BreakOff vs LockBuddy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BreakOff
This app enforces app blocking and scheduled focus sessions using Apple's Screen Time API. It helps users build better digital habits through customizable schedules, locked breaks, and progress tracking. An optional Pro version offers advanced scheduling and more emergency breaks.
- Enforced app blocking via Screen Time API
- Customizable daily/weekly schedules
- Locked breaks to prevent early termination
- Emergency breaks for urgent needs
- Streak tracking and progress visualization
- Customizable app groups and shield screens
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Phones down, together. Start a break with your friends, roommates or family, and distracting apps go quiet on every phone that joins, all on the same clock. The time you get back is time with each other. It is easier to put your phone down when the people around you do too. BreakOff makes that one tap. Real blocking powered by Apple's Screen Time API, not reminders you can swipe away. Everything you need to block apps is free, and no account is required to start. BREAK TOGETHER Start a break and share it. Your people join on their own phones, and everyone's chosen apps stay blocked until the break ends. Date night, dinner with friends, a quiet evening at the apartment, homework hour at home: one shared break, one shared clock. BREAK ROOMS Every shared break has a live room. See who is in, who paused and who left, get an alert when someone leaves, and finish on a recap of how everyone did. Rooms are free for you and 3 guests. Pro fits up to 20 and keeps every past room. HOST A BREAK Put up one QR poster and everyone who scans it starts the same break on their own phone. Hosting is part of BreakOff Pro and fits up to 20 people. PUT THE OFF SWITCH IN ANOTHER ROOM Leave a QR code or an NFC tag in the kitchen, by the front door or on the fridge. Start a QR or NFC break and it only ends when you walk over and scan it. The phone stays put, and so do you. FOUR WAYS A BREAK CAN END • Flexible: a timer you can end early. A gentle way to start. • Locked: the break runs its full length, with an emergency escape if you truly need it. • QR Code: the break ends only when you scan your QR code. • NFC Tag: the break ends only when you tap your NFC tag. HARDCORE For when you mean it. Turn on Hardcore (Pro) and a Locked break has no emergency breaks and no way out until the timer ends. Add the free uninstall guard so BreakOff can't be deleted in the middle of a break. RULES AND ROUTINES Let breaks start on their own. Pick a Routine like Family Time, Better Sleep, Slow Morning, School Focus, Work Focus or Weekend Reset, or set your own Rules for any days and times. ALSO IN THE APP • App groups: choose the apps and categories to block, and save different sets for different moments. • Always Allowed: pick the apps that stay open in every break, or block all apps at once. • Circle: keep your people in one place so starting a break together takes seconds. • Time you got back: see how much time you have taken back. • Learn: 31 short stories on focus, attention and phone habits. • Invite a friend: finish a break together and you both get a free week of Pro. WHO IT'S FOR • Couples who want dinner, date night or the last hour before bed back. • Friends and roommates who would rather be at the table than in their feeds. • Families who want everyone at home to put their phones down at the same time, parents included. • Classrooms, teams, and you on your own: set a Routine or protect a focus block. FREE AND PRO Free: all four break modes, app blocking, joining any break, live rooms with alerts and a recap, rooms for you and 3 guests, the uninstall guard, 3 emergency breaks a month, 2 app groups, 2 recurring Rules of your own, up to 3 people in your Circle and 1 active Break Together invite. Pro: Hardcore, break rooms and Host a Break for up to 20 people, every past room, full stats and group streaks, and unlimited app groups, Rules, Circle and Break Together invites. PRIVACY BreakOff blocks apps with Apple's Screen Time framework. See how we handle your data at breakoff.io/privacy. SUBSCRIPTION BreakOff Pro is $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: breakoff.io/terms Privacy Policy: breakoff.io/privacy Put your phone down. Pick your people. Take a break together.
LockBuddy
This app helps you enforce your own Screen Time limits by locking distracting applications. It allows you to set daily limits, create strict lock days, and even designate a trusted person as a Guardian for added accountability. It's designed for adults seeking fewer loopholes in managing their digital habits.
- Per-app daily limits
- Strict lock for no-change days
- Local Guardian Code for protected edits
- Break passes for emergencies
- Shareable unlock request messages
- Local event log
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LockBuddy helps you protect your own Screen Time rules when willpower is not enough. Choose distracting apps, set daily limits, and let iPhone shield those apps when their time is up. For stronger accountability, add a trusted person as your Guardian and let them hold the local Guardian Code for sensitive changes. LockBuddy is built for adults who want fewer loopholes: - Per-app daily limits - Strict Lock for no-change days - Local Guardian Code for protected edits - Break passes for limited emergencies - Shareable unlock request messages - Shareable local event log - No account required - No backend required LockBuddy uses Apple's Screen Time frameworks. App selections are private system tokens, and your settings stay on your device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BreakOff at 4.8 against LockBuddy's 2.0. BreakOff also leads on ratings volume (15 vs 1). LockBuddy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. BreakOff sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. LockBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.
BreakOff holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BreakOff has 15 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | BreakOff | LockBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (15 ratings) — better | 2.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 74 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BreakOff LLC | KRISHNA PINNAMANENI |
In-app purchases
BreakOff
- BreakOff Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- BreakOff Pro Annual Deal$39.991 Year
- BreakOff Pro Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
LockBuddy
No in-app purchases









