# Brick vs Tapd

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.

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 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brick | Tapd |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (58K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069/reviews)** | [4.9 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tapd-screen-time-control/id6748239381/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **58K** | 37 |
| Positive reviews | 78.3% of reviews | **95.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#84** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brick LLC (Wisconsin)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1686383161) | [TapTek LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824753763) |

## What reviewers say

### Brick

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069)

**Currently charting:** #84 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Temporarily remove distracting apps, Block notifications, Customize unblocked apps, Track usage history, NFC hardware integration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great concept
- 🚀 Helps reclaim time and attention
- 🔒 Physical barrier prevents mindless usage
- 💡 Customizable blocking/allowing modes
- 🚀 Improves productivity and focus

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🐛 Unreliable app functionality
- 🐛 Inconsistent app behavior after updates
- 🐛 Difficulty setting up and configuring
- 🐛 Limited number of apps that can be allowed

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


### Tapd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tapd-screen-time-control/id6748239381)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brick free?

Brick is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Tapd free?

Tapd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Brick or Tapd?

Brick is rated higher. Brick averages 4.9 out of 5 from 58K ratings, while Tapd averages 4.9 from 37 ratings.

### Do Brick or Tapd have ads?

Neither Brick nor Tapd shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brick or Tapd?

Brick ships an update every 4 days, and Tapd every 3 weeks. Most recently, Brick was updated on October 23, 2026 and Tapd on October 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*