Tether vs Binky Block
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tether
This app helps you break free from excessive screen time by introducing friction to app usage. It allows you to block apps, websites, and categories with customizable difficulty levels for ending sessions, promoting stronger phone habits.
- App and website blocking
- Customizable session difficulty
- Focus modes (indefinite, countdown, Pomodoro)
- Scheduled sessions
- Reusable blocklists
- Strict Mode to prevent loopholes
- Live Activity and Dynamic Island integration
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You open your phone for "just a second" and lose 45 minutes to scrolling. Tether is an app blocker built to break that loop with real friction. Block apps, websites, and categories, then choose how hard it should be to stop: tap out, scan an NFC tag, scan a QR code, or get approval from someone you trust. Focus modes for real life - Indefinite sessions when you just need to stay locked in - Countdown sessions for deep work, study, and sprints - Pomodoro sessions with built-in breaks - Scheduled sessions for work hours, bedtimes, and daily routines Why Tether works - Create reusable blocklists for work, study, sleep, and weekends - Use Allow Mode to block everything except what you need - Turn on Strict Mode to prevent easy loopholes mid-session - Keep emergency overrides for genuine exceptions - See your session with Live Activity and Dynamic Island - Sync across devices so your rules stay consistent Tether is for people who want less screen time, stronger phone habits, and a system that's harder to cheat. Make distractions harder to reach, make quitting harder to justify, and make focus easier to keep. Terms of Use: https://www.tetherto.me/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.tetherto.me/privacy
Binky Block
This app helps you block distracting applications by engaging you in a negotiation with a virtual coach. Instead of a hard block, you explain why you need access, leading to more intentional usage and better focus.
- Negotiate app access with a virtual coach
- Block distracting applications
- Set custom schedules for app blocking
- Track focus wins and slip-ups
- Engage 'Touch Grass' mode for real-world activities
- Choose from five coaching styles
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Block distractions. Get things done. Live your life. Binky Block is the app blocker that actually negotiates with you. Most blockers slam the door and lean on willpower you've already run out of. Binky doesn't. When you reach for a blocked app, you don't hit a brick wall — you hit Binky, a baby chimpanzee focus coach who asks one simple question: "What are you actually opening it for?" Make your case. Sometimes he caves. Sometimes he roasts you. Either way, you think before you scroll. HOW THE NEGOTIATION WORKS 1. You tap a blocked app. Binky pops up instead — no countdown, no shame. 2. You make your case. "Just 5 minutes" works on a wall. It doesn't always work on Binky. 3. You win, lose, or learn. Granted: a few minutes back. Denied: try again later. Either way, you moved with intent. WHAT YOU GET - Block the apps that eat your day, from TikTok and Instagram to anything else that keeps pulling you back. - Schedules that stick. Lock yourself out during mornings, work hours, or after midnight — before your willpower bails. - Negotiate to unlock. Talk to Binky instead of mindlessly tapping past a timer. - Honest stats. Wins, slip-ups, and streaks. Just the facts, no shame attached. - Touch Grass mode. Binky suggests something better: a book, water, a walk, your group chat. - Five coaching styles. Pick the Binky that actually gets through to you. WHO IT'S FOR If you've tried screen-time limits, grayscale, and raw willpower and you're still doomscrolling at midnight, Binky Block is built for you. Great for focus, studying, working from home, ADHD brains, and anyone trying to break a phone habit for good. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Binky Block uses Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls) framework, which means we literally cannot see which apps you block. We don't sell your data, and we never show ads. Ever. PRICING Start with a 7-day free trial on any subscription. A free plan is always available with one blocked app. Paid plans unlock unlimited blocked apps, all five coaching styles, full stats, and Touch Grass mode. Subscriptions auto-renew until canceled. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://binkyblock.app/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://binkyblock.app/terms Download Binky Block and take your time back, twin.
Screenshots
Verdict
Tether and Binky Block are too close to call on the numbers: across 10 compared parameters — price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Tether sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month and Binky Block sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Tether against 5.0 for Binky Block. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Tether ships an update every 10 days, Binky Block weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tether | Binky Block |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (8 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 85 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Undrift LLC | Popview LLC |
Customer experience
Tether
Binky Block
In-app purchases
Tether
- Tether Pro Monthly Member$5.491 Month
- Tether Pro Free Trial3 Days trial$6.991 Month
- Tether Pro Monthly$6.991 Month
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- Tether Pro Yearly Member$24.491 Year
- Tether Pro Yearly$34.991 Year
- Tether Pro Lifetime Member$79.99
- Tether Pro Lifetime$99.99
Binky Block
- Binky Block Weekly$4.997 Days
- Binky Block Monthly$9.991 Month
- Binky Block Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year








