ReadLock vs App Block
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ReadLock
This app helps you reclaim your reading time by blocking distracting apps and websites during dedicated reading sessions. It uses AI to score your comprehension based on your notes, ensuring genuine engagement with your reading material. Track progress, manage your book library, and build a consistent reading habit.
- Distraction locking via Screen Time
- AI comprehension scoring
- AI summary suggestions
- Book scanning and search
- Works with any book format
- Progress tracking
- Habit building tools
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The most successful people in the world read more than everyone else. Yet most of us can't finish a single book, not because we lack time, but because social media, doom-scrolling, and endless notifications keep pulling us away. ReadLock helps you take back your attention. Set a reading session, choose the apps and website categories that distract you most, and ReadLock locks them using Screen Time so your phone stops competing with your book. When your session ends, update your reading progress or notes, and ReadLock's AI scores your comprehension before your apps unlock. No skimming. No faking it. Just real reading. "Just one more scroll" becomes "just one more page." It works with any book format: paperback, hardcover, e-book, or PDF. No special reader required. Key Features * Distraction Locking (Screen Time): Lock selected apps and distracting website categories during your reading sessions. When a locked app is opened, the ReadLock shield screen appears. * AI Comprehension Scoring: After each session, write a short note on what you read. ReadLock's AI compares your notes against your pages and scores your focus and understanding before your apps unlock. You can't fake your way through. * AI Summary Suggestions: Not sure how to capture what you read? ReadLock's AI rewrites your notes into a cleaner, sharper summary — turning scattered thoughts into real understanding. * Book Scanning & Search: Add any book instantly by scanning the cover or searching the title. Your reading journey starts in seconds. * Works with Any Book Format: Track progress and take chapter notes for both physical and digital books. No special reader required. * Flexible Reading Sessions: Set reading windows for morning, afternoon, or evening and build a consistent daily routine. * Progress Tracking: Update pages read, mark chapters as completed, and watch your reading habit grow day by day. * Notes & Key Takeaways: Capture chapter notes and important lessons as you read. AI sharpens them after every session. * Book Library: Add books by scan or search, organize by category, and pick up right where you left off. * Habit Building: Streaks, session history, and gentle reminders to make reading stick as a long-term habit. How to Use ReadLock 1. Sign in with Google or Apple, or continue as a guest—your choice. 2. Add your current book by scanning the cover or searching the title. 3. Tap Locked Apps → Add, grant Screen Time permission, and select the apps, categories, or websites you want to block. 4. Tap Set Daily Reading Target and pick your reading window. 5. When your session is active, opening a locked app shows the ReadLock shield screen. 6. When the session ends, open ReadLock → open your book → add your notes → let AI score your comprehension → tap Save to confirm your reading and unlock your apps. Permissions Screen Time permission is required to enable app and website blocking. Without it, ReadLock will still run but cannot shield distractions. ReadLock uses analytics to improve app performance and user experience. Sign-In Options Google Sign-In, Sign in with Apple, and Guest mode. Ads & Subscriptions Free users may see interstitial ads at certain points. Premium subscribers enjoy an ad-free, fully unlocked experience via in-app subscription. Terms of Use (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ https://readlock.us/agreements/terms/
App Block
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Make distraction earn its place in your day. Read to Unlock blocks the apps that usually win your attention, and gives them back only once you have read for them. Every page is worth 1 minute. Pass a short quiz to prove you understood it, and those minutes go into your balance — spend them on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube whenever you want. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick the apps to block — the ones that usually get the first tap 2. Read inside the app — every page you read earns 1 minute 3. Pass the quiz — answer 3 questions, get 2 right, and the minutes are banked 4. Spend your balance — activate minutes whenever you want your apps back There is no daily goal and no minimum. Read as much or as little as you want. Your balance carries across days, so nothing you earned is ever lost at midnight. FEATURES • Blocks distracting apps through iOS Screen Time • 1 page = 1 minute, with a balance that carries over between days • A built-in book library, so you can start reading in the first minute • Import your own EPUB and PDF files (Pro) • A 3-question comprehension quiz written by AI from the pages you just read • Track pages read, minutes earned and your reading streak • Fully translated into 25 languages, switchable at any time FREE AND PRO Free gives you one blocked app, one book from the library and the full earning loop. Pro unlocks every distracting app, the whole library, EPUB and PDF imports, and one shared minute balance across everything you read. From $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. Works on iPhone with iOS 17 or later. Reading is the price of the feed. Download Read to Unlock and read first. Privacy Policy: https://readtounlock.org/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: ReadLock at every 10 days against App Block's every 4 weeks. On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. ReadLock sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and App Block sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ReadLock ships an update every 10 days, App Block every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ReadLock | App Block |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days — better | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 68 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Acha Igwe | Askhat Bakitov |
In-app purchases
ReadLock
- ReadLock Premium (weekly)3 Days trial$5.997 Days
- ReadLock Premium (Monthly)1 Month trial$5.991 Month
- ReadLock Premium (Monthly)2 Months trial$9.991 Month
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- ReadLock Premium (Yearly v2)$29.991 Year
- ReadLock Premium (Yearly)$49.991 Year
- ReadLock Premium (Yearly)3 Days trial$49.991 Year
- ReadLock Premium (Yearly)3 Days trial$69.991 Year
App Block
- Read to Unlock Pro$4.991 Month
- Read to Unlock Pro$29.991 Year







