# Refocus vs OpenAppLock

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenAppLock at none against Refocus's 17. OpenAppLock also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Refocus's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 6) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Refocus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. OpenAppLock asks for nothing beyond the download.

OpenAppLock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Refocus has 12K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Refocus's written reviews are positive against 100% of OpenAppLock's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Refocus | OpenAppLock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refocus-app-blocker-and-lock/id1645639057/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openapplock/id6780259647/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 93.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 51 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Labi, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/455469767) | [Brendan Chen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1610821430) |

## What reviewers say

### Refocus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refocus-app-blocker-and-lock/id1645639057)

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers various methods to limit screen time, set schedules, and track your usage, promoting better focus and productivity.

**Highlights:** Block any app or website, Strict Mode with multiple unblocking challenges, Set app timers and time limits, Schedule blocking for specific times, Location-based blocking, Screen time analytics, macOS app available

**Features:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refocus Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $8.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro (Family) | $12.99 | per month |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Refocus Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| Reset Strict Mode | $1.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $5.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $10.00 | one-time |
| Reset Strict Mode | $50.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🚀 Effective at blocking distractions
- 💡 Customizable blocking schedules
- 🔒 Prevents mindless scrolling
- 🚀 Improved productivity and focus

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔓 Too easy to bypass the blocking
- 💰 Some features require paid subscription
- 🔓 Ability to delete app and remove restrictions

**Reported bugs**

- Blocking issues after phone restart
- Inconsistent behavior when pausing/unpausing sessions
- Crashing when trying to block apps in certain categories

**Requested features**

- Passcode or biometric lock to prevent bypassing
- More advanced blocking options (e.g., math problems to unblock)
- Ability to purchase a one-time license instead of subscription
- Notification warnings before blocking sessions end
- Search function to find apps to block more easily


### OpenAppLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openapplock/id6780259647)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking specific applications. You can set schedules, time limits, or open limits for apps, and even create custom rules to prevent unwanted usage.

**Highlights:** Block apps on a schedule, Set time or open limits, Preset and custom rules, Lock rule edits

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Refocus free?

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

### Is OpenAppLock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Refocus or OpenAppLock?

OpenAppLock is rated higher. Refocus averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while OpenAppLock averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Refocus or OpenAppLock have ads?

Refocus shows ads; OpenAppLock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Refocus or OpenAppLock?

Refocus ships an update weekly, and OpenAppLock weekly. Most recently, Refocus was updated on October 16, 2026 and OpenAppLock on October 9, 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.*