BarBlock vs CustomNotify
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BarBlock
This app helps reduce screen time by requiring users to scan a real-world barcode to unlock selected apps. It adds friction to app usage, encouraging conscious choices and breaking automatic habits. Setup is simple, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases required.
- Block apps by scanning real-world barcodes
- Unlock apps by rescanning the same barcode
- Reduces screen time and automatic phone use
- Privacy-first design, no accounts or sign-ups
- Works offline, all data stored locally
- Unlimited app blocking
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BarBlock reduces screen time by adding real-world friction to app blocking. Instead of relying on willpower or screen time limits, you lock distracting apps by scanning a barcode you already have, like one on a book or a food package. Those apps stay blocked until you scan the same barcode again. Setup is super easy: choose the apps you want to block, scan any barcode, and they stay locked until you rescan it. No extra devices, nothing new to buy, no subscriptions, no accounts, no sign-ups. You can block unlimited apps, and the app works fully offline with all data stored locally. Nothing is tracked, collected, or sent to any server. BarBlock is built for people who want to cut screen time, anyone who's outgrown standard app blockers and screen time limits, and anyone looking for a simple, private, reliable focus tool without the complexity or cost.
CustomNotify
Design and schedule personalized alerts with custom titles, messages, icons, and sounds. Set one-time or recurring reminders, and use persistent notifications with action buttons for easy management. Works entirely offline for enhanced privacy.
- Customizable notification design
- Live lock screen preview
- Template library
- Natural language scheduling
- Actionable notification buttons
- Recurring and custom interval scheduling
- Persistent and nagging alerts
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Your Alerts, Your Way CustomNotify puts you in complete control of your notifications. Design personalized alerts with custom titles, messages, icons, colors, and sounds, then schedule them exactly when you need them. CREATE IN SECONDS See a live lock screen preview as you build your notification. Choose from 50+ ready made templates or type a natural language description and let CustomNotify do the rest. Add action buttons to snooze, skip, or mark done right from your lock screen. SCHEDULE YOUR WAY • One time reminders for dates that matter • Daily and weekly repeats • Custom intervals, every 2 hours, every 3 days, you name it • Persistent alerts that stick until you act on them NEVER FORGET Turn on nagging mode and CustomNotify will remind you again and again until you acknowledge it. Choose how often (every 1, 5, 15, 30, or 60 minutes) and how many times. Snooze when you need a break. PRIVACY FIRST No account. No cloud. No tracking. No ads. CustomNotify works entirely offline, your reminders and personal data never leave your device. FREE FEATURES • Up to 10 active notifications • One time, daily, and weekly scheduling • 10 built in templates • Nagging mode • Full notification history • Unlimited active notifications • All schedule types including custom intervals • 50+ templates • Persistent notifications • Backup and restore • Priority support From the makers of CustomBank, CustomCrypto, CustomSubs, and CustomWorth. Questions or feedback? Visit customnotify.us or email info@customapps.us
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: BarBlock at 100% against CustomNotify's 50%. BarBlock also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and chart position (#140 vs unranked). CustomNotify's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
CustomNotify is free to download; BarBlock costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BarBlock holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of BarBlock's written reviews are positive against 50% of CustomNotify's.
BarBlock ships an update every 2 weeks, CustomNotify weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BarBlock | CustomNotify |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.9 (15 ratings) — better | 4.5 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #140 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 67 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NAVON HAIM SOUSSAN | CustomApps LLC |
Customer experience
BarBlock
CustomNotify
In-app purchases
BarBlock
No in-app purchases
CustomNotify
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BarBlock free?
Is CustomNotify free?
Which has better reviews, BarBlock or CustomNotify?
Do BarBlock or CustomNotify have ads?
Which is updated more often, BarBlock or CustomNotify?
Other comparisons
