Brick vs Tapd
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Brick
This app helps you regain focus by temporarily removing distracting applications and notifications from your phone. It uses NFC hardware to create distraction-free periods, allowing you to concentrate on important tasks or activities. Reconnect with your apps by simply tapping your device again.
- Temporarily remove distracting apps
- Block notifications
- Customize unblocked apps
- Track usage history
- NFC hardware integration
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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.
Tapd
This app helps you focus by blocking distracting applications with a simple NFC tag tap. It also allows you to form focus groups with friends for shared accountability and friendly competition, tracking your progress over time.
- NFC tag integration for focus sessions
- Customizable app blocking presets
- Group focus sessions with friends
- Real-time 'Together Meter' for accountability
- Leaderboards for competitive focus
- Session analytics and streak tracking
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One tap. Apps blocked. Focus starts. Tapd uses NFC tags to turn starting a focus session into a physical ritual — not just another setting on your phone. Tap your tag, choose your preset, and distracting apps disappear. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube — gone until you tap out. But Tapd isn't solo. It's built for the people you focus with. Join a group with friends, roommates, or family. Watch the Together Meter show who's currently locked in. Compete on the leaderboard — because knowing your roommate has 40 more minutes than you is better motivation than any timer. After each session, see your analytics, track streaks, and watch your focus hours stack up over time. What makes Tapd different: • NFC tap-in/tap-out — focus starts with a physical commitment • App blocking with custom presets — you choose what gets blocked • Group leaderboards and Together Meter — accountability from people, not apps • Analytics, goals, and lifetime stats — celebrate progress, not just limits Download. Tap in. Get to work.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Tapd at free against Brick's paid. Tapd also leads on review sentiment (96% vs 78%) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). Brick's advantage is ratings volume (58K vs 37) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Brick against 4.9 for Tapd. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brick has 58K ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of Brick's written reviews are positive against 96% of Tapd's.
Brick ships an update every 4 days, Tapd every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Brick | Tapd |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (58K ratings) — better | 4.9 (37 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.3% of reviews | 95.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 58K — better | 37 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #73 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 53 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Brick LLC (Wisconsin) | TapTek LLC. |
Customer experience
Brick
Tapd
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
Tapd
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Brick
No in-app purchases
Tapd
No in-app purchases








