Comparison

ScreenBuddy vs LOCKR

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

Head to head
About

ScreenBuddy

This app helps reduce screen time by introducing friction before accessing selected apps. It offers personalized daily limits and a pause before unlocking to break unconscious phone usage habits and combat digital addiction.

Highlights
  • Block selected apps 24/7
  • Pause before unlocking apps
  • Personalized daily screen time limits
  • Breaks unconscious phone use habits
  • Reduces digital addiction
  • Focus enhancement for work and study
Features
Read full description

ScreenBuddy uses friction to cut your screen time in half. Pick the apps that distract you most, and ScreenBuddy makes you wait 25 seconds before you can open them. Set a daily usage limit, and when it's gone, it's gone. HOW IT WORKS: - Select apps you want to limit. They are blocked 24/7 - Pause before you scroll. Wait before each unlock to break unconscious phone use - Personalized limits. Set a daily screen time limit you can commit to. Use it all at once or spread it out. Once it's gone, it's gone. WHY IT WORKS: Most app blockers are easy to bypass. You hit a limit, tap "ignore," and keep scrolling. ScreenBuddy works differently. Your apps are locked from the start, and the 25-second pause gives you time to reconsider before you open them. Over time, the phone habit fades because you keep interrupting it. ScreenBuddy helps you stop phone addiction without a full digital detox or dopamine detox. Just enough friction to stop doomscrolling and start living phone free. PERFECT FOR: - People who pick up their phone and don't remember why - Anyone trying to cut back on social media and brain rot content - Professionals who need distraction-free focus during work hours - Students struggling to stay on task - Parents who want to model better phone habits SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS: ScreenBuddy requires a premium subscription for full functionality. Choose monthly ($3.99), annual ($39.99 - 2 months free), or lifetime ($99.99) billing through your Apple ID. Your subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage your subscription anytime in your Apple ID account settings. PRIVACY: https://www.screenbuddyapp.com/privacy-policy TERMS: https://www.screenbuddyapp.com/terms-of-service

About

LOCKR

This app helps you regain control of your time by blocking distracting applications. It uses a personalized AI coach that evaluates your reasons for accessing blocked apps and grants time-limited access based on your set strictness. Track your progress and reclaim your focus with insightful analytics.

Highlights
  • AI focus coach
  • Instant app and website blocking
  • Personalized blocking configuration
  • Screen time usage analytics
  • Daily check-ins
  • Goal setting and tracking
  • Focus and pause mode
Features
Read full description

Stop doomscrolling today and reclaim your time! LOCKR is a screen time control app blocker that uses a personalized AI focus coach. You select the apps you want to block and whenever you open one of those apps, LOCKR intercepts it. To get access to an app, you have to provide a reason for the access. The coach will evaluate your reason and, based on the strictness that you set, it will decide on an appropriate amount of time for your access. When the timer ends, it will lock you out of the app again. It works with your screen time data to adapt your coach's strictness, track your progress, and show you exactly how much time you've reclaimed relative to your goal. Here are all of the features you get: - Instant app and website blocking - A personalized focus coach you can configure - Insights into your screen time usage through analytics - Daily check-ins that tell your coach how you're doing - A way to set and track your screen time goals - A focus and pause mode for adaptive blocking PRIVATE & SAFE * All features above require a subscription Terms of Service: https://trylockr.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://trylockr.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

ScreenBuddy4 screens
LOCKR4 screens

Verdict

The call

ScreenBuddy and LOCKR both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of ScreenBuddy's written reviews are positive against 19% of LOCKR's. ScreenBuddy also leads on ads (none vs shown). LOCKR's advantage is ratings volume (327 vs 9) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. ScreenBuddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and LOCKR sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. 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 — 4.6 for ScreenBuddy against 4.6 for LOCKR. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LOCKR has 327 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of ScreenBuddy's written reviews are positive against 19% of LOCKR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenBuddy ships an update every 3 weeks, LOCKR every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ScreenBuddy versus LOCKR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenBuddyLOCKR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (9 ratings)4.6 (327 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better18.8% of reviews
Number of ratings9327 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.616.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB188 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn GaffneyEthan Harbinger

Customer experience

ScreenBuddy

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

LOCKR

All ratings327 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral1.5%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive18.8%
Neutral3.1%
Negative78.1%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ScreenBuddy

Subscriptions2
  • ScreenBuddy Pro Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • ScreenBuddy Pro Annual3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • ScreenBuddy Pro Lifetime$99.99
8 purchases

LOCKR

Subscriptions7
  • LOCKR Unlimited (1 Week)$8.997 Days
  • LOCKR Unlimited (1 Month)$14.991 Month
  • LOCKR Unlimited (1 Month)3 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • LOCKR Unlimited (1 Year Discount)$24.991 Year
  • LOCKR Unlimited (1st Year Discount)1 Year trial$29.991 Year
  • LOCKR Unlimited (1 Year)$29.991 Year
  • LOCKR Unlimited (1 Year)3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • LOCKR Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is ScreenBuddy free?
ScreenBuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LOCKR free?
LOCKR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ScreenBuddy or LOCKR?
ScreenBuddy and LOCKR are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 9 and 327 ratings respectively.
Do ScreenBuddy or LOCKR have ads?
LOCKR shows ads; ScreenBuddy does not.
Which is updated more often, ScreenBuddy or LOCKR?
ScreenBuddy ships an update every 3 weeks, and LOCKR every 9 days. Most recently, ScreenBuddy was updated on October 2, 2026 and LOCKR on September 30, 2026.

Other comparisons