# aLock vs Barrier

The clearest difference is rating: aLock at 4.7 against Barrier's 3.0. aLock also leads on ratings volume (32 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. aLock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Barrier sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

aLock holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: aLock has 32 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

aLock ships an update every 3 weeks, Barrier every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | aLock | Barrier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alock-app-lock/id1663668785/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-blocker/id6756778740/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 7 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [裕涛 兰](https://appshunter.io/developer/1624361053) | [Savelii Veprev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689265930) |

## What reviewers say

### aLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alock-app-lock/id1663668785)

Manage your screen time effectively by setting usage limits for apps and automatically restricting them when limits are reached. This app helps users, including children, focus better by blocking distractions and inappropriate content. A free trial is available for premium features.

**Highlights:** Set app usage limits, Automatic app restriction, Manual app restriction/restoration, Focus enhancement for children, Distraction blocking, Free trial for premium features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App Lock for 1 week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| App Lock for 1 year | $9.99 | per year |
| App Lock Premium | $19.99 | one-time |


### Barrier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-screen-time-blocker/id6756778740)

This app helps you regain control over your phone usage by creating a physical barrier to accessing distracting applications. Instead of simply closing apps, it requires you to wait a set amount of time with your phone face down before granting temporary access, prompting reflection on your digital habits.

**Highlights:** Select apps to limit, Automatic app locking, Face-down phone wait for unlock, Temporary app access, Customizable wait times (5-60 seconds), Unlimited apps with paid version

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium for week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium for month | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Forever | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is aLock free?

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

### Is Barrier free?

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

### Which has better reviews, aLock or Barrier?

aLock is rated higher. aLock averages 4.7 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Barrier averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do aLock or Barrier have ads?

Neither aLock nor Barrier shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, aLock or Barrier?

aLock ships an update every 3 weeks, and Barrier every 2 weeks. Most recently, aLock was updated on November 3, 2026 and Barrier on October 30, 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.*