SmartBlock vs Scroll Brake
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SmartBlock
This app transforms phone distractions into brain-training exercises. Block apps to reduce screen time and solve engaging puzzles to regain access, sharpening your mind while promoting focus and productivity.
- Block distracting apps and websites
- Solve puzzles to unlock app access
- Customizable puzzle difficulty and app limits
- Schedule app blocks by day and time
- Boost productivity and focus
- Reduce stress and improve mindfulness
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Get smarter while using your phone less. SmartBlock is the only screen time app that turns distraction into brain training. Block your most distracting apps to reduce your screen time. Regain access by solving fun, challenging puzzles that sharpen your mind. Why SmartBlock? * Reduce screen time by adding meaningful barriers between you and addictive apps * Become sharper and more productive by training your brain with puzzles * Stay focused and in control of your screen time How It Works * Block or limit groups of apps and websites * Unlock with intention: After a set amount of app usage, complete a puzzle to continue—or take it as a cue to unplug * Customise everything: Puzzle difficulty, maximum app usage, emergency pauses, and more * Schedule blocks: Set your schedule, blocking apps depending on the day of the week or time * Proven results: Users report significantly lower screen time and improved focus Benefits Beyond the Screen * Boost productivity and focus * Reduce stress and improve mindfulness * Support ADHD management * Set healthy routines for work, sleep, and rest * Detox from digital overload 7 Puzzles That Make You Smarter * NumberCrunch – Reach the target using 5 random numbers * WordFinder – Guess the 5-letter word in 6 tries * WordSpin – Create as many words as you can from 7 letters * Cryptic – Solve clever crossword clues * Anagrams – Rearrange letters to find a hidden word * Suguru – A Japanese logic puzzle that’s as addictive as it is brain-boosting Private & Secure SmartBlock runs entirely on your device. We never collect or share your personal data. Your focus is yours alone. Privacy Policy: https://smartblockapp.co/privacy-policy Terms of User / End User License Agreement: https://smartblockapp.co/terms-of-use
Scroll Brake
This app helps you manage screen time by presenting quick math challenges when your app usage limit is reached. It encourages conscious choices over automatic reactions to boredom, allowing discreet use anywhere. Track your progress and gain intentional focus time back.
- Adaptive math difficulty
- Strict mode for hard limits
- Discreet mental math unlocks
- Daily discipline, no exceptions
- App and website limits
- Screen time statistics
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Scroll Brake helps you manage your screen time and stop opening distracting apps on autopilot. Turn mindless tapping into a conscious daily choice with quick mental math challenges. The app's goal is not to strictly ban apps or forcibly restrict your time on social media. The real goal is to turn mindless tapping into a conscious choice rather than an automatic reaction to boredom. The concept is straightforward: once your daily limit for an app or website runs out, access is paused behind a quick math problem. To continue using the app, solve the equation in your head. That brief pause gives you just enough time to reset. You can make this conscious choice anywhere - on public transit, in meetings, or in quiet rooms - completely discreetly and without disturbing anyone. No awkward physical exercises, loud alarms, or barcode scanning: just a few seconds of quiet mental focus. If you opened the app out of boredom, you can easily put your phone down. If you genuinely need it for work or communication, solve the puzzle and continue. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps and websites you want to limit. 2. Set your daily time allowance. 3. When time expires, Scroll Brake shields the screen with a math problem. 4. Solve the equation to unlock access. PRO TIP: SPLIT LIMITS & STRICT MODE Instead of one broad 1-hour limit, set a 10-minute session interval and cap daily unlocks at 6 in Strict Mode. You still get that same hour, but every 10 minutes a math puzzle breaks the endless feed hypnosis. Once those 6 unlocks are used up, the app stays firmly locked until tomorrow. KEY FEATURES • Adaptive Math Difficulty Equations adjust to your mental calculation speed. You can calibrate the baseline difficulty during setup - from quick single-step arithmetic to more challenging puzzles. • Strict Mode Need an unyielding barrier? Set a daily cap on unlock attempts. Once you reach it, apps are strictly locked until tomorrow, with no way to solve your way in. • Conscious Choice Anywhere No awkward tasks, loud sounds, or scanning barcodes. Solving an equation in your head takes seconds and allows you to make an intentional choice in any setting - on transit, at work, or at home - without disturbing anyone. • Daily Discipline, No Weekday Exceptions There are deliberately no day-of-week schedules. Bad habits don't follow a work calendar: restricting screen time Monday to Friday only to binge all weekend won't break the loop. Scroll Brake keeps your focus consistent every day. • App & Website Limits Limit individual apps, categories, or infinite scroll websites in Safari. Up to 3 separate daily limit schedules covering an unlimited number of apps and websites are free forever. • Screen Time Stats Keep track of your daily progress and see how much intentional focus time you gain back each week. • Privacy & Battery Efficiency Built directly on Apple's native Screen Time API: highly optimized, zero background battery drain, and no tracking. All calculations and statistics stay strictly on your device. • Zero Push Notifications Scroll Brake never requests notification permissions. It is built for uninterrupted quiet and focus, so it will never spam you with push alerts, sounds, or reminders. Spend your attention on what genuinely matters. Download Scroll Brake and make phone use intentional again. TERMS, PRIVACY & CONDITIONS Read on https://novasynapse.com/products/scroll-brake/privacy/ & https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Scroll Brake at every 9 days against SmartBlock's every 3 weeks. SmartBlock's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.5). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. SmartBlock sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Scroll Brake sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SmartBlock against 5.0 for Scroll Brake. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
SmartBlock ships an update every 3 weeks, Scroll Brake every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartBlock | Scroll Brake |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 26.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 42 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Adam Park | NovaSynapse OU |
Customer experience
SmartBlock
Scroll Brake
In-app purchases
SmartBlock
- Weekly subscription$4.997 Days
- Annual Subscription + 1 Week Trial7 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Pro Subscription$19.991 Year
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- Annual Subscription$29.991 Year
- Annual Subscription + 1 Week Trial7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- 10k+ Puzzles Purchase$59.99
Scroll Brake
- Monthly1 Month trial$3.991 Month
- Yearly1 Month trial$12.991 Year
- Lifetime$17.99









