Comparison

Bloom vs Lockout

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bloom

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
Read full description

Most screen time apps fail because they’re easy to bypass. Bloom was created to fix that. Bloom revolutionizes your productivity by requiring you to scan an NFC keycard to your phone to access distracting apps. **How It Works** - Choose Your Distractions: Select the apps or websites you find most distracting. - Block Your Distractions: Tap your Bloom card to your phone to block those apps. - Live Distraction-Free: Stay productive with your card out of reach. When ready, just tap your Bloom card to your phone to unblock your apps. **Features** - Schedules: Set personalized schedules for your focus periods, allowing them to start and end automatically. - Breaks: Use your apps mindfully by setting limits on the frequency and duration of your breaks. - Strict Mode: Disable your ability to delete the Bloom app while in focus mode (optional). - Emergency Exits: Unblock all of your apps without your bloom card up to three times. **Why Bloom** - Spend less time on your phone and more time doing things that actually matter. - Improve your work habits by blocking out distractions. - Our physical solution is the ultimate solution for digital detox and time management. With Bloom’s NFC keycard, you can leave the “key” to your distractions behind, ensuring you stay focused and productive. Find your Bloom today and enjoy life beyond your phone! (We prioritize your privacy—your screen time data stays securely on your device and is never shared or stored elsewhere). Learn more by visiting our website: bloom.inc

About

Lockout

This app helps you manage screen time by blocking distracting applications. To regain access, you must beat the dealer in a game of blackjack. Earn your unlock time by winning hands, or face longer lockouts.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps, categories, and websites
  • Play blackjack to earn screen time
  • Customizable win and loss stakes
  • Automatic re-locking after unlock window
  • Emergency unlock feature
  • No account or ads required
Features
Read full description

Block distracting apps, then beat the dealer at blackjack to earn your screen time back. Blocking and unlock rounds require 21 Lockout Plus. 21 Lockout is a screen time app blocker with a twist: your distractions don't unlock because you caved. They unlock because you beat the dealer. Pick the apps, categories and websites you want to stay out of. Reach for one and you don't get in — you get dealt a hand of blackjack. Win, and you earn a set number of minutes. Lose, and the lockout runs longer. WHY IT WORKS Most screen time blockers fail for the same reason: turning them off is easier than leaving them on. One tap in Settings and the wall is gone. 21 Lockout doesn't ask for willpower. It asks for a winning hand. The friction is small enough that you keep the app installed, and real enough that you stop opening Instagram on autopilot. You get your minutes — you just have to earn them. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps, categories and websites to lock 2. Open one and the shield deals you in 3. Win the hand and earn your unlock window 4. Lose and wait out the cooldown 5. Locked out at the worst moment? Emergency unlock — 15 minutes, three a day MAKE THE STAKES YOURS Set what a win earns and what a loss costs, anywhere from 5 minutes to 4 hours. Short stakes for a workday, longer ones for a deep-work block. When your window expires, your apps re-lock on their own — you never have to remember to switch it back on. WHAT'S INCLUDED Free: setup and Screen Time permission. 21 Lockout Plus unlocks the product itself: • Blocking the apps, categories and websites you choose • Blackjack unlock rounds • Custom win and loss stakes • Automatic re-locking when your window expires • Emergency unlocks NO ACCOUNTS, NO ADS There's nothing to sign up for and no password to lose. The apps you choose stay inside Apple's on-device Screen Time framework — their names are never sent to us. We collect anonymous usage analytics to improve the app, and nothing that identifies you. SUBSCRIPTION Standard 21 Lockout Plus plans are $69.99/year or $14.99/month and include a free trial for eligible new subscribers. Discounted recovery offers, when shown, do not include a trial. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID subscription settings. 21 Lockout is a self-restriction tool for your own device. It is not a parental-control product. The blackjack game involves no wagering of money or virtual currency, and no prizes of any kind. Terms of Use: https://stella-lane-associates.com/21lockout/terms Privacy Policy: https://stella-lane-associates.com/21lockout/privacy Support: https://stella-lane-associates.com/21lockout/support

Screenshots

Bloom4 screens
Lockout4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bloom at none against Lockout's 6. Bloom also leads on ratings volume (2.4K vs 1). Lockout's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lockout sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $7.49 per month. Bloom asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lockout holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bloom has 2.4K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bloom ships an update fortnightly, Lockout every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Bloom versus Lockout: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBloomLockout
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.4K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.4K — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB21 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFind Your Bloom LLCStella Lane Associates LLC

Customer experience

Bloom

All ratings2,129 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews415 reviews
Positive65.5%
Neutral10.4%
Negative24.1%

Lockout

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Bloom

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes when selecting apps for blocklist
  • Settings fail to save consistently

Requested features

2 requests
  • More flexible session scheduling options
  • Thinner, more discreet physical card

Lockout

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Bloom

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Lockout

Subscriptions6
  • 21 Lockout Plus$7.491 Month
  • 21 Lockout Plus7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • 21 Lockout Plus14 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • 21 Lockout Plus$34.991 Year
  • 21 Lockout Plus7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • 21 Lockout Plus14 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is Bloom free?
Bloom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lockout free?
Lockout is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bloom or Lockout?
Lockout is rated higher. Bloom averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while Lockout averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Bloom or Lockout have ads?
Neither Bloom nor Lockout shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bloom or Lockout?
Bloom ships an update fortnightly, and Lockout every 5 days. Most recently, Bloom was updated on October 17, 2026 and Lockout on October 2, 2026.

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