Comparison

AnkiLock vs Habits First

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

Head to head
About

AnkiLock

Build consistent study habits by locking distracting apps until daily learning goals are met. Integrate with existing study decks and visualize progress with widgets. Compete with friends on leaderboards for added motivation.

Highlights
  • Lock distracting apps
  • Set daily study goals
  • Integrate with existing decks
  • Visualize progress with widgets
  • Social features and leaderboards
  • Customizable barriers
Features
Read full description

AnkiLock helps you build a consistent study habit by locking your favorite distracting apps until you finish your daily cards. Whether you're grinding for the MCAT/USMLE or mastering a new language, AnkiLock ensures your active recall happens before your social media fix. How it works: Set Your Goal: Choose how many cards you need to complete to unlock your apps. Pick Your Distractions: Select the specific apps you want to restrict. Sync & Study: AnkiLock integrates directly with your existing decks for a seamless experience. Key Features: Customizable Barriers: You decide the stakes and the limits. Visualize Progress: Stay motivated with heatmap widgets and consistency graphs right on your home screen. Build Your Streak: Keep a daily streak alive and earn badges. Watch & Widgets: Check your progress from your wrist, Home Screen, or Lock Screen. Siri & Shortcuts: Check your progress hands-free. Social & Leaderboards: Add friends, compete on daily leaderboards, and send cheers to motivate each other. Requires the free AnkiLock add-on for Anki on desktop to sync your reviews. Terms of Service: https://ankilock.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://ankilock.com/privacy.html

About

Habits First

This app helps you build healthy habits by blocking distracting social media apps until you complete your daily goals. It uses the Premack principle to reinforce desired behaviors, offering flexible tracking and commitment options. The core functionality is free, with an optional one-time purchase for advanced integrations.

Highlights
  • Blocks social media apps
  • Tracks custom habits (walks, workouts, reading)
  • Integrates with health trackers
  • Flexible blocking schedules and locations
  • Commitment locks for long-term goals
  • Optional one-time purchase for advanced features
Features
Read full description

Do the thing, then scroll. Habits First is the most effective way to reduce your screen time - distracting apps stay blocked until your habits are done for the day. No accounts required and no subscriptions, forever. Willpower shouldn’t cost a monthly fee. HABITS SUPPORTED - Walk 10,000 steps, or any number you like - Work out 45 minutes - integrates with Apple Watch, WHOOP, Garmin, Oura, or any tracker - Meditate 10 minutes, from Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, or any meditation app - Use an app you pick: read or use Duolingo for 20 minutes - Built in Pomodoro timer or manual habit check off - Review your Anki flashcards (Habits Pro) - Listen or read books on Audiobookshelf (Habits Pro) - Finish a game on Chess.com (Habits Pro) - Apple Shortcuts automations (Habits Pro) - More coming A block can ask for one habit, all of them, or any two of three. HOW IT WORKS Habits are automatically tracked via integrations such as with Apple Health. Apps you select are blocked until you finish your habits. When you're done, open the app to activate your unlock. WHY IT WORKS The idea is based off the Premack Principle - things you do often can help reinforce things that you do rarely. By habit stacking a difficult habit before an app you often use, you also hijack the addictive nature of distracting apps and turn that motivation towards your daily habits. WHEN IT APPLIES All day until your habits are done, on a schedule, only in certain places, or near a device you pick. Habits First helps you wake up into a calm phone screen, only unlocked after you finish your most important habits of the day. PRICING This app will never have a subscription fee. The core app is free forever: Apple Health goals, app timers, schedules, places, commitment locks, widgets, and as many blocks as you like. One small one-time purchase adds the extra integrations. More will be added in the future (feel free to request them SYNCING You can make an account if you would like to sync your habits and blocks across devices. This is not required. Created by @reysu on YouTube

Screenshots

AnkiLock4 screens
Habits First4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Habits First at weekly against AnkiLock's every 3 weeks. Habits First also leads on ratings volume (170 vs 13). On price, rating, review sentiment 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. AnkiLock sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Habits First sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 AnkiLock against 4.9 for Habits First. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Habits First has 170 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of AnkiLock's written reviews are positive against 94% of Habits First's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AnkiLock ships an update every 3 weeks, Habits First weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
AnkiLock versus Habits First: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnkiLockHabits First
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (13 ratings) — better4.9 (170 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better94.4% of reviews
Number of ratings13170 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.618.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMilan Sajeev GeorgeEric Su

Customer experience

AnkiLock

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Habits First

All ratings170 ratings
Positive98.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral3.3%
Negative2.2%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

AnkiLock

One-time3
  • Kind Tip$2.99
  • Amazing Tip$4.99
  • Generous Tip$9.99
1 purchases

Habits First

One-time1
  • Habits Pro$9.99

Questions

Is AnkiLock free?
AnkiLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Habits First free?
Habits First is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AnkiLock or Habits First?
AnkiLock is rated higher. AnkiLock averages 5.0 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Habits First averages 4.9 from 170 ratings.
Do AnkiLock or Habits First have ads?
Neither AnkiLock nor Habits First shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AnkiLock or Habits First?
AnkiLock ships an update every 3 weeks, and Habits First weekly. Most recently, AnkiLock was updated on October 10, 2026 and Habits First on October 14, 2026.

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