Comparison

Locked vs Skillmark

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

Head to head
About

Locked

This app uses a physical NFC tag to create friction and help you break phone addiction. Set app limits and lock them until you scan the tag, encouraging focus and reducing distractions.

Highlights
  • NFC-powered physical tag app blocker
  • Deep Focus Mode with no override
  • Customizable app blocking
  • Works with Apple Screen Time API
  • Minimal interface for easy setup
  • No data collection or cloud sync
Read full description

Locked is the most effective screen time control app that pairs with a physical NFC tag to help you reduce screen time, stay focused, and stop phone addiction. We all know how it goes: you sit down to work or study, and before you know it, you’re lost in a scroll loop - Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, games, notifications, distractions. Even with screen time apps (like those expensive apps, Opal, cough), it’s easy to override the limit. Your brain knows there’s no real consequence. That’s why Locked is different. Why Locked Works: According to behavioral science, friction changes behavior. Most screen time apps are low-friction - you can override limits with a tap. But with Locked, you set app limits and then lock them with a physical NFC tag. When the tag is out of reach, so are your distractions. You can’t override it unless you scan the tag. This break in the autopilot gives your rational brain a chance to intervene and choose focus. How It Works: Choose which apps to block inside the Locked app Scan your phone to the Locked Tag Your selected apps are now locked. Leave the tag at home, in a drawer, or far away Apps stay blocked until you scan the tag again to unlock them No passwords, no sneaky bypass. Just a real-world app blocker your brain respects. Benefits: Save 1–4 hours per day from less screen time Improve focus and productivity at work or school Stop phone addiction and doomscrolling habits Be more present with friends, family, and yourself Support your mental health by reducing digital overwhelm Create intentional tech boundaries that stick Build better habits with a tool that holds you accountable Reduce stress and anxiety caused by overuse Helps with ADHD and ADD Gain back control, without deleting apps or your whole phone Features: NFC NFC-powered tag that physically locks your phone’s distracting apps Works with Apple Screen Time (no shady VPNs or tracking) Deep Focus Mode: no override without the tag Custom app blocking: choose what’s locked vs what stays usable (e.g., music, maps, messages) Simple, minimal interface designed for quick setup and long-term success No data collection, no cloud sync. Your usage stays private and secure What People Are Saying: “I’ve tried everything - Focus Mode, Opal, Screen Time — but nothing worked until Locked. The physical tag makes all the difference.” “It’s like turning your phone into a brick when you need to focus.” “I didn’t realize how often I opened apps out of habit until I used Locked. Game changer for productivity and mental clarity.” Privacy & Terms: We care about your privacy. Locked does not track your app usage or personal data. All blocking is handled locally using Apple’s Screen Time API. Privacy Policy: https://nowlocked.com/policies/privacy-policy Terms of Service: https://nowlocked.com/policies/terms-of-service

About

Skillmark

Features
Read full description

See your practice add up! Skillmark is the fitness tracker for your hobbies. Log a guitar session, a run, or an hour of drawing, and watch it turn into levels, streaks, and a clear record of where your time goes. Best of all, it's easy to use. Add a hobby in a minute, tap Start, and Skillmark keeps the score. KEY FEATURES • Your Skills Every hobby gets its own skill, split into the areas you actually practice. A guitar skill can hold technique, rhythm, repertoire, and ear training. Spanish can hold vocabulary, listening, and speaking. • Your Practice Start a stopwatch, run a focus timer, or log time afterward. Every session counts toward your next level and rank. • Your Progress Streaks, a practice calendar, and trend views show how consistent you've been. The balance view shows what you've been skipping. • Your Goals Set a target like 100, 1,000, or 10,000 hours. Skillmark works out the weekly pace you need and forecasts when you'll get there. MORE THINGS TO LOVE • Learn — hand-picked courses and resources for each skill. • Milestones — mark the moments that matter, like your first recital or first full conversation. • Reminders — a nudge when it's time to practice. • Daily plan — set how long you want to practice each day and watch it fill. • Backups — export your data, or back up automatically to a folder you choose. • Themes — light and dark themes with several color palettes. • Accessibility — a reduce-motion setting and screen reader labels. NO ACCOUNT NEEDED Skillmark works without an account. Your practice history stays on your device. FOR WHATEVER YOU'RE INTO Guitar, piano, singing, drawing, running, languages, archery, baking, writing, coding. If you keep coming back to it, Skillmark can track it. Have a question or an idea? Email skillmarkapp@gmail.com. Feedback goes straight into the app.

Screenshots

Locked4 screens
Skillmark4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Locked at none against Skillmark's 1. Locked also leads on ads (none vs shown). Skillmark's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price 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. Skillmark sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Locked asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Locked ships an update every 2 weeks, Skillmark every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Locked versus Skillmark: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLockedSkillmark
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSocialMate Pty LtdSean Mitchell

In-app purchases

None

Locked

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Skillmark

One-time1
  • Skillmark Plus$5.99

Questions

Is Locked free?
Locked is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Skillmark free?
Skillmark is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Locked or Skillmark have ads?
Skillmark shows ads; Locked does not.
Which is updated more often, Locked or Skillmark?
Locked ships an update every 2 weeks, and Skillmark every 5 days. Most recently, Locked was updated on October 24, 2026 and Skillmark on October 24, 2026.

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