Comparison

App Blocker vs TapLock

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

Head to head
About

App Blocker

Features
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Bring your own NFC tag. No pricey puck required. VantaFocus blocks distracting apps the moment you tap a 10-cent stickerβ€”or just press Start. Build streaks, see time saved and stay present wherever you work. Why VantaFocus beats ordinary timers Works with any NFC sticker, card or key-fob – no proprietary hardware. You can even print your own VantaTag. One-tap β€œFocus Session” or classic Pomodoro timer. Automatic app & notification blocking (custom lists). Unlimited focus profiles – Work, Study, Family, Gym… you decide. Stats & streaks: screen-time cut, sessions logged, longest run. Pay once, own it forever or flexible subscription options. How it works Assign an NFC tag in the app (takes 5 s). Tap to start – distracting apps lock, focus timer starts. Tap again or finish timer – phone unlocks, stats update. Whether you’re deep-coding, revising for exams or sharing dinner with family, VantaFocus helps you reclaim every minute. Terms of use can be found here: https://vantafocus.com/eula

About

TapLock

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TapLock turns a physical NFC card into the only key that unlocks your apps. Tap your card to lock your iPhone's distracting apps behind a Screen Time shield. To get them back, you have to physically tap the card again. The card has to be in your hand. There are no shortcuts. HOW IT WORKS Choose which apps to block, then tap "Lock Now" Apps stay blocked until you tap your registered NFC card to the top of your phone Need a break? Pause the session and it picks up right where you left off Set a timer to auto-unlock after a focus session ends WHAT CARDS WORK Any NFC card you already carry: transit cards, hotel keys, student IDs, office keycards, or cheap NFC stickers. If your iPhone can read it, TapLock can use it. FEATURES NFC card unlock, tap to lock, tap to unlock Timed locks with auto-unlock countdown Pause and resume a session without losing your remaining time Custom blocking profiles, block specific apps or allow only a selected few Multiple cards supported, each with its own name Block app deletion while locked so you can't cheat by uninstalling Session stats, see your total focus time and how long your last session ran Live Activity and Dynamic Island timer visible from your lock screen Your cards and settings sync across your devices via iCloud Remote Key, unlock a family iPad or second iPhone by tapping your card on your own iPhone Native iPad app with a landscape layout REMOTE KEY AND IPAD Lock a family iPad or a second iPhone, then open it by tapping your card on your own iPhone. Both devices just need the same Apple ID. iPads have no NFC reader, so they pair as a kept device and are always opened from your iPhone. EMERGENCY ACCESS A 6-digit PIN is available if you lose your card. It works, but it is deliberately slow, so you will want to keep your card nearby. TapLock does not replace your iPhone's lock screen. It uses Apple's Screen Time framework to shield apps while your phone stays accessible for calls and emergencies. Free 7-day trial. One-time purchase. No subscription, ever. Terms of Use: https://www.aimakecoolstuff.com/legal/taplock/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.aimakecoolstuff.com/legal/taplock/privacy

Screenshots

App Blocker4 screens
TapLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: TapLock at every 4 days against App Blocker's monthly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. App Blocker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and TapLock sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

App Blocker ships an update monthly, TapLock every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and August 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
App Blocker versus TapLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApp BlockerTapLock
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.217.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size20 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTim HaerleSze Yuen HO

In-app purchases

4 purchases

App Blocker

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Yearly$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Launch Offer$24.99
  • Lifetime$44.99
2 purchases

TapLock

One-time2
  • TapLock Free TrialFree
  • TapLock Lifetime$4.99

Questions

Is App Blocker free?
App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TapLock free?
TapLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do App Blocker or TapLock have ads?
Neither App Blocker nor TapLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, App Blocker or TapLock?
App Blocker ships an update monthly, and TapLock every 4 days. Most recently, App Blocker was updated on September 11, 2026 and TapLock on August 29, 2026.

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