# AppBlock vs App Lock

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: App Lock at none against AppBlock's 14. App Lock also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 55%). AppBlock's advantage is ratings volume (6.9K vs 183) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AppBlock sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. App Lock asks for nothing beyond the download.

AppBlock holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AppBlock has 6.9K ratings behind it against 183, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of AppBlock's written reviews are positive against 77% of App Lock's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AppBlock ships an update weekly, App Lock every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppBlock | App Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (6.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appblock-block-apps-websites/id1515753232/reviews)** | [4.3 (183 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6458880741/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.9K** | 183 |
| Positive reviews | 54.7% of reviews | **77.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#185** | — |
| Size | 195 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobileSoft s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/998289700) | [碧 郑](https://appshunter.io/developer/1633389687) |

## What reviewers say

### AppBlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/appblock-block-apps-websites/id1515753232)

**Currently charting:** #185 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting applications and websites. It offers customizable schedules and strict modes to reduce screen time, improve focus, and support healthier digital habits.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Block time-wasting websites, Control screen time, Customizable blocking schedules, Strict mode to prevent bypassing restrictions, Detailed statistics on screen time usage, Focus sessions for work and study

**Features:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| AppBlock Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Effective at blocking apps
- 🚀 Helps reduce screen time and improve productivity
- 💡 Strict mode prevents bypassing of restrictions
- 🔒 Difficult to uninstall the app
- 🎉 Game-changer for managing phone addiction

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Blocking not always consistent or reliable
- 🔓 Easy to bypass restrictions by disabling Screen Time permissions
- 💰 Premium version required for full functionality
- 🤔 Confusing or limited free version
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Scheduled blocks not always activating properly
- App crashing or becoming unresponsive
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between modes

**Requested features**

- Add ability to block Safari and other browsers
- Implement syncing across devices
- Provide more granular control over blocking schedules
- Show remaining time for app limits
- Make strict mode truly unbreakable


### App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6458880741)

This tool helps parents manage children's smartphone usage, preventing social media and game addiction. It offers features to lock apps, set focus modes, and prevent unwanted deletions or installations, promoting responsible digital habits and privacy.

**Highlights:** Parental control for social media and games, App lock for private apps, Focus mode for concentration, Password protection for apps, Prevent app deletion, Limit app installations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AppBlock free?

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

### Is App Lock free?

App Lock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AppBlock or App Lock?

AppBlock is rated higher. AppBlock averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.9K ratings, while App Lock averages 4.3 from 183 ratings.

### Do AppBlock or App Lock have ads?

Both AppBlock and App Lock show ads.

### Which is updated more often, AppBlock or App Lock?

AppBlock ships an update weekly, and App Lock every 3 weeks. Most recently, AppBlock was updated on October 20, 2026 and App Lock on October 19, 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.*