- Setup now finishes by picking your apps for you — the ones you actually use most, with your own screen time next to each. 
- More writing styles: 12 total writing types. 
- Share a weekly writing recap, or print a favorite line — or a whole entry — as a card. 
- Back up and transfer your journal to a new device. 
- Screen time bug fixes

Thanks for writing with us!

### 1.0.24 — 2026-08-07

Your Screen time card now shows a trend — minutes per day down (or up) vs last week. Scrub the new Insights chart for day-by-day details, with instant range switching. Vacation mode now pauses your streak too, voice memos explain recording errors, exports follow your history filter, and dark mode now kicks in correctly at launch. Thanks for writing with us!

### 1.0.22 — 2026-07-30

Never lose your words: leave mid-entry and your draft is saved automatically — bring it back with "Restore draft" in the new ⋮ menu on the writing screen. Plus a smoother app start and small fixes. Thanks for writing with us!

### 1.0.21 — 2026-07-24

Have a creator's promo code? Tap "Promo code?" on the subscription screen to enter it and unlock their discount.

Plus performance improvements and bug fixes. Thanks for writing with us!

## Related topics

[writer's block](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/writer-s-block)

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*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 2026-09-08.*