nea vs Padlock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
nea
This app helps you focus by blocking distracting applications during timed work sessions. It uses AI to optimize focus and break periods based on your study patterns. The app is completely free to use.
- App blocking during focus sessions
- AI-optimized focus/break periods
- Pomodoro Technique implementation
- Free to use
- User-friendly interface
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nea blocks your distracting apps for short 'pomodoro' focus periods. Scientifically proven to be an effective study technique, the Pomodoro Technique splits your study sessions into 25 minute focus periods and 5 minute breaks. As well as blocking apps during the study period, nea will use AI to optimise the length of those periods to your ideal study pattern. nea is completely free, with no subscription or trail period. Just download and start blocking!
Padlock
This app locks distracting applications on your iPhone by requiring a physical device to be tapped against your phone. Once locked, apps remain inaccessible until the physical device is tapped again to unlock them.
- Lock distracting apps
- Physical device integration
- App access control
- Phone distraction management
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Padlock will change the relationship you have with your phone. Tap it against your iPhone, stash the Padlock somewhere that's out of the way, and your distracting apps are locked up. If you need to unlock them, retrieve the padlock and tap it again. To use this app, a physical Padlock device is required.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: nea at free against Padlock's paid. nea also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 87%) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
nea ships an update weekly, Padlock every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nea | Padlock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews โ better | 86.7% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Weekly โ better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free โ better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod โ better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 โ better | 16.0 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TAYYEB RAFIQUE | Padlock Focus Technologies LTD |
Customer experience
nea
Padlock
In-app purchases
nea
No in-app purchases
Padlock
No in-app purchases
