Comparison

LockMax vs Scroll Brake

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

Head to head
About

LockMax

Features
Read full description

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 β€” 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 β€” 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) β€” Less screen time. Many users aim to cut 2–3 hours per day. β€” Stronger body. Push-ups, squats, and steps tracked with AI rep counting (Premium). β€” Sharper mind. Math challenges before you scroll (Premium). β€” 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. β€” 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

Scroll Brake

Features
Read full description

Scroll Brake helps you manage your screen time and stop opening distracting apps on autopilot. The app's goal is not to strictly ban apps or forcibly restrict your time on social media. The real goal is to turn mindless tapping into a conscious choice rather than an automatic reaction. The concept is straightforward: once your daily limit for an app or website runs out, access is paused behind a quick math problem. To continue using the app, solve the equation in your head. That brief pause gives you just enough time to reset. You can make this conscious choice anywhere β€” on public transit, in meetings, or in quiet rooms β€” completely discreetly and without disturbing anyone. No awkward physical exercises, loud alarms, or barcode scanning: just a few seconds of quiet mental focus. If you opened the app out of boredom, you can easily put your phone down. If you genuinely need it for work or communication, solve the puzzle and continue. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps and websites you want to limit. 2. Set your daily time allowance. 3. When time expires, Scroll Brake shields the screen with a math problem. 4. Solve the equation to unlock access. PRO TIP: SPLIT LIMITS & STRICT MODE Instead of one broad 1-hour limit, set a 10-minute session interval and cap daily unlocks at 6 in Strict Mode. You still get that same hour, but every 10 minutes a math puzzle breaks the endless feed hypnosis. Once those 6 unlocks are used up, the app stays firmly locked until tomorrow. KEY FEATURES β€’ Adaptive Math Difficulty Equations adjust to your mental calculation speed. You can calibrate the baseline difficulty during setup β€” from quick single-step arithmetic to more challenging puzzles. β€’ Strict Mode Need an unyielding barrier? Set a daily cap on unlock attempts. Once you reach it, apps are strictly locked until tomorrow, with no way to solve your way in. β€’ Conscious Choice Anywhere No awkward tasks, loud sounds, or scanning barcodes. Solving an equation in your head takes seconds and allows you to make an intentional choice in any setting β€” on transit, at work, or at home β€” without disturbing anyone. β€’ Daily Discipline, No Weekday Exceptions There are deliberately no day-of-week schedules. Bad habits don’t follow a work calendar: restricting screen time Monday to Friday only to binge all weekend won’t break the loop. Scroll Brake keeps your focus consistent every day. β€’ App & Website Limits Limit individual apps, categories, or infinite scroll websites in Safari. β€’ Screen Time Stats Keep track of your daily progress and see how much intentional focus time you gain back each week. β€’ Privacy & Battery Efficiency Built directly on Apple's native Screen Time API: highly optimized, zero background battery drain, and no tracking. All calculations and statistics stay strictly on your device. β€’ Zero Push Notifications Scroll Brake never requests notification permissions. It is built for uninterrupted quiet and focus, so it will never spam you with push alerts, sounds, or reminders. Spend your attention on what genuinely matters. Download Scroll Brake and make phone use intentional again. TERMS, PRIVACY & CONDITIONS Read on https://novasynapse.com/products/scroll-brake/privacy/ & https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

LockMax4 screens
Scroll Brake4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Scroll Brake at none against LockMax's 3. LockMax's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. LockMax sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Scroll Brake asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
LockMax versus Scroll Brake: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLockMaxScroll Brake
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyβ€”Weekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad β€” better
Requires iOS17.6 β€” better26.5
Further details β€” not scored
Size57 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMikalai PtashytsNovaSynapse OU

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
None

Scroll Brake

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LockMax free?
LockMax is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Scroll Brake free?
Scroll Brake is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LockMax or Scroll Brake have ads?
Neither LockMax nor Scroll Brake shows ads.

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