Comparison

ScreenBuddy vs OpenAppLock

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 makes distracting apps harder to open, on purpose. 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

OpenAppLock

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking specific applications. You can set schedules, time limits, or open limits for apps, and even create custom rules to prevent unwanted usage.

Highlights
  • Block apps on a schedule
  • Set time or open limits
  • Preset and custom rules
  • Lock rule edits
Features
Read full description

Block apps and reclaim your screen time! - Block apps on a schedule, or add a time/open limit - Choose from preset rules, or create your own - Lock rule edits to prevent changes while blocking

Screenshots

ScreenBuddy4 screens
OpenAppLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenAppLock at none against ScreenBuddy's 3. OpenAppLock also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). ScreenBuddy's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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. ScreenBuddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. OpenAppLock asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenAppLock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScreenBuddy ships an update every 3 weeks, OpenAppLock weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ScreenBuddy versus OpenAppLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenBuddyOpenAppLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (9 ratings)5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn GaffneyBrendan Chen

Customer experience

ScreenBuddy

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

OpenAppLock

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
None

OpenAppLock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ScreenBuddy free?
ScreenBuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenAppLock free?
OpenAppLock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ScreenBuddy or OpenAppLock?
OpenAppLock is rated higher. ScreenBuddy averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while OpenAppLock averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.
Do ScreenBuddy or OpenAppLock have ads?
Neither ScreenBuddy nor OpenAppLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScreenBuddy or OpenAppLock?
ScreenBuddy ships an update every 3 weeks, and OpenAppLock weekly. Most recently, ScreenBuddy was updated on October 18, 2026 and OpenAppLock on October 9, 2026.

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