Comparison

LockMax vs Unhook

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

Head to head
About

LockMax

Features
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Dopamine should cost effort. Your phone gives it away for free. That's why you can't stop scrolling, even when you want to. EarnScreen makes cheap dopamine expensive. Block the apps stealing your time — and earn minutes back through real effort. Push-ups. Squats. Steps. Math challenges. The price is set. No bargaining with yourself. SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED FOR FULL ACCESS EarnScreen is free to download. Core app blocking, exercise tracking, AI rep counting, streaks, and unlimited unlocks require an active auto-renewable subscription or lifetime purchase (pricing shown in the app before you subscribe). A free trial may be available for eligible plans. WHY IT WORKS WHEN NOTHING ELSE DID Native Screen Time fails because ignoring it is free. One tap and you're back. Willpower runs out. App blockers feel like punishment. This is different. You don't fight your phone. You pay for it — with your body or your mind. Every minute of scrolling has a cost. Every cost makes you stronger. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps you want to control. 2. When you try to open them, they're locked (Premium). 3. Earn coins through effort: push-ups, squats, steps, or math problems (Premium features as marked in the app). 4. Spend coins to unlock screen time. Or close the app and move on with your day. The exchange rates are fixed. You can't lower the price. You can't trick the system. That's the point. WHAT YOU GET (with an active Premium subscription) — Less screen time. Many users aim to cut 2–3 hours per day. — Stronger body. Push-ups, squats, and steps tracked with AI rep counting (Premium). — Sharper mind. Math challenges before you scroll (Premium). — A new relationship with your phone. You own it. It doesn't own you. Results vary. Features above require a separate in-app purchase; see the paywall for current plans, duration, and price. WHO THIS IS FOR This is a discipline tool, not a wellness app. It's built for people who are tired of losing hours to their phone and ready to do something about it. If you want gentle reminders and motivational quotes, this isn't for you. If you want friction that actually works, you're in the right place. WHAT USERS SAY "Lost 4kg in 2 months. The app made me train without me noticing." "I used to fight my phone. Now I just pay it with squats. It's not even hard." "Tried every screen time blocker. This is the first one that actually works because you can't cheat it." DOPAMINE THROUGH EFFORT Cheap dopamine made you weak. Earned dopamine makes you strong. Download the app, see subscription options in the app, pay the price, get your time back. — Privacy Policy: https://earnscreen.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use (EULA): https://earnscreen.com/terms Privacy: We don't sell your data. We don't show ads. Screen time data stays on your device.

About

Unhook

This app blocks distracting applications until you complete real-world habits. Earn in-app currency by engaging in activities like walking or using a focus timer, then spend it to unlock your phone's apps. It aims to create a healthier relationship with your device through a reward-based system.

Highlights
  • Cells economy for screen time
  • Real app blocking
  • Photo verification for habits
  • Step counting integration
  • Focus timer
  • Streak milestones
  • Stats and history tracking
Features
Read full description

Unhook blocks your apps until you earn access back. Brainrot is real. The endless scroll, the dopamine loop, the hour you lost without noticing, your brain didn't break itself. The apps did that. Every timer you've set, every app you've deleted, every "I'll stop tomorrow" - none of it stuck. Because restriction without reward never does. Unhook fixes the trade. THE DEAL Complete real habits. Earn Cells. Spend Cells to unlock your apps. 1 Cell = 1 minute of screen time. You earned it. No guilt. FEATURES - Cells economy - earn, save, spend your screen time - App blocking - real blocking - Photo verification - on-device AI, never uploaded - Step counting - walks that count - Focus timer - every minute of effort earns its keep - Streak milestones - consistency pays more - Stats and history - see yourself actually improving WHY IT ACTUALLY WORKS Most apps bet on your guilt. Set a limit, feel bad when you break it, repeat forever. That's not a system. That's a cycle. Unhook flips it. You're not fighting your phone - you're making a trade. Do something real first, then scroll without shame. The phone stays locked until you've held up your end. Turns out, that's the only thing that sticks. PRIVACY No accounts. No cloud. No ads. Photos never leave your device. Steps read from Apple Health, never stored. Less scrolling. More living. Terms of Use: https://theunhook.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://theunhook.app/privacy *Full access to Unhook requires an active subscription.

Screenshots

LockMax4 screens
Unhook4 screens

Verdict

The call

LockMax and Unhook are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. LockMax sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Unhook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
LockMax versus Unhook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLockMaxUnhook
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequency—Every 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Subscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMikalai PtashytsAvinash Sharma

In-app purchases

3 purchases

LockMax

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Premium Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium One Time Purchase$59.99
3 purchases

Unhook

Subscriptions3
  • Unhook Weekly$8.997 Days
  • Unhook Annual Offer$24.991 Year
  • Unhook Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is LockMax free?
LockMax is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Unhook free?
Unhook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LockMax or Unhook have ads?
Neither LockMax nor Unhook shows ads.

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