Shortcuts (Quick Open) vs Lachlan
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Shortcuts (Quick Open)
Access your most used applications instantly from various convenient locations. Launch apps directly from your lock screen, a dedicated widget, or through a long-press on their icons. Supports a wide range of system and third-party applications for rapid access.
- Launch apps from lock screen
- Today View widget shortcuts
- Haptic touch app icon shortcuts
- System app shortcuts
- Third-party app shortcuts
- Quick call to contacts
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Quickly open your favorite apps using Shortcuts! Open apps directly from the lock screen, the Today View widget, or via Haptic touch on the app icon Currently featuring shortcuts to: (System) -App Store -Calendar -iBooks -Mail -Maps -Music -Notes -Phone (choose a contact to quick call) -Photos -Podcasts -Safari (3rd Party) -Amazon -Amazon Music -Audible -Box -Dropbox -Evernote -Facebook -Facebook Messenger -Fitbit -Google -Google Calendar -Google Chrome -Google Drive -Google Gmail -Google Hangouts -Google Maps -Google Photos -HBO GO -Instagram -KakaoTalk -Kindle -Line -LinkedIn -Lyft -Netflix -Outlook -Pinterest -Pokemon Go -Reddit -Skype -Slack -Snapchat -SoundCloud -Spotify -Square Cash -Telegram -TikTok -Tinder -Twitter -Uber -Venmo -Waze -WeChat -WhatsApp -Yahoo Finance -Yahoo Weather -Yelp -Youtube -YouTube Music -Zoom
Lachlan
This app acts as a digital padlock that blocks distracting applications on a set schedule. It requires users to explain their reasons for wanting to access blocked apps, making the decision to bypass the block a conscious one rather than a reflex. It aims to create friction and awkwardness to prevent accidental usage.
- Scheduled app blocking
- Justification required for bypass
- Personalized reminders
- Instant lockdown mode
- Offline functionality
- Home screen widget
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Every app blocker is one tap from off. This one asks why. Lachlan is a small, deeply opinionated padlock who blocks your most distracting apps on a schedule you set, and then makes you explain yourself before he lets you back in. WHY THIS WORKS WHEN NOTHING ELSE HAS Most blockers are a wall you learn to climb in about three seconds. Lachlan is a conversation you have to have with a character who remembers what you said you wanted, and wants to know why you're doing this instead. The friction isn't the lock. It's the awkwardness. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick your problem apps. Social media, games, news, whatever's eating your afternoons. 2. Set a schedule, time limit, location, or timer to block your apps the way you want. 3. Try to open a blocked app and you'll hit the shield instead. 4. Open Lachlan and make your case. Depending on how good your reason is, he'll grant you 5, 15, or 30 minutes. 5. He keeps score. The fourth unlock of the day does not go like the first. HE ACTUALLY REMEMBERS YOU When you set up, Lachlan asks why you're cutting back and what you'd do with the time you got back. Then he brings it up. "You said you wanted to finish the record" lands very differently at 11pm than a generic productivity notification. He knows your name, your reasons, and exactly how many times you've caved today. Most blockers are stateless. Lachlan is not, and that's the whole difference. ALSO INCLUDED - Trends tab showing you screen time history - Streak system to keep you engaged each day - A home screen widget showing Lachlan's current mood - Custom block screens - Works offline, on a plane, in a tunnel, anywhere Subscription is required for access to the above features. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lachlan at 100% against Shortcuts (Quick Open)'s 16%. Lachlan also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 4 months). Shortcuts (Quick Open)'s advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Shortcuts (Quick Open) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Lachlan sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Lachlan holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shortcuts (Quick Open) has 1.8K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of Shortcuts (Quick Open)'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Lachlan's.
Shortcuts (Quick Open) ships an update every 4 months, Lachlan every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Shortcuts (Quick Open) | Lachlan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (1.8K ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 15.8% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Andrew Fang | ND Enterprises |
Customer experience
Shortcuts (Quick Open)
Lachlan
Bugs and requests
Shortcuts (Quick Open)
Reported bugs
3 issues- Incompatible with latest iOS version
- Google Maps shortcut keeps crashing
- Can't add shortcuts to home screen
Requested features
4 requests- Add ability to create custom app shortcuts
- Improve instructions and tutorials
- Integrate with more third-party apps
- Allow adding widgets to home screen
Lachlan
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Shortcuts (Quick Open)
- Upgrade$0.99
Lachlan
- Lachlan Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
- Lachlan Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$69.991 Year
Questions
Is Shortcuts (Quick Open) free?
Is Lachlan free?
Which has better reviews, Shortcuts (Quick Open) or Lachlan?
Do Shortcuts (Quick Open) or Lachlan have ads?
Which is updated more often, Shortcuts (Quick Open) or Lachlan?
Other comparisons
