Comparison

Lock In vs Stepaway

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

Head to head
About

Lock In

This app helps you break phone addiction by disabling selected apps during focused sessions. You can set durations, create schedules, and take scheduled breaks. Friends can help you end sessions early, and emergency unlocks are available.

Highlights
  • Disable selected apps for set durations
  • Create weekly app usage schedules
  • Scheduled breaks with daily limits
  • Friend-assisted session unlocking
  • Emergency unlock option
  • App uninstall protection
  • Set daily app usage limits
Read full description

Reduce your screen time with the help of your friends. Lock in empowers you to break phone addiction by disabling selected apps during focused sessions. Core Features (Subscription Required): • Select apps to be disabled for a set duration or create weekly schedules. • Take breaks: 3x 1-minute and 2x 15-minute breaks available daily. • End sessions early only by: • Requesting a subscribed friend to unlock you. • Using an emergency unlock (1 free; more can be purchased (consumable)). • App uninstall protection during lock sessions. • Set daily app usage limits (e.g. 1h of Instagram, Snapchat). • To extend a limit, record yourself reading a preset message aloud and post it on the Wall of Shame. Auto-Renewable Subscriptions: All subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime via your App Store account settings. Available Plans: • Member Friends (Annual): Full access to all features. Also includes 1 free coupon to gift a “Member Solo (Annual)” subscription to a friend. Duration: 1 Year – Renews annually. • Member Solo (Annual): Full access to all features. Duration: 1 Year – Renews annually. • Member (Monthly): Full access to all features. Duration: 1 Month – Renews monthly. Prices vary by region and will be shown before purchase. Additional Purchases: • Additional emergency unlocks can be purchased in-app. Privacy Policy: https://getlockinapp.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://getlockinapp.com/terms-of-service https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Stepaway

This app helps you regain control over your digital habits by setting daily time limits for distracting applications. Schedule focused sessions to minimize interruptions during work or rest, and monitor your progress in building healthier screen time routines.

Highlights
  • Set daily app time limits
  • Schedule focus sessions
  • Track progress over time
  • Works with Screen Time framework
  • Build better app habits
Features
Read full description

Step Away helps you take back control of your screen time — not by shaming you, but by helping you build better habits around the apps that distract you most. Set daily time limits for your most-used apps, schedule focus sessions to block distractions during work or sleep, and track your progress over time. Step Away works with Apple's Screen Time framework to gently enforce the boundaries you set for yourself. Step Away Premium is a subscription required to access the app's full features. Subscription pricing and terms are displayed at the time of purchase. Terms of Use: https://stepaway.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://stepaway.app/privacy

Screenshots

Lock In4 screens
Stepaway3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Stepaway at freemium against Lock In's subscription. Lock In's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lock In sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Stepaway sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Lock In against 5.0 for Stepaway. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lock In ships an update every 3 days, Stepaway weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Lock In versus Stepaway: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLock InStepaway
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size127 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGeorg YeSidharth Sudhir

Customer experience

Lock In

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Stepaway

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

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Lock In

Subscriptions3
  • Solo Membership (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Solo Membership (Annually)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Friends Membership (Annually)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Emergency Unlock$4.99
3 purchases

Stepaway

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Pro Subscription$1.997 Days
  • Monthly Pro Subscription$5.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro Subscription$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Lock In free?
Lock In is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Stepaway free?
Stepaway is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lock In or Stepaway?
Lock In and Stepaway are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Lock In or Stepaway have ads?
Neither Lock In nor Stepaway shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lock In or Stepaway?
Lock In ships an update every 3 days, and Stepaway weekly. Most recently, Lock In was updated on September 9, 2026 and Stepaway on October 7, 2026.

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