Comparison

BePresent vs Brick

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

Head to head
About

BePresent

This app helps you regain control of your screen time through app blocking, gamified challenges, and real-life rewards. It encourages users to reduce phone usage, improve productivity, and enhance mental well-being by making digital detox engaging and beneficial.

Highlights
  • App Blocking Sessions (Individual, Group, BEAST MODE)
  • Set Daily Goals and Build Streaks
  • Monetary Stakes for Commitment
  • Weekly Leaderboards and Friend Challenges
  • Earn Real-Life Rewards (e.g., subscriptions, classes)
  • Hourly Scrolling Awareness Reminders
  • Time Tracking and Daily Reports
Features
Read full description

BePresent is the #1 app to control your screen time and supercharge your productivity, mental health, and quality of life. Experience life beyond the screen as you reclaim Your Time and earn rewards that improve your life with BePresent! 25 years. That’s the average time you will spend on your phone. With a combination of app blocking, gamification, social competition with friends, and real-life rewards, you will reclaim YEARS of your life like thousands of BePresent members already have. We know you’ve tried to solve this problem before. But we’re not like other screen time apps. ▶ WHAT USERS ARE CELEBRATING ◀ • “I was able to go from 7+ hours per day to less than 2 hours! 10/10 would recommend” - Andrew M. • “FINALLY an app that actually curbs my screen addiction instead of time limits that I just ignore!” - Gina V. • “I’ve tried everything but nothing has worked. I almost gave up before I used BePresent! Thank god I tried it as I’ve reduced my screen time by over 3 hours a day!” - Jack W. Download now to experience life to the fullest. Instead of annoying app blockers or time limits, BePresent makes it fun and easy to stay off your phone. ▶ FEATURES ◀ [ BePresent App Blocking Sessions - Individual, Group, & BEAST MODE ] • Dive into Present Sessions! Dedicate breaks from screens, whether it's a focused study session or a no-phone night out. Team up with friends for Group Sessions and joint tech time-outs. Share updates, cheer, and keep one another accountable—all from within the app. Need a stringent break? Enter BEAST MODE, ensuring unwavering commitment [ Set Daily Goals and Build Your Streak ] • Choose your digital boundaries. Maintain your streak by sticking to set screen time limits. Back your commitment with a monetary stake — overshoot, and that stake's gone. Customize reminders and design your journey to digital well-being. [ Compete on Weekly Leaderboards and Challenge Your Friends] • Show off your productivity prowess by competing against others on weekly leaderboards. Advance tiers so you’ll feel like a productivity superhero every day. Practicing mindful phone habits has never been so motivating and rewarding! [ Earn Real-Life Rewards ] • The ultimate motivation - earn points you can redeem for real-life rewards by limiting your screen time. Best of all, your rewards will also improve your life. Learn to meditate with a premium Headspace subscription. Redeem free workout classes with ClassPass. Schedule discounted therapy sessions with BetterHelp. Earn these rewards and more all by staying off your phone. [ Never Doomscroll Again ] • Set hourly scrolling awareness reminders so you never lose track of time doomscrolling again [ Time Tracking & Daily Reports ] • Measure the moments you're truly present. Access daily and weekly breakdowns, complemented by a comprehensive day-before report, amplifying your adherence to reality. [ Improve Your Well-Being ] • By reducing screen time, you'll improve your overall well-being and gain access to educational content that explains how reducing screen time can benefit you in multiple ways. Learn how to manage ADHD better, improve your mental health, and be more present with your loved ones, all while improving your sleep and becoming less distracted. [ Complete Privacy and Data Security ] • Data dignity, delivered. All of your data is private and safe with Apple’s Screen Time API. We do not have access to any specific content you access on your iPhone, and none of your personal data ever leaves your device. ▶ WE'RE HERE FOR EVERY QUERY ◀ Questions or feedback? Reach us at https://www.getpresentapp.com/ or shoot an email at contact@getpresentapp.com. Let's journey to mindful tech use together. Note: All rewards are sponsored by BePresent and our partners. Apple does not sponsor any of the in-app rewards. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.getpresentapp.com/privacy-policy

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

BePresent4 screens
Brick4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Brick at none against BePresent's 23. Brick also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (78% vs 67%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. BePresent sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Brick asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BePresent against 4.9 for Brick. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64K and 55K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of BePresent's written reviews are positive against 78% of Brick's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BePresent ships an update every 5 days, Brick every 6 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
BePresent versus Brick: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBePresentBrick
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (64K ratings)4.9 (55K ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.1% of reviews78.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings64K — better55K
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 6 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#40 — better#87
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScreen Detox IncBrick LLC (Wisconsin)

Customer experience

BePresent

All ratings64,315 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews3,551 reviews
Positive67.1%
Neutral6.7%
Negative26.3%

Brick

All ratings54,619 ratings
Positive99.0%
Neutral0.4%
Negative0.5%
Written reviews2,133 reviews
Positive78.4%
Neutral6.8%
Negative14.9%

User reviews

BePresent

From 64K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Helps reduce screen time
  • 👍 Gamification and rewards system
  • 🤝 Ability to compete with friends
  • 🕰️ Provides helpful notifications and reminders
  • 💡 Innovative approach to tackling phone addiction

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent screen time tracking
  • 🔒 Inability to selectively block apps
  • 💰 Paywall for advanced features
  • 🤖 Condescending and passive-aggressive notifications
  • 🔧 Buggy and glitchy performance

Brick

From 55K 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

BePresent

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Freezing and crashing issues
  • Inaccurate screen time reporting
  • Inability to restore purchases
  • Persistent app blocking even after uninstallation
  • Setup process getting stuck on permissions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow selective app blocking
  • Exclude certain apps from screen time tracking
  • More customization options for notifications
  • Expand to iPad and other devices
  • Improve overall stability and reliability

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

22 purchases

BePresent

Subscriptions22
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Monthly (Mid Tier)$6.991 Month
  • Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 19 more
  • Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Annual$24.991 Year
  • Annual (Mid Tier)$24.991 Year
  • Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • BePresent Pro (Annual)$24.991 Year
  • Free Trial for BePresent Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$24.991 Month
  • BePresent Pro (Annual)$29.991 Year
  • BePresent Pro Family$39.991 Year
  • Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Annual (High Tier)$44.991 Year
  • Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Annual (3-Day Free Trial)3 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Annual (30-day Trial)1 Month trial$59.991 Year
  • Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Annual (2-week Free Trial)14 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • BePresent Pro Family (iCloud)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
None

Brick

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BePresent free?
BePresent 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, BePresent or Brick?
Brick is rated higher. BePresent averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64K ratings, while Brick averages 4.9 from 55K ratings.
Do BePresent or Brick have ads?
BePresent shows ads; Brick does not.
Which is updated more often, BePresent or Brick?
BePresent ships an update every 5 days, and Brick every 6 days. Most recently, BePresent was updated on September 24, 2026 and Brick on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, BePresent or Brick?
BePresent currently peaks at #40 in the App Store charts, and Brick at #87. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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