Comparison

Brick vs VantaFocus

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

Head to head
About

Brick

This tool helps you build a healthier relationship with your phone by creating physical barriers to distraction. It allows you to block specific apps and websites, set custom schedules, and track your progress in staying focused. Designed to turn your smartphone back into a tool for what matters most.

Highlights
  • Physical device to block apps
  • Customizable app and website blocking
  • Personalized blocking modes and schedules
  • Built-in focus timer
  • Usage history and progress tracking
  • Automatic blocking with Brick Night
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Brick is the world's first digital wellness tool designed to create a more intentional relationship with your technology. In a world designed for constant distraction, Brick introduces a simple but powerful idea: friction. By adding physical barriers, Brick creates a deliberate pause between impulse and action — turning smartphones back into tools for what matters.

With the Brick app, you can design your personalized system to block distractions using both your Brick and Brick Night — allowing you to do more of what matters. Brick is a physical device that helps you block distracting apps on your phone. Tap to start a Brick session, then place Brick somewhere out of reach and go live your life. When you’re ready to be connected again, simply tap to Unbrick. Unlike screen-time settings and blocker apps that switch off in a second, Brick isn't on the phone you're trying to put down. It's a physical barrier you can't swipe out of. Brick Night automatically blocks the apps you choose when you enter your bedroom. Unlike app blockers, Brick Night uses Bluetooth to know when you're in your bedroom, creating a simple boundary around your sleep — so you don't have to remember to activate it every night. The result: fewer late-night distractions, fewer mornings lost to your feed, and a bedroom that feels like the sanctuary you intended it to be. FEATURES - Select the apps you’d like to block, and keep what you need. Temporarily remove distracting apps and their notifications from your phone, leaving only what you choose - Block any app (except the dialer, per Apple policy) and select Safari websites - Create custom modes for different parts of your day: Work, Family, Sleep, Gym, Study, Focus, and more - Create custom schedules to automatically block apps during specific moments of your day - A built-in focus timer tracks how long you stay undistracted - 5 Emergency Unbricks included for unexpected situations - Usage history tracks your progress so you can see how your habits improve over time DESIGNED FOR EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE Parents use Brick to create device-free family time and build healthier habits around technology. Students rely on it during study sessions and exam prep when focus matters most. Professionals use it for deep work without the constant pull of notifications. Athletes keep it in the locker room to stay locked in before competition. Brick is also a thoughtful gift for anyone trying to build a healthier relationship with their screen habits, reduce anxiety from constant notifications, or simply spend less time scrolling and more time living. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Economist, Fortune, Vogue, TechCrunch, CNET, Fast Company, The Washington Post, Business Insider, and The New Yorker. With over 55,000 five-star reviews, people describe Brick as the thing that finally helped them break free from screen addiction. Join a growing community choosing to take back their time and reclaim hours lost to technology. HSA & FSA ELIGIBLE 30% average savings on Brick and Brick Night with HSA/FSA through our partnership with Truemed. Use pre-tax dollars to invest in your digital wellness and mental health. HSA/FSA funds accepted for qualified Truemed customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary. Learn more at truemed.com/disclosures. WHAT'S INCLUDED Your purchase includes the physical Brick or Brick Night and full access to the companion app.

About

VantaFocus

Block distracting apps and set focus timers with a simple NFC tap. Track your progress, build streaks, and reclaim your time for work, study, or family.

Highlights
  • NFC tag integration for app blocking
  • Customizable app and notification blocking
  • Focus timer with Pomodoro option
  • Unlimited focus profiles
  • Stats and streak tracking
  • Printable VantaTag support
Features
Read full description

Bring your own NFC tag. No pricey puck required. VantaFocus blocks distracting apps the moment you tap a 10-cent sticker—or just press Start. Build streaks, see time saved and stay present wherever you work. Why VantaFocus beats ordinary timers Works with any NFC sticker, card or key-fob – no proprietary hardware. You can even print your own VantaTag. One-tap “Focus Session” or classic Pomodoro timer. Automatic app & notification blocking (custom lists). Unlimited focus profiles – Work, Study, Family, Gym… you decide. Stats & streaks: screen-time cut, sessions logged, longest run. Pay once, own it forever or flexible subscription options. How it works Assign an NFC tag in the app (takes 5 s). Tap to start – distracting apps lock, focus timer starts. Tap again or finish timer – phone unlocks, stats update. Whether you’re deep-coding, revising for exams or sharing dinner with family, VantaFocus helps you reclaim every minute. Terms of use can be found here: https://vantafocus.com/eula

Screenshots

Brick4 screens
VantaFocus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Brick at 78% against VantaFocus's 0%. Brick also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. VantaFocus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Brick asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Brick holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brick has 60K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Brick's written reviews are positive against 0% of VantaFocus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Brick ships an update every 4 days, VantaFocus monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Brick versus VantaFocus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrickVantaFocus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (60K ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews78.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings60K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#96 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrick LLC (Wisconsin)Tim Haerle

Customer experience

Brick

All ratings59,298 ratings
Positive99.1%
Neutral0.4%
Negative0.5%
Written reviews2,211 reviews
Positive78.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative15.0%

VantaFocus

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Brick

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes when selecting apps to block/allow
  • Saved settings get deleted or reset unexpectedly
  • Inability to block certain apps like Safari
  • Bricked mode not working as expected after phone restart

Requested features

4 requests
  • Scheduled bricking/unbricking modes
  • Remote bricking option
  • Ability to block more than 50 apps
  • Improved app stability and reliability

VantaFocus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Brick

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

VantaFocus

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Yearly$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Launch Offer$24.99
  • Lifetime$44.99

Questions

Is Brick free?
Brick is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VantaFocus free?
VantaFocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Brick or VantaFocus?
Brick is rated higher. Brick averages 4.9 out of 5 from 60K ratings, while VantaFocus averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Brick or VantaFocus have ads?
Neither Brick nor VantaFocus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Brick or VantaFocus?
Brick ships an update every 4 days, and VantaFocus monthly. Most recently, Brick was updated on November 7, 2026 and VantaFocus on November 4, 2026.

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