Comparison

PushUp App Blocker vs Chess Shield

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

Head to head
About

PushUp App Blocker

Transform screen time into fitness time. This app locks distracting applications, requiring you to complete pushups to regain access. Track your progress and build healthier habits by turning app usage into a physical challenge.

Highlights
  • Pushup-powered app unlock
  • Camera-based pushup detection
  • Customizable pushup goals
  • Performance tracking and stats
  • Monitor app usage
  • Sleek and intuitive interface
Read full description

PushBlock - Unlock Apps with Pushups PushBlock helps you regain control over your screen time by turning your addictive apps into pushup challenges. Lock distracting apps until you complete a set of pushups and track your fitness progress, all while staying motivated to move. Key Features: Pushup-Powered App Unlock Lock addictive apps and only unlock them by completing pushups Camera-based pushup detection counts your reps automatically Customizable pushup goals for each app Performance Tracking & Stats Track daily and weekly pushup counts Monitor app usage time before and after blocks Gain insights on your progress to stay motivated Sleek & Intuitive Interface Modern, clean design for easy navigation Quick access to blocked apps and stats Effortless setup for personalized pushup challenges Motivation & Accountability Turn screen time into exercise time Visual feedback from your pushup sessions Track long-term progress to build healthy habits Completely Free All core features available at no cost No hidden fees, subscriptions, or ads Important Links: Terms of Service and Privacy Policy: https://candle-rutabaga-164.notion.site/Terms-And-Privacy-PushBlock-2c504399eca38080ab1cf0084c0719f2

About

Chess Shield

This app helps chess players improve by blocking distracting apps and replacing them with chess puzzles. Solve puzzles to advance your ELO and identify tactical weaknesses. It offers a free tier with basic features and a Pro version for advanced tactics and unlimited app blocking.

Highlights
  • Blocks distracting apps
  • Replaces app opens with chess puzzles
  • Puzzles matched to ELO
  • Tracks ELO in real-time
  • Tactical insights
  • Unlimited puzzles (Free)
  • Block multiple apps (Pro)
Features
Read full description

For chess players who want to actually get better. Endless scrolling steals the hours you'd rather spend improving. Chess Shield blocks the apps that eat your chess time. Try to open one, and a puzzle takes over the screen. Solve it to get past. Every solve moves your ELO. HOW IT WORKS Pick the apps you reach for when you meant to study. Instagram, TikTok, X, whatever's eating you. When you try to open them, a puzzle takes over. Solve it to unlock the app for a few minutes. The puzzles match your level. Type your chess.com or Lichess ELO and we'll start there. Or skip the input and we'll test you with three puzzles. From then on, every puzzle is challenging enough to make you think, solvable enough that you'll get there. Insights show you which tactics keep tripping you up. Your ELO moves in real time on every solve. FREE INCLUDES – Unlimited puzzles, matched to your ELO – 6 starter tactics: Fork, Pin, Skewer, Mate-in-1, Mate-in-2, Back-rank – 1 shielded app – Full ELO tracking – Insights into what you solve and what you miss PRO UNLOCKS – All 52 advanced tactics. Mate-in-3, Discovered Attack, Zwischenzug, endgames. The full library, not just the starters. – See every blind spot. Insights unlocks every theme. Your full weakness map, no locked tiles. – Block every app you want, not just one. Plenty to start on Free. Pro is where you stop guessing what to study. 7-day free trial on the yearly plan. $4.99/month or $39.99/year. WHY IT'S DIFFERENT Most focus apps are guilt machines. Most chess apps want your scroll. Chess Shield does both jobs at once. Every minute in here is measurable progress, not just dopamine. If you've ever wished the time you waste scrolling could be real chess time, this is it. PRIVACY We don't collect anything. No accounts, no analytics, no backend. The apps you block are opaque tokens iOS hands us. We literally can't see them. Everything stays on your device. ——— Subscription details Chess Shield Pro is offered as a monthly ($4.99/month) or yearly ($39.99/year) auto-renewing subscription. The yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. The subscription auto-renews unless turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in iPhone Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://chessshield.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://chessshield.com/terms

Screenshots

PushUp App Blocker4 screens
Chess Shield4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PushUp App Blocker at 4.7 against Chess Shield's 3.5. PushUp App Blocker also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 4). Chess Shield's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Chess Shield sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PushUp App Blocker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PushUp App Blocker holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PushUp App Blocker has 1.7K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of PushUp App Blocker's written reviews are positive against 33% of Chess Shield's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PushUp App Blocker ships an update every 3 months, Chess Shield every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PushUp App Blocker versus Chess Shield: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPushUp App BlockerChess Shield
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.7K ratings) — better3.5 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews55.2% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1.7K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTwo UpAlejandro Trevino Saldana

Customer experience

PushUp App Blocker

All ratings1,687 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral2.8%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews194 reviews
Positive55.2%
Neutral12.9%
Negative32.0%

Chess Shield

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

PushUp App Blocker

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Chess Shield

Subscriptions2
  • Chess Shield Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Chess Shield Pro$39.991 Year

Questions

Is PushUp App Blocker free?
PushUp App Blocker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chess Shield free?
Chess Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PushUp App Blocker or Chess Shield?
PushUp App Blocker is rated higher. PushUp App Blocker averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Chess Shield averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.
Do PushUp App Blocker or Chess Shield have ads?
Neither PushUp App Blocker nor Chess Shield shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PushUp App Blocker or Chess Shield?
PushUp App Blocker ships an update every 3 months, and Chess Shield every 9 days. Most recently, PushUp App Blocker was updated on November 9, 2026 and Chess Shield on October 31, 2026.

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