Comparison

Journey vs LOCKR

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

Head to head
About

Journey

Transform real-world habits into an engaging game to reduce screen time. Complete daily quests, verify with photos, and earn rewards while distracting apps remain locked. This app uses game mechanics to motivate you to build positive habits and stay off your phone.

Highlights
  • Daily real-world quests
  • Photo verification for completion
  • App blocking until quests are done
  • Earn crowns for progress
  • Focus mascot for motivation
  • Streak tracking and journal
Features
Read full description

Almost every app on your phone is engineered to keep you scrolling. Journey is engineered to get you off it by turning real-world habits into a game you actually want to play. Each morning, you unlock a set of real-world quests like going to the gym, reading, running, or getting outside. Complete them and earn Knight's gold. The apps that waste your time stay locked until you buy more screentime, so you stop instinctively scrolling everytime you pick up your phone. It's the same reward loop that makes games addictive, except now it's working for you instead of against you. - Daily Habits Every morning at 6 AM, your main quest resets. Each one is a real-world habit: exercise, reading, going outside. Earn time on social media by completing it or else you'll stay locked out. - App Blocking Pick the apps that drain your focus and lock them down. Your apps unlock only after you buy more screentime with the gold you earn. - Focus Buddy Your mascot reflects how you're doing. Stay off your phone and it thrives. Pick it up too much and it lets you know. It's a visual reminder that keeps you motivated to do better. *Access to Journey requires a paid subscription* Terms of Service: https://www.brainnourishment.io/_files/ugd/2e1950_ad149e0f2a11466682626871fd073315.pdf

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

Journey4 screens
LOCKR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Journey at 74% against LOCKR's 19%. Journey also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Journey sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days 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

Journey holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Journey has 2.1K ratings behind it against 327, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Journey's written reviews are positive against 19% of LOCKR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Journey ships an update every 2 weeks, LOCKR every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Journey versus LOCKR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJourneyLOCKR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.1K ratings) — better4.6 (327 ratings)
Positive reviews74.3% of reviews — better18.8% of reviews
Number of ratings2.1K — better327
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.2
Further details — not scored
Size174 MB188 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrain Nourishment, LLCEthan Harbinger

Customer experience

Journey

All ratings2,100 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral2.5%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews74 reviews
Positive74.3%
Neutral6.8%
Negative18.9%

LOCKR

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

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Journey

Subscriptions7
  • Full Access To Journey$7.997 Days
  • JourneyKeep$9.997 Days
  • JourneyKeep Pro$14.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Full Access To Journey$24.991 Year
  • Full Access$34.991 Year
  • Full Access To Journey$49.991 Year
  • Full Access To Journey$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Knight 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 Journey free?
Journey 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, Journey or LOCKR?
Journey is rated higher. Journey averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while LOCKR averages 4.6 from 327 ratings.
Do Journey or LOCKR have ads?
LOCKR shows ads; Journey does not.
Which is updated more often, Journey or LOCKR?
Journey ships an update every 2 weeks, and LOCKR every 9 days. Most recently, Journey was updated on September 26, 2026 and LOCKR on September 25, 2026.

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