ClearSpace vs Brick
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ClearSpace
This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by making your device less addictive. It offers tools to block distractions, manage app time, and build better digital habits. Achieve greater focus, productivity, and mental well-being by reducing impulse opens and doomscrolling.
- Block and limit distracting apps
- Manage social media doomscrolling
- Set schedules for app usage
- Build better digital habits
- Engage in attention-building challenges
- Minimalist and straightforward design
- Accountability partners for goals
- Detailed screen time reporting
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Controlling Screen Time is critical for mental health, focus, productivity, and relationships. Social media and other addictive apps can easily distract you from your goals. Clearspace helps you control screen time by giving you the tools to fight phone addiction by making your phone less addictive. Clearspace blocks distractions while retaining utilities. Say goodbye to impulse opens and social media doom scrolling. You don’t need to quit cold turkey or buy a dumb phone in order to get your scrolling in check. Instead of a new device, Clearspace gives you the freedom to make sober minded decisions about your usage allowing you to get control of your screen time. Attention is a precious resource, protect it with Clearspace features: - Block and Limit apps: block any apps you find distracting and limit screen time. - Social Media Doomscrolling: app time limits enable session management makes sure you don’t scroll for too long. - Focus management: set schedules for when to use apps - Habit change: dopamine is less powerful when you pause before opening an app which eventually creates a virtuous habit loop to make habits more atomic. - Screen Time Challenges: train your attention by engaging in challenges that strengthen your ability to focus. - Minimalist Design: the app is straightforward. We don’t want to take your attention away, instead we give it back to you. - Screen Time Accountability: have trusted accountability partners help you stick to your goals. - Screen Time Reporting: Streaks and budgets give you a better look at your screen time data in a way that helps you improve. - Digital Wellbeing: Align your intentions with your usage of your phone. Alignment can be helpful in health journeys battling anxiety and adhd. Blocking Apps helps you control impulse clicks. Users find that Clearspace helps them: - Reduce social media impulse opens - Focus on deep work and engage in flow state activities Social Media Doomscrolling is the cause of excessive screen time for many people, with Clearspace users report that: - Phone Addiction subsides - Dopamine craving for apps is less powerful Digital Minimalism is a new health wave that Clearspace enables for users: - Limiting apps in alignment with your intention - Mindfulness practices encourage a more balanced approach to phone usage Digital Wellbeing is a large and growing consideration in the health and wellness spaces. Clearspace users have found it helpful in dealing with: - Anxiety - ADHD - Depression - Socializing Research demonstrates that negative habits are hard to change through willpower alone, but that small, recurring nudges are effective at reshaping default patterns of behavior. Enter Clearspace. The idea is simple: - Select an app that you want to use less - When you click on a selected app, decide - proceed after a deep breath or opt out? - Over time, you'll notice you are in control of the usage Controlling Screen Time is essential for digital wellbeing, freedom from phone addiction, and maintaining focus. Clearspace empowers users with app limits, screen time control, and an app blocker to combat social media distractions. By aligning intentions with usage, Clearspace fosters healthier habits and a mindful approach to technology. Its minimalist design ensures attention is not diverted, enabling users to reclaim their time and break free from the grips of excessive screen time. With features such as screen time reporting, accountability partners, and challenges, Clearspace offers the tools needed to reshape default patterns of behavior and reduce the powerful hold of dopamine-driven app cravings. Embrace Clearspace as your ally in the journey towards a balanced digital lifestyle. Clearspace is a diet program for your digital consumption. A reminder to breathe before making decisions. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://getclearspace.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-05fb16506a294132acee914a8f6e5331
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.
- Temporarily remove distracting apps
- Block notifications
- Customize unblocked apps
- Track usage history
- NFC hardware integration
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Brick is the world's first digital wellness tool designed to create a more intentional relationship with your technology. In a world designed for constant distraction, Brick introduces a simple but powerful idea: friction. By adding physical barriers, Brick creates a deliberate pause between impulse and action — turning smartphones back into tools for what matters. With the Brick app, you can design your personalized system to block distractions using both your Brick and Brick Night — allowing you to do more of what matters. Brick is a physical device that helps you block distracting apps on your phone. Tap to start a Brick session, then place Brick somewhere out of reach and go live your life. When you’re ready to be connected again, simply tap to Unbrick. Unlike screen-time settings and blocker apps that switch off in a second, Brick isn't on the phone you're trying to put down. It's a physical barrier you can't swipe out of. Brick Night automatically blocks the apps you choose when you enter your bedroom. Unlike app blockers, Brick Night uses Bluetooth to know when you're in your bedroom, creating a simple boundary around your sleep — so you don't have to remember to activate it every night. The result: fewer late-night distractions, fewer mornings lost to your feed, and a bedroom that feels like the sanctuary you intended it to be. FEATURES - Select the apps you’d like to block, and keep what you need. Temporarily remove distracting apps and their notifications from your phone, leaving only what you choose - Block any 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 - Create custom schedules to automatically block apps during specific moments of your day - A built-in focus timer tracks how long you stay undistracted - 5 Emergency Unbricks included for unexpected situations - Usage history tracks your progress so you can see how your habits improve over time 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, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Economist, Fortune, Vogue, TechCrunch, CNET, Fast Company, The Washington Post, Business Insider, and The New Yorker. With over 55,000 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 30% average savings on Brick and Brick Night with HSA/FSA through our partnership with Truemed. Use pre-tax dollars to invest in your digital wellness and mental health. HSA/FSA funds accepted for qualified Truemed customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary. Learn more at truemed.com/disclosures. WHAT'S INCLUDED Your purchase includes the physical Brick or Brick Night and full access to the companion app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Brick at none against ClearSpace's 8. Brick also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). ClearSpace's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price 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. ClearSpace sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Brick asks for nothing beyond the download.
Brick holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brick has 58K ratings behind it against 8.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of ClearSpace's written reviews are positive against 78% of Brick's.
ClearSpace ships an update every 2 weeks, Brick every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | ClearSpace | Brick |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (8.9K ratings) | 4.9 (58K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 69.3% of reviews | 78.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8.9K | 58K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #85 — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 80 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | clearspace | Brick LLC (Wisconsin) |
Customer experience
ClearSpace
Brick
User reviews
ClearSpace
From 8.9K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Helps reduce screen time
- 🚀 Effective at limiting app usage
- 💡 Breathing exercise and quotes are helpful
- 🤖 Tracks app usage well
- 🤔 Makes users more mindful about phone usage
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and laggy performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔓 Allows bypassing restrictions
- 🤖 Limited to one app in free version
- 🤔 Breathing exercise can be annoying
Brick
From 58K App Store ratingsWhat 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
ClearSpace
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes when trying to block apps
- Notification issues and UI glitches
- Inconsistent tracking of app usage
- Problems with phone number verification
Requested features
5 requests- Allow blocking multiple apps in free version
- Add more exercise options beyond just breathing
- Provide more customization options
- Integrate with other fitness/health tracking apps
- Improve website/app blocking capabilities
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
ClearSpace
- ClearSpace Premium (Monthly)$6.991 Month
- Clearspace Premium Student$9.991 Year
- ClearSpace Premium (Annual)$44.991 Year
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- Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$44.991 Year
- Clearspace Premium3 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Clearspace Premium7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Clearspace Premium Family$79.991 Year
Brick
No in-app purchases








