Comparison

Delay vs Lockout

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

Head to head
About

Delay

This app helps users break phone addiction by interrupting mindless scrolling with challenges. It aims to stop the cycle of addictive app usage through strategic interventions.

Highlights
  • Challenge-based interventions
  • Dopamine delay
  • Stops mindless app opening
  • Breaks scrolling cycle
  • Fun and engaging
Features
Read full description

Turn your screen time into study time. Delay makes you answer practice questions on topics you want to learn before you can open distracting apps like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. Instead of setting aside more time to study, learning becomes a transparent layer integrated into something you already do every day. EARN YOUR SCREEN TIME Before opening a blocked app, Delay gives you a few quick practice questions. Answer them correctly to earn access. Every time you reach for a distracting app, you get another small repetition of something you actually want to learn. LEARN WHAT YOU WANT Choose exactly what you want to study. Whether you're learning a language, preparing for an exam, memorizing important concepts, or building knowledge in a new subject, Delay turns your material into questions you can practice throughout the day. LEARN THROUGH REPETITION Delay integrates learning into moments that would otherwise be spent scrolling. Instead of relying on long study sessions, you repeatedly encounter your material throughout the day. Over time, those small repetitions add up. END THE DOOMSCROLL Your apps automatically lock again after your earned screen time expires. If you want to keep scrolling, you study again. This creates a simple cycle: learn, unlock, scroll, repeat. IMPORT YOUR STUDY MATERIAL Bring the material you already want to learn into Delay and turn it into practice questions. Keep different subjects organized and choose what you want to practice when unlocking your apps. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS See how much you've practiced, how consistently you're answering questions, and how your knowledge improves over time. The screen time you would have spent scrolling becomes measurable learning progress. SEAMLESS INTEGRATION Delay works directly with your apps so studying becomes part of your normal routine. Once it's set up, simply use your phone as usual. When you try to open a blocked app, Delay gives you your questions, you answer them, and you're right back in. MAKE SCREEN TIME USEFUL You’re already going to open your favorite apps throughout the day. Delay simply puts learning in between. Instead of finding more time to study, use the time and habits you already have. DOWNLOAD DELAY Delay requires a subscription to access certain features. Download Delay and start turning everyday screen time into learning time. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Lockout

This app helps you manage screen time by blocking distracting applications. To regain access, you must beat the dealer in a game of blackjack. Earn your unlock time by winning hands, or face longer lockouts.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps, categories, and websites
  • Play blackjack to earn screen time
  • Customizable win and loss stakes
  • Automatic re-locking after unlock window
  • Emergency unlock feature
  • No account or ads required
Features
Read full description

Block distracting apps, then beat the dealer at blackjack to earn your screen time back. Blocking and unlock rounds require 21 Lockout Plus. 21 Lockout is a screen time app blocker with a twist: your distractions don't unlock because you caved. They unlock because you beat the dealer. Pick the apps, categories and websites you want to stay out of. Reach for one and you don't get in — you get dealt a hand of blackjack. Win, and you earn a set number of minutes. Lose, and the lockout runs longer. WHY IT WORKS Most screen time blockers fail for the same reason: turning them off is easier than leaving them on. One tap in Settings and the wall is gone. 21 Lockout doesn't ask for willpower. It asks for a winning hand. The friction is small enough that you keep the app installed, and real enough that you stop opening Instagram on autopilot. You get your minutes — you just have to earn them. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps, categories and websites to lock 2. Open one and the shield deals you in 3. Win the hand and earn your unlock window 4. Lose and wait out the cooldown 5. Locked out at the worst moment? Emergency unlock — 15 minutes, three a day MAKE THE STAKES YOURS Set what a win earns and what a loss costs, anywhere from 5 minutes to 4 hours. Short stakes for a workday, longer ones for a deep-work block. When your window expires, your apps re-lock on their own — you never have to remember to switch it back on. WHAT'S INCLUDED Free: setup and Screen Time permission. 21 Lockout Plus unlocks the product itself: • Blocking the apps, categories and websites you choose • Blackjack unlock rounds • Custom win and loss stakes • Automatic re-locking when your window expires • Emergency unlocks NO ACCOUNTS, NO ADS There's nothing to sign up for and no password to lose. The apps you choose stay inside Apple's on-device Screen Time framework — their names are never sent to us. We collect anonymous usage analytics to improve the app, and nothing that identifies you. SUBSCRIPTION Standard 21 Lockout Plus plans are $69.99/year or $14.99/month and include a free trial for eligible new subscribers. Discounted recovery offers, when shown, do not include a trial. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID subscription settings. 21 Lockout is a self-restriction tool for your own device. It is not a parental-control product. The blackjack game involves no wagering of money or virtual currency, and no prizes of any kind. Terms of Use: https://stella-lane-associates.com/21lockout/terms Privacy Policy: https://stella-lane-associates.com/21lockout/privacy Support: https://stella-lane-associates.com/21lockout/support

Screenshots

Delay4 screens
Lockout4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Delay at 105 against Lockout's 1. Lockout's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Delay sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Lockout sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $7.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lockout holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Delay has 105 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Delay versus Lockout: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDelayLockout
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (105 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews86.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings105 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB21 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFocus Labs LLC (US)Stella Lane Associates LLC

Customer experience

Delay

All ratings105 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive86.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.5%

Lockout

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Delay

Subscriptions4
  • Delay - Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Delay - Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Delay - Family Monthly$17.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Delay - Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year
6 purchases

Lockout

Subscriptions6
  • 21 Lockout Plus$7.491 Month
  • 21 Lockout Plus7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • 21 Lockout Plus14 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • 21 Lockout Plus$34.991 Year
  • 21 Lockout Plus7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • 21 Lockout Plus14 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is Delay free?
Delay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lockout free?
Lockout is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Delay or Lockout?
Lockout is rated higher. Delay averages 4.7 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while Lockout averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Delay or Lockout have ads?
Neither Delay nor Lockout shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Delay or Lockout?
Delay ships an update every 5 days, and Lockout every 5 days. Most recently, Delay was updated on October 15, 2026 and Lockout on October 2, 2026.

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