Barrier vs Blocus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Barrier
This app helps you break free from social media distractions by blocking access to social apps. It encourages healthier digital habits by requiring users to watch an ad or wait before accessing them, promoting mindful usage and digital wellness.
- Block social media apps
- Limit app access
- Promote healthier digital habits
- Incentivize reduced scrolling
- Digital wellness assistant
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Are you tired of wasting precious hours scrolling through social media apps? Do you want to break free from the cycle of constant distractions? Barrier is here to help. Our app acts as a blocker for social media apps, limiting your access and promoting healthier digital habits. With Barrier, you can only open your social media apps if you watch an ad or wait our 30 second load times, creating an incentive to reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling mindlessly. But Barrier is more than just a blocker. It's a digital wellness assistant, helping you take control of your digital life Don't let social media control your life. Take back control with Barrier!
Blocus
This app helps you break distraction habits and regain control of your time by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers various enforcement modes, from gentle nudges to strict, irreversible blocks, and allows unlocking distractions only after completing specific tasks or challenges.
- Block distracting apps and websites
- Set daily limits and smart schedules
- Extreme Mode for irreversible blocking
- Unlock distractions via challenges or tasks
- PIN Code Mode for external accountability
- Integrates with system Screen Time
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Blocus – The Focus App That Actually Stops You From Cheating Blocus is a powerful focus and productivity app designed to help you break distraction habits and regain control of your time. Whether you need gentle nudges or absolute enforcement, Blocus adapts to your willpower — or replaces it when needed. Block distracting apps and websites using Blocklists or Allowlists, set daily limits, or automate focus with smart schedules. Blocus integrates seamlessly with Screen Time, ensuring reliable and system-level blocking you can trust. For moments when discipline isn't enough, Blocus offers strict enforcement modes: Extreme Mode A fully irreversible block. Once activated, it cannot be ended early — no tricks, no loopholes, no excuses. Challenges & Unlock Tasks Unlock distractions only after completing meaningful actions: • Steps or workout challenges • Push-ups, squats, planks • Pomodoro sessions • Sudoku or math challenges • Location-based unlocks PIN Code Mode A trusted friend receives a unique unlock code — so only someone else can free you. Perfect for real accountability. Advanced Control & Convenience • Smart schedules by time or day • Flexible or ultra-strict configurations Whether you're studying, working, training your focus, or fighting phone addiction — Blocus gives you the structure you need and the freedom you earn. Stop negotiating with distractions. Block them. Commit. Focus with Blocus. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.blocus-app.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
Barrier and Blocus both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 9% of Blocus's. Barrier also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10). Blocus's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, ratings volume and monetization model 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. Blocus sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Barrier against 4.5 for Blocus. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 343 and 226 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Barrier's written reviews are positive against 9% of Blocus's.
Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Blocus every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Barrier | Blocus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (343 ratings) — better | 4.5 (226 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.3% of reviews — better | 9.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 343 — better | 226 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 42 MB | 148 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Haplo, LLC | Diyar Dirik |
Customer experience
Barrier
Blocus
Bugs and requests
Barrier
Reported bugs
14 issues- Blocking does not work at correct times or remains blocked at incorrect times
- Blocking stops working after a while
- Apps remain unlocked after unlocking
- Streak keeps breaking for no reason
- Custom schedule does not unlock when it's supposed to
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- Last iOS release caused issues with re-locking after unlocking
- Timer resets but apps remain unlocked after unlocking
- Instagram and TikTok not always blocked
- App stops working after a few days, requires re-download
- Editing screen for blocked apps crashes sometimes
- Custom schedule setting does not work for overnight blocking (end time before start time)
- Does not unlock apps half the time after watching an ad
- Cannot make edits to timer or unlock time
- Cannot unlock apps without reinstalling after deleting the app before unlocking
Requested features
7 requests- Ability to set different apps to lock during different times
- More flexibility in setting multiple check-in times
- Option to customize the duration after watching an ad
- Fix for custom schedule not working for overnight blocking
- Option to have a daily time limit per app
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- Ability to set a certain amount of time per day and then block apps
- Update to end the 10-minute screentime after the ad finishes
Blocus
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Barrier
No in-app purchases
Blocus
- Monthly plan$9.991 Month
- Yearly plan$29.991 Year
- Yearly$39.991 Year
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- Yearly plan7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Unlock$0.99
- Unlock$3.99
- Unlock$8.99
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- Unlock$17.99
- Unlock$44.99
- Unlock$89.99









