Comparison

Tether vs Binky Block

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Tether4 screens
Binky Block4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tether ships an update every 10 days, Binky Block weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Tether versus Binky Block: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTetherBinky Block
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (8 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUndrift LLCPopview LLC

Customer experience

Tether

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Binky Block

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Tether

Subscriptions5
  • Tether Pro Monthly Member$5.491 Month
  • Tether Pro Free Trial3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Tether Pro Monthly$6.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Tether Pro Yearly Member$24.491 Year
  • Tether Pro Yearly$34.991 Year
One-time2
  • Tether Pro Lifetime Member$79.99
  • Tether Pro Lifetime$99.99
3 purchases

Binky Block

Subscriptions3
  • Binky Block Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Binky Block Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Binky Block Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Tether free?
Tether is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Binky Block free?
Binky Block is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tether or Binky Block?
Tether and Binky Block are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do Tether or Binky Block have ads?
Neither Tether nor Binky Block shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tether or Binky Block?
Tether ships an update every 10 days, and Binky Block weekly. Most recently, Tether was updated on October 22, 2026 and Binky Block on October 7, 2026.

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