Comparison

ChessLock vs LockIn

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

Head to head
About

ChessLock

This app helps you control screen time by blocking distracting applications. To take a break, you must solve chess puzzles, sharpening your mind and earning your pause. It's designed for anyone seeking enhanced focus and productivity with a unique, brain-boosting approach.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Solve chess puzzles for breaks
  • Customizable focus sessions
  • Brain-training puzzles
  • Private by design, no data collection
  • Pro version for advanced features
Features
Read full description

Take control of your screen time like never before—with your brain as the key! Screen Time Control: ChessLock is a powerful focus tool that blocks distracting apps… and makes you earn your breaks by solving chess puzzles. Designed for those who want real productivity with a fun twist, ChessLock combines proven focus techniques with the timeless game of chess to help you stay in control. - How it works: Create a Focus Session Select the apps you want to block. Once it starts, you're locked in—no cheating allowed! Pause With Purpose Want a break? Solve a chess puzzle to unlock it. No puzzle, no pause. Train Your Brain Each puzzle challenge helps keep your mind sharp and focused. - Unlock More with ChessLock Pro Unlimited focus sessions Choose your puzzle difficulty Smarter, stronger app blocking Earn meaningful breaks More brain-boosting control - Why Chess? Chess is the perfect game to sharpen concentration, improve problem-solving, and help reset your brain during focused work. It’s not just screen time management — it’s brain time empowerment. - Private by Design No accounts, no personal data collection, no creepy tracking. Your preferences are stored locally, and analytics are completely anonymous. You stay in control. - Built for Everyone Whether you’re a student, freelancer, parent, or pro, ChessLock gives you a mindful, brain-powered way to manage your screen time. Download Screen Time Control: ChessLock and make every pause a power move.

About

LockIn

This app helps high-achievers regain control of their day by blocking distracting apps and websites. It uses AI-assisted planning and unique verification methods like photo proof and AI fitness tracking to ensure task completion and habit formation.

Highlights
  • AI-assisted scheduling
  • Hard app and website blocking
  • ML-powered fitness verification
  • Photo proof verification
  • 21-day habit architect
  • Integration with Apple Health
Features
Read full description

Your phone is stealing your day. LockIn helps you take it back. Open Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube and one quick check turns into a lost hour. LockIn blocks the apps that distract you - and makes you earn your screen time back with real actions. HOW IT WORKS Block your worst apps. Set a daily limit for each one. When you want screen time, you earn it. Do something real, get coins, then spend coins to unlock your apps for a while. EARN YOUR MINUTES Move your body. LockIn counts your reps in real time with your camera, so you can't fake it. Pushups, squats, pull-ups, planks, jumping jacks, lunges, crunches, shoulder press, leg raises, high knees, wall sits, and side planks. Prove your habits. Snap a photo to show you touched grass, read a book, cleaned your room, or got outside. SET HARD LIMITS Give each app a daily limit it can't go over. Add an app to your block list and earn coins. Want to take one off? That costs you. It's built to keep you honest. STAY ON A STREAK Show up every day, keep your streak alive, and collect bonus coins. Focus becomes a game you actually want to win. MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT MORE The student beating the TikTok trap during finals. The founder who needs real focus. The athlete turning screen time into a workout. Anyone who wants to end the day proud, not guilty. YOUR PRIVACY STAYS YOURS LockIn uses Apple's official Screen Time API and works right on your phone. Your photos, camera, and data never leave your device. Stop scrolling. Start living. LockIn today. Free to start. Upgrade anytime for full access. Questions? lockin@fibipals.com Terms: https://lockin.fibipals.com/terms-of-service Privacy: https://lockin.fibipals.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

ChessLock4 screens
LockIn4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: LockIn at 100% against ChessLock's 67%. LockIn also leads on monetization model (free vs freemium). ChessLock's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. ChessLock sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and LockIn sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChessLock holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of ChessLock's written reviews are positive against 100% of LockIn's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChessLock ships an update fortnightly, LockIn monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ChessLock versus LockIn: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessLockLockIn
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4 ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPatricio GuzmanTymofii Hrynchuk

Customer experience

ChessLock

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

LockIn

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

ChessLock

Subscriptions3
  • Chesslock Pro2 variants$2.991 Month
  • Chesslock Pro$19.991 Year
  • Chesslock Pro$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Chesslock Pro$17.49
  • Chesslock Pro$34.99
3 purchases

LockIn

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription$3.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription LockIn3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription LockIn$29.991 Year

Questions

Is ChessLock free?
ChessLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LockIn free?
LockIn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ChessLock or LockIn?
ChessLock is rated higher. ChessLock averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while LockIn averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do ChessLock or LockIn have ads?
Neither ChessLock nor LockIn shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ChessLock or LockIn?
ChessLock ships an update fortnightly, and LockIn monthly. Most recently, ChessLock was updated on October 12, 2026 and LockIn on October 7, 2026.

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