Comparison

HabitUnlock vs Up Lock

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

Head to head
About

HabitUnlock

This app turns screen time into a reward for physical activity. Block distracting apps and earn your access back by completing various exercises, building streaks, and achieving goals. It's designed for those who need structure and want to break unhealthy digital habits.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Earn screen time through exercise
  • Track steps, push-ups, squats, and more
  • HealthKit integration for automatic step tracking
  • Deep Lock mode for maximum commitment
  • Gamified streaks and achievements
  • Widgets and Live Activities for progress tracking
Features
Read full description

A free app blocker that unlocks with movement: block 1 app or category, then walk or do push-ups to open it. No account, no ads. FREE: block an app or category behind real movement · blocking schedules (up to 8) · streak tracking with a monthly freeze. No account, no ads. HOW IT WORKS • Choose which apps or categories to block • Pick how you will earn them back: Walking, Push-Ups, or Guided Breathing • Complete the activity to unlock your apps • Build streaks and earn achievements Unlike screen time apps that just block your phone and rely on willpower, HabitUnlock turns the problem into a game. Want to scroll? Earn it first. Every unlock starts with movement — and that small shift changes everything. THE THREE WAYS TO UNLOCK • Walking — step-based, counted automatically • Push-Ups — timer-based, with live progress • Guided Breathing — a short breathing exercise when movement is not an option Three activities you will finish beat a long menu you never open. SMART BLOCKING • Block specific apps or entire categories • Up to 8 blocking schedules for focus time • Deep Lock mode for maximum commitment — no one-tap ignore • Emergency override with limited weekly uses APPLE HEALTH • Reads your step count so Walking completes on its own • Step data is processed on your device • Optional — decline it and the other activities still work BUILT FOR BRAINS THAT NEED STRUCTURE Many people who struggle with phone habits find external structure easier than willpower — and that is what HabitUnlock provides. Instead of fighting the urge to scroll, channel it: your phone becomes a reward for movement, not a source of guilt. STREAKS & ACHIEVEMENTS • Daily streaks with fire animations • Achievement badges for milestones • Share cards to show your progress WIDGETS & LIVE ACTIVITIES • Home screen widgets show your progress • Live Activity during activities • Dynamic Island countdown WHO IT'S FOR • Doom scrollers who want to break the cycle • Students who need to focus during exam season • People with ADHD looking for structure and accountability • Professionals who want to reclaim productive hours • Parents who want to control their own screen time PRIVACY • No ads. Your data is never sold. • Usage analytics can be turned off any time in Settings • Step data read from Apple Health is processed on your device • No account required — ever FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: Is HabitUnlock free? A: Core features are free — block 1 app and set up to 3 daily habits. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited habits, unlimited blocked apps, and Deep Lock mode. Q: Which activities can I use? A: Walking, Push-Ups, and Guided Breathing. Q: Does it track my fitness data? A: HabitUnlock reads your step count from Apple Health so Walking can complete automatically. That step data is processed on your device. Q: Does it work without internet? A: Yes. Blocking, activity tracking, and unlocking work offline. Internet is only needed for subscription management. Replace mindless scrolling with movement. Build habits that stick. HABITUNLOCK PRO • Unlimited habits • Unlimited blocked apps • Deep Lock mode • Streak freezes to protect your progress • Priority support HabitUnlock Pro is an auto-renewing subscription with a 7-day free trial. The available plans and the current price in your currency are shown in the app before you confirm. Payment charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled 24 hours before the period ends. Manage in Settings > Apple ID. Privacy Policy: https://www.habbitunlock.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.habbitunlock.com/terms

About

Up Lock

Read full description

Stop losing hours to apps designed to keep you hooked. Up Lock puts your most distracting apps behind a quick workout — so every time you reach for the scroll, you earn it back with your body. HOW IT WORKS • Choose the apps that eat your day — social media, games, whatever pulls you in. • When you open one, Up Lock asks for a few reps: push-ups, squats, or jumping jacks. • Your camera counts them live, on your device. Hit the target and the app unlocks for a timed window. • When the time's up, it locks again. Move to scroll — every time. BUILT TO ACTUALLY WORK • Real blocking. Up Lock uses Apple's Screen Time controls for genuine, system-level locking — not an honor system. • Counts reps for you. On-device pose detection tracks every rep with a live skeleton overlay. No manual tapping, no cheating. • Scaled to you. Tell Up Lock how many push-ups you can do and it tunes every target to your fitness level — challenging, never impossible. • Daily limits & streaks. Set how much unlock time you get per app each day, build a streak, and keep it alive. • See your progress. A stats page tracks time reclaimed, calories burned, workouts done, and total reps — "3,500 jumping jacks this year" hits different. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything runs on your device. The camera never records or uploads anything, there's no account to create, and we don't track you. Full policy at up-lock.app/privacy. WHO IT'S FOR Anyone tired of doomscrolling, breaking a phone habit, or up for trading screen time for real movement. Turn the thing that wastes your time into the thing that gets you moving. Earn your screen time. Rep by rep. — Up Lock Premium is an auto-renewing subscription (weekly or annual) that unlocks the full app. • Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. • It renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://up-lock.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://up-lock.app/privacy

Screenshots

HabitUnlock4 screens
Up Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: HabitUnlock at none against Up Lock's shown. HabitUnlock also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, 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. HabitUnlock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Up Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HabitUnlock ships an update every 6 days, Up Lock monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
HabitUnlock versus Up Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHabitUnlockUp Lock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTyrian HortonMatt Baker

In-app purchases

3 purchases

HabitUnlock

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Premium$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Premium7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Annual Premium7 Days trial$39.991 Year
2 purchases

Up Lock

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Access - Weekly$7.997 Days
  • Premium Access - Yearly$34.991 Year

Questions

Is HabitUnlock free?
HabitUnlock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Up Lock free?
Up Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HabitUnlock or Up Lock have ads?
Up Lock shows ads; HabitUnlock does not.
Which is updated more often, HabitUnlock or Up Lock?
HabitUnlock ships an update every 6 days, and Up Lock monthly. Most recently, HabitUnlock was updated on October 12, 2026 and Up Lock on October 6, 2026.

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