# The Commons vs CLocked App

The clearest difference is update cadence: CLocked App at every 9 days against The Commons's every 3 weeks. The Commons's advantage is review sentiment (13% vs 5%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 1.3 for The Commons against 1.2 for CLocked App. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 327 and 142 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 13% of The Commons's written reviews are positive against 5% of CLocked App's.

The Commons ships an update every 3 weeks, CLocked App every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Commons | CLocked App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.3 (327 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-commons-students/id6746174591/reviews)** | [1.2 (142 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clocked-app/id6749594147/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **327** | 142 |
| Positive reviews | **12.6% of reviews** | 4.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 55 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [The Commons, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815629327) | [CLocked Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831351022) |

## What reviewers say

### The Commons

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-commons-students/id6746174591)

This app helps students stay focused during school hours by pausing access to distracting apps like social media and games. It automatically activates at school and deactivates when the day ends, ensuring essential academic and communication apps remain accessible. It prioritizes privacy with no tracking or data collection.

**Highlights:** Automatic focus activation at school, Blocks distracting apps during school hours, Keeps essential academic apps accessible, Privacy-first with no tracking, Builds stronger tech habits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Helps students focus on school work

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Blocks access to social media and communication apps
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with VPN and data tracking
- 🐛 Causes issues with phone functionality
- 🤬 Perceived as an unnecessary and intrusive app

**Reported bugs**

- VPN doesn't work properly when traveling
- Slows down messaging and other apps

**Requested features**

- Allow access to certain apps during school hours
- Improve VPN functionality when traveling
- Provide more transparency on data collection and usage


### CLocked App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clocked-app/id6749594147)

This app helps students focus during class by limiting access to non-essential applications. Schools and teachers can customize allowed apps, while individual accommodations are supported. It uses a QR code system for easy activation and automatically lifts restrictions after class.

**Highlights:** QR code clock-in for class mode, Teacher-defined allowed app lists, Individual student accommodations, Automatic restriction removal, Secure, privacy-focused design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Commons free?

The Commons is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CLocked App free?

CLocked App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Commons or CLocked App?

The Commons is rated higher. The Commons averages 1.3 out of 5 from 327 ratings, while CLocked App averages 1.2 from 142 ratings.

### Do The Commons or CLocked App have ads?

Neither The Commons nor CLocked App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Commons or CLocked App?

The Commons ships an update every 3 weeks, and CLocked App every 9 days. Most recently, The Commons was updated on October 17, 2026 and CLocked App on October 14, 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.*