Comparison

ChessLock vs Helper One

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

Helper One

Read full description

Meet your personal AI assistant — one that actually looks at you and speaks to you. HelperOne gives you a real-time AI companion with a lifelike avatar. Ask questions, get help with tasks, or set up a specialised coach that calls your phone throughout the day to keep you on track. TALK, DON'T TYPE Speak naturally to your assistant. She listens, thinks, and responds with natural speech and facial expressions — not just text on a screen. CHOOSE YOUR ROLE Set up a Movement Coach who calls you for exercise breaks, a Nutrition Coach who tracks your meals from food photos, a Wellbeing Coach for daily check-ins, a Job Search Coach who finds listings every morning, or a General Assistant for anything else. SHE CALLS YOU Your assistant doesn't wait for you to open the app. She rings your phone at the times you agree on, with personalised reminders, check-ins, and encouragement. REAL-TIME VIDEO AVATAR Your assistant has realistic facial expressions, lip-sync, and natural body language — streamed live to your device. REMEMBERS EVERYTHING Your assistant writes her own memory after every conversation. She remembers your preferences, your schedule, your goals, and your progress — getting better the more you use her. SEARCHES THE WEB Need real-time information? Your assistant searches the web, analyses results, and gives you clear, concise answers with sources. YOUR KEYS, YOUR CHOICE Use the included AI model or bring your own API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, or OpenRouter. Full control over which model powers your assistant. Start with a free 3-day trial — no subscription required. — Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel subscriptions anytime in your Apple ID settings. Privacy Policy: https://helperone.ai/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

ChessLock4 screens
Helper One4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: ChessLock at none against Helper One's shown. ChessLock also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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. ChessLock sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Helper One sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChessLock ships an update fortnightly, Helper One every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ChessLock versus Helper One: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChessLockHelper One
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB91 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPatricio GuzmanPeter Dove

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
4 purchases

Helper One

Subscriptions4
  • Bring Your Own Key$17.991 Month
  • Pro$29.991 Month
  • Pro "Max 5x"$59.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Pro "Max 20x"$124.991 Month

Questions

Is ChessLock free?
ChessLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Helper One free?
Helper One is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ChessLock or Helper One have ads?
Helper One shows ads; ChessLock does not.
Which is updated more often, ChessLock or Helper One?
ChessLock ships an update fortnightly, and Helper One every 9 days. Most recently, ChessLock was updated on September 26, 2026 and Helper One on September 9, 2026.

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