Comparison

ScreenZen vs Brick

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ScreenZen

This app offers multiple strategies to help you reduce screen time and control app usage. Features include delayed app opening, timed scrolling interruptions, and customizable app limits. It also provides options for strict blocking, settings protection, and encourages mindful breaks.

Highlights
  • Delayed app opening
  • Scrolling interruption
  • Set app goals and limits
  • Configurable daily schedules
  • Strict app blocking
  • Screen time tracking for distracting apps
  • Settings protection locks
Features
Read full description

Multiple strategies to reduce your screentime 1. Delay before opening your app: A bit of time before choosing if you need to open your distracting app. You can have the wait time increase each time you open your app. 2. Interrupt your scrolling: Check your distracting apps for short periods of time so you don't get sucked in. 3. Set an app goal and optionally block when you reach your limit. 4. Configurable for different days of the week and time by app. 5. Messages like "Is this important" before opening your app. 6. See your screen time for only your distracting apps. Don't worry about Google Maps bloating up your time. 7. Strict block your apps: Either for time ranges, after a certain number of opens or ScreenTime. 8. Locks on Settings to prevent you from changing your settings when you want to open an app. 9. Breathing and other activities to encourage you not to need to open the app while waiting for it to unlock. 10. Streaks to encourage you not to exceed your limits or override your settings.

About

Brick

This app helps you regain focus by temporarily removing distracting applications and notifications from your phone. It uses NFC hardware to create distraction-free periods, allowing you to concentrate on important tasks or activities. Reconnect with your apps by simply tapping your device again.

Highlights
  • Temporarily remove distracting apps
  • Block notifications
  • Customize unblocked apps
  • Track usage history
  • NFC hardware integration
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Brick is the world's first digital wellness tool designed to turn smartphones back into tools, helping people take back control of their time, attention, and technology. A small tool paired with a powerful app that temporarily removes distracting apps and their notifications from your iPhone, leaving only what you choose. In a world designed for constant distraction, Brick introduces a simple but powerful idea: friction. By requiring a physical tap to enable or disable distracting apps, Brick creates a deliberate pause between impulse and action - turning smartphones back into tools for what matters. HOW IT WORKS Choose which apps or websites to block: social media, games, news, streaming, or anything distracting Tap your iPhone to Brick to activate your chosen mode A focus timer starts automatically, tracking your distraction-free time Place Brick somewhere out of reach and go live your life When you're ready, tap again to regain access Not nearby? Activate Brick remotely in the app. You'll still need the physical Brick to unblock, keeping the commitment real. FEATURES Block any iPhone app (except the dialer, per Apple policy) and select Safari websites Create custom modes for different parts of your day: Work, Family, Sleep, Gym, Study, Focus, and more A built-in focus timer tracks how long you stay undistracted Strict Mode closes loopholes, preventing workarounds while you're in a session 5 Emergency Unbricks included for unexpected situations Usage history tracks your progress so you can see how your habits improve over time. No subscriptions and no monthly fees. Buy once, use forever DESIGNED FOR EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE Parents use Brick to create device-free family time and build healthier habits around technology. Students rely on it during study sessions and exam prep when focus matters most. Professionals use it for deep work without the constant pull of notifications. Athletes keep it in the locker room to stay locked in before competition. Brick is also a thoughtful gift for anyone trying to build a healthier relationship with their screen habits, reduce anxiety from constant notifications, or simply spend less time scrolling and more time living. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Economist, Fortune, Vogue, TechCrunch, CNET, Fast Company, The Washington Post, Business Insider, and The New Yorker. With over 35,000 five-star reviews, people describe Brick as the thing that finally helped them break free from screen addiction. Join a growing community choosing to take back their time and reclaim hours lost to technology. HSA & FSA ELIGIBLE Brick qualifies as an HSA and FSA eligible purchase through our partnership with Truemed. Use pre-tax health savings to invest in your digital wellness and mental health. WHAT'S INCLUDED Your purchase includes the physical Brick and full lifetime access to the companion app. No subscriptions. No hidden fees. No ads. Brick helps you take back your time, turn your phone back into a tool, and use technology the way it should be: with intention.

Screenshots

ScreenZen4 screens
Brick4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Brick at none against ScreenZen's 4. Brick also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). ScreenZen's advantage is review sentiment (93% vs 78%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ScreenZen sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Brick asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ScreenZen against 4.9 for Brick. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52K and 58K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of ScreenZen's written reviews are positive against 78% of Brick's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, Brick every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
ScreenZen versus Brick: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenZenBrick
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (52K ratings)4.9 (58K ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.4% of reviews — better78.2% of reviews
Number of ratings52K58K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#141#83 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreenZen LLCBrick LLC (Wisconsin)

Customer experience

ScreenZen

All ratings50,446 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews6,789 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.9%

Brick

All ratings57,538 ratings
Positive99.1%
Neutral0.4%
Negative0.5%
Written reviews2,174 reviews
Positive78.2%
Neutral6.8%
Negative14.9%

User reviews

ScreenZen

From 52K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Completely reversed my scrolling addiction
  • 🚀 Helps manage screen time
  • 👍 Excellent app, easy to use
  • 👍 Genuinely the best screentime app out there
  • 👍 Effective in avoiding doom scrolling

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, sometimes doesn't unlock apps
  • 🐛 Notifications can't break through
  • 🐛 Inconsistent UI across devices

Brick

From 58K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great concept
  • 🚀 Helps reclaim time and attention
  • 🔒 Physical barrier prevents mindless usage
  • 💡 Customizable blocking/allowing modes
  • 🚀 Improves productivity and focus

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
  • 🐛 Unreliable app functionality
  • 🐛 Inconsistent app behavior after updates
  • 🐛 Difficulty setting up and configuring
  • 🐛 Limited number of apps that can be allowed

Bugs and requests

ScreenZen

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unlock button not working as expected
  • App stops working after some time
  • Compatibility issues with iOS 16 update

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more customization options
  • Integrate with productivity/to-do apps
  • Add more pause/break options
  • Improve website blocking functionality

Brick

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes when selecting apps to block/allow
  • Saved settings get deleted or reset unexpectedly
  • Inability to block certain apps like Safari
  • Bricked mode not working as expected after phone restart

Requested features

4 requests
  • Scheduled bricking/unbricking modes
  • Remote bricking option
  • Ability to block more than 50 apps
  • Improved app stability and reliability

In-app purchases

4 purchases

ScreenZen

One-time4
  • Kind Tip$5.00
  • Generous Tip$10.00
  • Amazing Tip$20.00
Show 1 more
  • Fantastic Tip$40.00
None

Brick

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Brick free?
Brick is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ScreenZen or Brick?
Brick is rated higher. ScreenZen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 52K ratings, while Brick averages 4.9 from 58K ratings.
Do ScreenZen or Brick have ads?
Neither ScreenZen nor Brick shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScreenZen or Brick?
ScreenZen ships an update every 3 weeks, and Brick every 5 days. Most recently, ScreenZen was updated on October 21, 2026 and Brick on October 21, 2026.
Which is more popular, ScreenZen or Brick?
ScreenZen currently peaks at #141 in the App Store charts, and Brick at #83. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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