Social Limits vs Locked
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Social Limits
This app helps you break screen time addiction by blocking social media until you meet a daily step goal. It encourages healthier morning routines, boosts productivity, and reduces anxiety by combining physical activity with digital wellness.
- Block chosen social media apps
- Unlock apps with daily step goal
- Promotes healthier morning routines
- Improves focus and productivity
- Reduces screen time addiction
- Digital wellness and mental health
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Social Limits is a digital detox that blocks social media apps to help break your morning screen time addiction. (Paid features) Block the apps you choose until you reach your daily step goal. Start your day walking, not scrolling, and build healthier morning routines. By staying off social media in the morning, you avoid the dopamine boost from scrolling which can make you crave more throughout the day. Instead, focus on being more productive, reduce your screen time and start your day off better. How It Works: Morning App Lock: Choose the apps that you want blocked when you start your day Step Goal Challenge: Set your daily step count target to unlock blocked apps Digital Wellness: Combine physical activity with screen time management for better mental health Focus Booster: Start each day with movement instead of mindless scrolling Proven Benefits: Better Sleep Quality - Break the cycle of late-night scrolling Increased Productivity - Start your day with intention, not distraction Improved Focus - Reduce digital overwhelm and mental clutter Enhanced Mood - Morning exercise naturally boosts energy and happiness Reduced Anxiety - Less social media comparison and FOMO Stronger Habits - Build consistent morning routines that stick Why Social Limits Works: Our digital detox approach combines behavioral psychology with fitness tracking. By requiring physical movement to unlock social apps you naturally: • Avoid dopamine spikes from early morning scrolling • Establish healthier sleep-wake cycles • Create positive associations between exercise and reward • Develop sustainable self-control habits Join thousands of users gaining back their screen time. Download Social Limits and experience the difference of starting the day without your phone. --- Privacy Policy: https://www.social-limits.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Locked
This app uses a physical NFC tag to create friction and help you break phone addiction. Set app limits and lock them until you scan the tag, encouraging focus and reducing distractions.
- NFC-powered physical tag app blocker
- Deep Focus Mode with no override
- Customizable app blocking
- Works with Apple Screen Time API
- Minimal interface for easy setup
- No data collection or cloud sync
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Locked is the most effective screen time control app that pairs with a physical NFC tag to help you reduce screen time, stay focused, and stop phone addiction. We all know how it goes: you sit down to work or study, and before you know it, you’re lost in a scroll loop - Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, games, notifications, distractions. Even with screen time apps (like those expensive apps, Opal, cough), it’s easy to override the limit. Your brain knows there’s no real consequence. That’s why Locked is different. Why Locked Works: According to behavioral science, friction changes behavior. Most screen time apps are low-friction - you can override limits with a tap. But with Locked, you set app limits and then lock them with a physical NFC tag. When the tag is out of reach, so are your distractions. You can’t override it unless you scan the tag. This break in the autopilot gives your rational brain a chance to intervene and choose focus. How It Works: Choose which apps to block inside the Locked app Scan your phone to the Locked Tag Your selected apps are now locked. Leave the tag at home, in a drawer, or far away Apps stay blocked until you scan the tag again to unlock them No passwords, no sneaky bypass. Just a real-world app blocker your brain respects. Benefits: Save 1–4 hours per day from less screen time Improve focus and productivity at work or school Stop phone addiction and doomscrolling habits Be more present with friends, family, and yourself Support your mental health by reducing digital overwhelm Create intentional tech boundaries that stick Build better habits with a tool that holds you accountable Reduce stress and anxiety caused by overuse Helps with ADHD and ADD Gain back control, without deleting apps or your whole phone Features: NFC NFC-powered tag that physically locks your phone’s distracting apps Works with Apple Screen Time (no shady VPNs or tracking) Deep Focus Mode: no override without the tag Custom app blocking: choose what’s locked vs what stays usable (e.g., music, maps, messages) Simple, minimal interface designed for quick setup and long-term success No data collection, no cloud sync. Your usage stays private and secure What People Are Saying: “I’ve tried everything - Focus Mode, Opal, Screen Time — but nothing worked until Locked. The physical tag makes all the difference.” “It’s like turning your phone into a brick when you need to focus.” “I didn’t realize how often I opened apps out of habit until I used Locked. Game changer for productivity and mental clarity.” Privacy & Terms: We care about your privacy. Locked does not track your app usage or personal data. All blocking is handled locally using Apple’s Screen Time API. Privacy Policy: https://nowlocked.com/policies/privacy-policy Terms of Service: https://nowlocked.com/policies/terms-of-service
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Locked at none against Social Limits's 12. Locked also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 77%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Social Limits's advantage is ratings volume (60 vs 2). On price, update cadence, 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. Social Limits sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Locked asks for nothing beyond the download.
Locked holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Social Limits has 60 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Social Limits's written reviews are positive against 100% of Locked's.
Social Limits ships an update fortnightly, Locked every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Social Limits | Locked |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (60 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 60 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 94 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Social Limits LTD | SocialMate Pty Ltd |
Customer experience
Social Limits
Locked
In-app purchases
Social Limits
- Premium Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
- New User Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
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- Premium Monthly (1 week intro)7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- New User Monthly1 Month trial$5.991 Month
- Premium Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
- Discount Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month
- Monthly Plan3 Days trial$9.991 Month
- New User Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Year1 Year trial$44.991 Year
- Premium Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
- New User Yearly1 Year trial$49.991 Year
Locked
No in-app purchases









