# Padlock vs SafeWorks

The clearest difference is update cadence: Padlock at every 2 weeks against SafeWorks's every 5 weeks. SafeWorks's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Padlock ships an update every 2 weeks, SafeWorks every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Padlock | SafeWorks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 86.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Padlock Focus Technologies LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1803911081) | [Alfie Adamberry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805463617) |

## What reviewers say

### Padlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padlock-remove-distractions/id6475106602)

This app locks distracting applications on your iPhone by requiring a physical device to be tapped against your phone. Once locked, apps remain inaccessible until the physical device is tapped again to unlock them.

**Highlights:** Lock distracting apps, Physical device integration, App access control, Phone distraction management

**In-app purchases:** none


### SafeWorks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safeworks/id6753187769)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Padlock free?

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

### Is SafeWorks free?

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

### Do Padlock or SafeWorks have ads?

Neither Padlock nor SafeWorks shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Padlock or SafeWorks?

Padlock ships an update every 2 weeks, and SafeWorks every 5 weeks. Most recently, Padlock was updated on October 14, 2026 and SafeWorks on October 8, 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.*