Comparison

MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD vs VisionLock

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

Head to head
About

MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD

This app helps individuals with time blindness and task initiation challenges by providing a flexible timeboxing system. It allows users to plan their day with visual timelines and focus on tasks with distraction-free sessions, offering gentle guidance for better productivity.

Highlights
  • Flexible timeboxing
  • Visual timeline view
  • Distraction-free focus timer
  • Task estimation vs. actual time tracking
  • Routine creation
  • Finish by prediction
  • Calendar and Reminders integration
Read full description

Timeboxing for ADHD and Focused Work Finally see where your day goes. MetaTimer is a timeboxing and focus timer app built for people who struggle with time blindness and task initiation. Designed for ADHD minds, students, and freelancers, it gives you structure without rigidity. Unlike rigid Pomodoro timers, MetaTimer lets you build your day like a playlist. Each task gets its own time block, but you stay in control of the flow. Add tasks, hit play, and follow your plan one block at a time. What MetaTimer helps you do - Beat time blindness with a visual timeline of your day - Plan with flexible time blocks - Focus deeply with distraction-free sessions - Track estimated vs actual time - Reduce decision fatigue with routines - Know when you'll be done with a “Finish by” prediction Features - Flexible timeboxing - Visual timeline view - Focus timer with progress ring - Daily stats and weekly reports - Pause and resume without breaking flow - Category tags and project grouping - Siri Shortcuts and voice commands - Lock Screen and Dynamic Island live activities - Calendar and Reminders integration - Billable time reports for freelancers MetaTimer provides just enough structure without feeling overwhelming, helping you stay present and track time honestly. Perfect for students, remote workers, freelancers, creatives, and people with ADHD who need gentle guidance instead of strict rules.

About

VisionLock

Features
Read full description

Better than Apple's "Screen Time" feature, VisionLock helps you understand why you scroll, and adds friction exactly where your thumb runs on autopilot. 4 hours. That's the average time people spend on their phone today, often without even realizing it. Most blockers just ask "which apps do you want to block?" in 30 seconds. VisionLock starts differently: a short diagnostic to identify your real trigger (boredom, anxiety, a nighttime habit, social comparison...), then builds your Vision: what you want to protect with the time you win back. How it works Instead of a hard wall, VisionLock adds friction before you open the apps that waste your time: a countdown that gets longer every time you reopen the app during the day. This friction actually works. A field study (Grüning et al., PNAS 2023) found that a few seconds of delay reduced compulsive app-opening attempts by 37% over 6 weeks. Your Vision, always in view Before you open a distracting app, VisionLock shows you your Vision: the photos and sentences that represent what you actually want. A quiet reminder, at the right moment, not guilt-tripping. Features • Session blocking with progressive friction on the apps you choose • Usage reminders at a custom interval • Compulsive reopening (relapse) detection, with a one-time extension option • Fully customizable Night / Work schedules (hours, days) • Website blocking by domain • Personal Vision board: photos and sentences shown before opening apps • Weekly Vision Report: the time you protected this week • An honest streak that tracks daily consistency • Emergency unlock with a written reason, limited per month • Native integration with iOS Screen Time Free forever Core blocking will never be paywalled: one session block, reminders, one scheduled block, one Vision, free, with no time limit. VisionLock Plus unlocks Website blocking, multiple schedules and rules running at once, unlimited apps per block, unlimited Visions. A subscription is required to access all features, including widgets, themes, reminders, and sharing. Subscription details and pricing are available within the app. Privacy policy: https://visionlock.vercel.app/privacy Terms of use: https://visionlock.vercel.app/terms EULA: https://apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD4 screens
VisionLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD at none against VisionLock's 2. VisionLock's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). 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. VisionLock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD ships an update every 3 weeks, VisionLock every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD versus VisionLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHDVisionLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB158 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOleh PavlivVianney Le Masson

In-app purchases

None

MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

VisionLock

Subscriptions2
  • Carlos Pro Weekly7 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Carlos Pro Yearly7 Days trial$45.001 Year

Questions

Is MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD free?
MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VisionLock free?
VisionLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD or VisionLock have ads?
Neither MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD nor VisionLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD or VisionLock?
MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD ships an update every 3 weeks, and VisionLock every 8 days. Most recently, MetaTimer Timeboxing for ADHD was updated on October 24, 2026 and VisionLock on October 11, 2026.

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