Comparison

Screen Time Control vs Amber Lock

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

Head to head
About

Screen Time Control

Regain control of your phone usage with smart focus sessions and app blocking. Create custom schedules and receive reminders to reduce distractions, improve concentration, and build healthier digital habits.

Highlights
  • App blocking
  • Focus sessions
  • Customizable schedules
  • Personalized reminders
  • Screen time reports
  • Stickerbook for motivation
Read full description

Research shows that people spend over 23 years of their lives on their phones. Yet the time you want for self-growth, hobbies, exercise, and real-life moments is already there—it’s just quietly taken by scrolling, notifications, and app hopping. Blucky helps you take back control. With smart focus sessions, app blocking, customizable schedules, and personalized reminders, you can reclaim your attention, reduce distractions, and use your time intentionally. Even small daily changes add up to years of meaningful time regained over a lifetime. FEATURES App Blocking & Focus Sessions Stop wasting time on distracting apps. Block the apps that interrupt your work, study, or personal projects, and create dedicated focus sessions to stay fully concentrated. Smart Schedules & Custom Modes Automatically block apps at key times—mornings, work hours, or before sleep. Build routines like Work Focus, Study Time, Morning Routine, Family Time, or Digital Detox with settings tailored for each situation. Attention Support & Daily Routines Blucky helps users with concentration difficulties, including ADHD. Set work hours, sleep, and personal routines so your phone supports your lifestyle instead of stealing your time. Motivation & Reminders Stay encouraged with Blucky’s Stickerbook, celebrating milestones and progress. Receive timely nudges whenever you get distracted or hit your screen time limit to maintain consistency. Screen Time Reports Track your screen time, focus sessions, and offline moments. Clear reports help you understand your habits and measure your progress. BENEFITS • Reduce daily screen time • Improve productivity and concentration • Build healthier digital habits • Avoid social media distractions • Create better routines for work, study, and sleep • Stay more present offline and in real life PRIVATE & SAFE Blucky uses Apple’s Screen Time API to monitor and block apps securely. Your data stays private and is processed directly on your device. We do not collect or store personal usage data. BLUCKY PREMIUM We’re confident you’ll love Blucky. Start your 7-day free trial. Experience distraction-free focus and take control of your screen time. A yearly subscription unlocks everything—uninterrupted focus, healthier digital habits, and more time for what truly matters. Privacy Policy: http://drumpadapps.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: http://drumpadapps.com/terms-of-use If you have questions or feedback, contact us at support@dpmapps.com.

About

Amber Lock

This app locks distracting applications in digital amber, requiring you to walk to unlock them. Earn screen time by converting your steps, providing a unique friction-based approach to managing digital distractions.

Highlights
  • Lock distracting apps
  • Unlock by walking
  • Steps convert to screen time
  • Background step counting
  • No guilt or lectures
  • Privacy-focused data handling
Features
Read full description

Amber Lock seals your most distracting apps in digital amber. To get them back, you have to stand up and walk. Whether your goals are to reduce screen time, increase your daily steps, or both, Amber Lock has got you covered! THE LEGEND Gnomish stories tell of a distracted worker whose candied berries were sealed in tree sap until he finished plowing the fields. Amber Lock applies the same friction to your phone. HOW IT WORKS 1. Seal your distractions. Pick your worst offenders (social media, games, news) and lock them inside the amber. 2. Set your own rules. Decide how many steps buy one minute, how many steps the tank can hold, and how long a single unlock is allowed to run. 3. Walk. Put the phone in your pocket and go. Your real steps charge the Melter. 4. Melt the amber. Spend that charge whenever you choose, up to the limit you set. 5. Watch it re-seal. When the charge runs dry, the amber locks your apps again. BUILT FOR YOUR SCREEN TIME, NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S A 4am doomscroller and a gamer who wants one clean hour at night need opposite things from a blocker. Most apps give them the same one. If your problem is the slow drip (five minutes here, twenty there) run a small tank and a short unlock cap. A slip costs you five minutes, not the entire evening. If your problem is that you want your hour before bed and you want it uninterrupted, use the deep tank instead. Bank steps all day, then spend them in one sitting without the app locking you out halfway through. SEE WHAT YOU GET BACK Amber Lock tracks your time in sealed apps week over week, so you can watch the hours come back. ON YOUR HOME SCREEN A widget sits beside your locked apps showing the time you have left, so you can melt or re-seal without opening anything. PRIVACY Amber Lock uses Apple's Screen Time API to block apps directly on your device. Your app usage data never leaves your phone. It isn't sent to us or to anyone else. Your step data stays on your device too. NO SUBSCRIPTION Amber Lock is free, and it's fully usable that way. One optional upgrade is available as one-time purchases. This gives you access to premium settings which allow you to further customize your Amber Melter! Take back your time. Seal the distractions. Earn your screen time. Terms & conditions of use: https://www.gnomesteadcollective.com/terms?app=amber-lock#amber-lock

Screenshots

Screen Time Control4 screens
Amber Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Amber Lock at 100% against Screen Time Control's 50%. Amber Lock also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Screen Time Control's advantage is ratings volume (14 vs 2). On price, ads, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Screen Time Control sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $59.99 per year. Amber Lock asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Amber Lock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screen Time Control has 14 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Screen Time Control's written reviews are positive against 100% of Amber Lock's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 weeks, Amber Lock every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Screen Time Control versus Amber Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen Time ControlAmber Lock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (14 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDPM APPS LPGnomestead Collective LLC

Customer experience

Screen Time Control

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Amber Lock

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Access7 Days trial$59.991 Year
None

Amber Lock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Amber Lock free?
Amber Lock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Screen Time Control or Amber Lock?
Amber Lock is rated higher. Screen Time Control averages 4.5 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Amber Lock averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Screen Time Control or Amber Lock have ads?
Neither Screen Time Control nor Amber Lock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screen Time Control or Amber Lock?
Screen Time Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and Amber Lock every 4 days. Most recently, Screen Time Control was updated on October 24, 2026 and Amber Lock on October 11, 2026.

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