# Brick vs TimeBack

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Brick at none against TimeBack's 8. Brick also leads on ratings volume (59K vs 38) and chart position (#65 vs unranked). TimeBack's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 78%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TimeBack sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. 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 TimeBack. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brick has 59K ratings behind it against 38, 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 TimeBack's.

Brick ships an update every 4 days, TimeBack weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brick | TimeBack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (59K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069/reviews) | **[5.0 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timeback-block-addictive-apps/id6748564790/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **59K** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | 78.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#65** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Brick LLC (Wisconsin)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1686383161) | [Nicholas Camson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1695630069) |

## What reviewers say

### Brick

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

**Currently charting:** #65 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


### TimeBack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timeback-block-addictive-apps/id6748564790)

This app helps you reduce screen time and avoid distractions by blocking addictive applications. It offers customizable blocking schedules, a 'Hard Mode' for complete phone lockdown, and an accountability feature that notifies friends when you override a block.

**Highlights:** App Blocking with custom schedules, Ad-hoc timers, Hard Mode for complete lockdown, Accountability notifications for friends, Block override options, Tracking of schedules and goals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TimeBack Premium Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| TimeBack Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| TimeBack Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| TimeBack Premium | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 TimeBack Points | $0.99 | one-time |
| 500 TimeBack Points | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1000 TimeBack Points | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2500 TimeBack Points | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best Screen Time Control App
- 👍 Great Tool
- 👍 Great way to reduce screen time
- 👍 Smooth
- 👍 Productivity increased working from home


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brick free?

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

### Is TimeBack free?

TimeBack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

TimeBack is rated higher. Brick averages 4.9 out of 5 from 59K ratings, while TimeBack averages 5.0 from 38 ratings.

### Do Brick or TimeBack have ads?

Neither Brick nor TimeBack shows ads.

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

Brick ships an update every 4 days, and TimeBack weekly. Most recently, Brick was updated on October 26, 2026 and TimeBack on October 24, 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.*