# Bloom vs Pagelock

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bloom at 66% against Pagelock's 0%. Bloom also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pagelock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Bloom asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bloom holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bloom has 2.4K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Bloom's written reviews are positive against 0% of Pagelock's.

Bloom ships an update fortnightly, Pagelock every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bloom | Pagelock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bloom-conquer-screen-time/id6736728158/reviews)** | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pagelock-read-before-scroll/id6760515731/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.4K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **65.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 67 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Find Your Bloom LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773221809) | [Omar Darwish](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822966114) |

## What reviewers say

### Bloom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bloom-conquer-screen-time/id6736728158)

This app helps you conquer screen time by requiring you to tap an NFC keycard to your phone to access distracting apps. Set schedules, manage breaks, and utilize strict mode to stay focused. It's a physical solution for digital detox and improved productivity.

**Highlights:** NFC keycard app blocking, Customizable distraction lists, Focus schedules, Break limits, Strict mode, Emergency exits

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps reduce screen time
- 👍 Effective at improving productivity
- 💡 Unique physical card concept
- 🔒 Prevents access to distracting apps
- 👍 Gamified approach is motivating

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and settings issues
- 💡 Could use more flexible session scheduling

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when selecting apps for blocklist
- Settings fail to save consistently

**Requested features**

- More flexible session scheduling options
- Thinner, more discreet physical card


### Pagelock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pagelock-read-before-scroll/id6760515731)

This app helps you build a reading habit by replacing mindless scrolling with engaging with a physical book. It requires you to read and answer a question about a scanned book page before you can access distracting apps, promoting focus and reducing screen time.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps until reading, Unlock phone through reading, Scan printed book pages, Complete reading checks, Timed reading sessions, Set daily reading goals, Track reading progress

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PageLock Pro Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| PageLock Pro Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| PageLock Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bloom free?

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

### Is Pagelock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bloom or Pagelock?

Bloom is rated higher. Bloom averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while Pagelock averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Bloom or Pagelock have ads?

Neither Bloom nor Pagelock shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bloom or Pagelock?

Bloom ships an update fortnightly, and Pagelock every 4 weeks. Most recently, Bloom was updated on October 15, 2026 and Pagelock on October 7, 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.*