# Freedom vs Lock In Squad

The clearest difference is rating: Lock In Squad at 5.0 against Freedom's 4.5. Lock In Squad also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (100% vs 64%). Freedom's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (6.1K vs 9). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Freedom sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Lock In Squad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lock In Squad holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom has 6.1K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Freedom's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lock In Squad's.

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, Lock In Squad daily. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom | Lock In Squad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (6.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228/reviews) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-in-squad-app-blocker/id6746732331/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.1K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 94 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Eighty Percent Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/960372430) | [Eli Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818182523) |

## What reviewers say

### Freedom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228)

This app helps you block distracting apps and websites to improve focus and productivity. Schedule blocking sessions across all your devices to build better screen time habits and reclaim productive hours.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps and websites, Schedule blocking sessions, Sync across all devices, Block the internet, Locked Mode for habit commitment, Focus sounds

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| Freedom Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Freedom Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Freedom Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Freedom Forever | $199.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective at blocking distractions
- 👍 Customizable blocklists
- 🔒 Locked mode prevents bypassing
- 💡 Cross-device sync
- 👍 Helpful for productivity and focus

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent blocking, doesn't always work as expected
- 🐛 Scheduled sessions don't always start automatically
- 🐛 Buggy, crashes frequently
- 🔒 Easy to bypass by disabling VPN or deleting app
- 👎 Limited app blocking on iOS

**Reported bugs**

- Blocks unintended apps/websites
- Fails to block certain apps like Facebook, Instagram
- Doesn't work in low power mode on iOS

**Requested features**

- Allow specific app whitelisting
- Add time limit/usage tracking features
- Improve scheduling options (e.g. by day, not just time)
- Better integration with mobile OS features (e.g. iOS Screen Time)


### Lock In Squad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-in-squad-app-blocker/id6746732331)

This app helps you limit screen time by blocking selected applications and websites. You can set timers, block apps by category, and even collaborate with friends to stay focused together. Earn in-app currency to customize your blocking experience.

**Highlights:** Block apps by category or specific selection, Set timed schedules for app blocking, Collaborate with friends for group focus sessions, Track focus streaks and daily goals, Customize app blocker appearance, Live Activities and widgets for lock-in status

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lock In Premium (No Ads) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom free?

Freedom is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lock In Squad free?

Lock In Squad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Freedom or Lock In Squad?

Lock In Squad is rated higher. Freedom averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.1K ratings, while Lock In Squad averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

### Do Freedom or Lock In Squad have ads?

Lock In Squad shows ads; Freedom does not.

### Which is updated more often, Freedom or Lock In Squad?

Freedom ships an update every 2 weeks, and Lock In Squad daily. Most recently, Freedom was updated on November 6, 2026 and Lock In Squad on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*