# ChessLock vs Sphinx

The clearest difference is update cadence: Sphinx at weekly against ChessLock's fortnightly. ChessLock's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ChessLock sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Sphinx sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ChessLock ships an update fortnightly, Sphinx weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ChessLock | Sphinx |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesslock-screen-time-control/id6744930081/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 50 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Patricio Guzman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1707843725) | [Kevin Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896702809) |

## What reviewers say

### ChessLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesslock-screen-time-control/id6744930081)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chesslock Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Chesslock Pro | $19.99 | per year |
| Chesslock Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Chesslock Pro | $17.49 | one-time |
| Chesslock Pro | $34.99 | one-time |


### Sphinx

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphinx-screen-time-puzzles/id6808034180)

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sphinx Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Sphinx Pro | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ChessLock free?

ChessLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Sphinx free?

Sphinx is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do ChessLock or Sphinx have ads?

Neither ChessLock nor Sphinx shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ChessLock or Sphinx?

ChessLock ships an update fortnightly, and Sphinx weekly. Most recently, ChessLock was updated on September 26, 2026 and Sphinx on October 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*