Comparison

Barrier vs Blocus

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Block social media apps
  • Limit app access
  • Promote healthier digital habits
  • Incentivize reduced scrolling
  • Digital wellness assistant
Features
Read full description

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!

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

Barrier4 screens
Blocus4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Blocus sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Barrier asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Barrier ships an update fortnightly, Blocus every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Barrier versus Blocus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarrierBlocus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (343 ratings) — better4.5 (226 ratings)
Positive reviews80.3% of reviews — better9.1% of reviews
Number of ratings343 — better226
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB148 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperHaplo, LLCDiyar Dirik

Customer experience

Barrier

All ratings308 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive80.3%
Neutral10.6%
Negative9.1%

Blocus

All ratings226 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral4.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive9.1%
Neutral18.2%
Negative72.7%

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
Show 9 more
  • 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
Show 2 more
  • 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

None

Barrier

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Blocus

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly plan$9.991 Month
  • Yearly plan$29.991 Year
  • Yearly$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly plan7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time6
  • Unlock$0.99
  • Unlock$3.99
  • Unlock$8.99
Show 3 more
  • Unlock$17.99
  • Unlock$44.99
  • Unlock$89.99

Questions

Is Barrier free?
Barrier is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Blocus free?
Blocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Barrier or Blocus?
Barrier is rated higher. Barrier averages 4.7 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while Blocus averages 4.5 from 226 ratings.
Do Barrier or Blocus have ads?
Barrier shows ads; Blocus does not.
Which is updated more often, Barrier or Blocus?
Barrier ships an update fortnightly, and Blocus every 3 days. Most recently, Barrier was updated on October 27, 2026 and Blocus on October 21, 2026.

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