Brick vs DeepWork.io
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 turn smartphones back into tools, helping people take back control of their time, attention, and technology. A small tool paired with a powerful app that temporarily removes distracting apps and their notifications from your iPhone, leaving only what you choose. In a world designed for constant distraction, Brick introduces a simple but powerful idea: friction. By requiring a physical tap to enable or disable distracting apps, Brick creates a deliberate pause between impulse and action - turning smartphones back into tools for what matters. HOW IT WORKS Choose which apps or websites to block: social media, games, news, streaming, or anything distracting Tap your iPhone to Brick to activate your chosen mode A focus timer starts automatically, tracking your distraction-free time Place Brick somewhere out of reach and go live your life When you're ready, tap again to regain access Not nearby? Activate Brick remotely in the app. You'll still need the physical Brick to unblock, keeping the commitment real. FEATURES Block any iPhone 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 A built-in focus timer tracks how long you stay undistracted Strict Mode closes loopholes, preventing workarounds while you're in a session 5 Emergency Unbricks included for unexpected situations Usage history tracks your progress so you can see how your habits improve over time. No subscriptions and no monthly fees. Buy once, use forever 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, Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Economist, Fortune, Vogue, TechCrunch, CNET, Fast Company, The Washington Post, Business Insider, and The New Yorker. With over 35,000 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 Brick qualifies as an HSA and FSA eligible purchase through our partnership with Truemed. Use pre-tax health savings to invest in your digital wellness and mental health. WHAT'S INCLUDED Your purchase includes the physical Brick and full lifetime access to the companion app. No subscriptions. No hidden fees. No ads. Brick helps you take back your time, turn your phone back into a tool, and use technology the way it should be: with intention.
DeepWork.io
This tool helps you get work done by blocking distractions and using a focus timer. Track your progress and set goals to improve productivity and reduce interruptions. Optimized for iPad, it offers a privacy-first experience with no ads or tracking.
- Focus timer for set work sessions
- Distraction blocking to minimize interruptions
- Activity tracking for productive time
- Progress visualization with a grid
- Background audio for enhanced focus
- Goal setting for daily, weekly, or monthly targets
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DeepWork.io is a focus timer and distraction blocker built to help you actually get work done. Struggling to stay focused? Start a DeepWork session, block distractions on your phone, and make real progress on the tasks that matter. Whether you're studying, writing, coding, or creating, DeepWork helps you stay focused and finish what you start. Key Features: Focus Timer – Start 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, or 45-minute deep work sessions Distraction Blocking – Reduce interruptions and stay locked in Activity Tracking – Track your focus sessions and productive time Progress Visualization – See your consistency with a GitHub-style grid Background Audio – Lo-fi music and white noise for better focus Smart Notifications – Gentle alerts to keep your workflow on track Goal Setting – Set daily, weekly, or monthly focus goals iPad Optimized – Designed for larger screens and work setups Perfect for: • Students studying for exams or working on assignments • Creators, writers, and developers building projects • Professionals who need deep focus time • Anyone looking to improve productivity and reduce distractions Privacy First Your data stays on your device. No ads. No tracking. No distractions. Start a focus session and get something done today. Privacy Policy: https://deep-work.io/privacy Terms of Use: https://deep-work.io/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Brick at none against DeepWork.io's 4. Brick also leads on ratings volume (58K vs 6) and update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). DeepWork.io's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 78%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and device support 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. DeepWork.io sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Brick asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Brick against 5.0 for DeepWork.io. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brick has 58K ratings behind it against 6, 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 100% of DeepWork.io's.
Brick ships an update every 5 days, DeepWork.io fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Brick | DeepWork.io |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (58K ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 78.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 58K — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Best chart rank | #81 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 128 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Brick LLC (Wisconsin) | Raman Mama |
Customer experience
Brick
DeepWork.io
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
DeepWork.io
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Brick
No in-app purchases
DeepWork.io
- Premium Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Premium Annual Subscription$24.991 Year
- Premium Subscription$39.99
- Lifetime$39.99









