Comparison

Couch Potato App Blocker vs Strut

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

Head to head
About

Couch Potato App Blocker

This app helps you reduce screen time by requiring you to walk to unlock distracting applications. Set custom goals and track your progress as you build healthier habits and make your screen time feel earned.

Highlights
  • App blocker for distracting apps
  • Walk-to-unlock screen time system
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Custom step goals
  • Progress and streak tracking
  • Privacy-first design
Features
Read full description

APP BLOCKER THAT MAKES YOU MOVE Couch Potato is an app blocker and screen time control app that helps you spend less time scrolling and more time moving. Choose distracting apps, set a walking requirement, and unlock access by walking. When you try to open a blocked app, Couch Potato turns that impulse into a concrete action: move first, then unlock. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps you want to block or limit 2. Set your walk-to-unlock requirement 3. Let Couch Potato lock selected apps with Apple's Screen Time framework 4. Walk to unlock access and track progress over time FEATURES - App blocker for selected distracting apps - Walk-to-unlock screen time system - Flexible schedules for work, study, evenings, or weekends - Custom step goals and unlock durations - Daily progress, streaks, and achievement tracking - No account required - Privacy-first design: activity data stays on your device BUILT FOR REAL LIFE Most screen time tools rely on nagging or willpower. Couch Potato gives you a simple rule you can actually follow: move first, unlock later. Use it to reduce doom scrolling, protect focus time, build better habits, and make screen time feel earned instead of automatic. PRIVACY - Movement and usage settings are processed on-device - No account required - Uses Apple's secure Screen Time APIs for app limiting SUBSCRIPTION Couch Potato Premium unlocks all features: - $2.99/week - $29.99/year Subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Apple ID Settings. Move more. Scroll less. Download Couch Potato and start unlocking with movement. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://couchpotatoscreenlock.com/privacy/

About

Strut

Read full description

Walk more. Earn screen time. Take control of your habits. Strut turns your daily steps into screen time you can actually use. The more you move, the more minutes you earn — then spend them to temporarily unlock the apps you've chosen to restrict. It's screen time management powered by your own two feet. HOW IT WORKS 1. Set your daily step goal and a screen time cap 2. Pick the apps and categories you want to block 3. Walk — your real steps (from Apple Health) are converted into screen time minutes 4. When you're ready, start an unlock session (15, 30, or 60 minutes) to use your blocked apps 5. When the session ends, your apps are re-blocked automatically REAL BLOCKING, NOT REMINDERS Strut uses Apple's Screen Time framework to enforce actual app blocking at the system level. When an app is blocked, you'll see a custom shield screen showing how many minutes you've earned and what sessions are available. No workarounds, no "dismiss and keep using" — your apps stay blocked until you've walked enough. KEY FEATURES • Step-to-minutes earning — a transparent formula converts your real steps into screen time, with anti-cheat filtering that excludes manually entered data • Configurable goals — set your daily step target (2,000–20,000) and max screen time (30–240 minutes) • Block list management — choose individual apps, entire categories, or web domains to restrict • Streak tracking — see your consecutive days hitting your step goal, with milestone celebrations • Statistics dashboard — 7-day step chart, calories burned, distance walked, and app usage breakdown • Smart sessions — unlock sessions never cross midnight and re-block automatically, even if Strut isn't open • Fail-open safety — if anything goes wrong, your apps are unblocked, never locked out • Guided onboarding — a 6-step setup that walks you through permissions and app selection HEALTH & PRIVACY Strut reads step count, active energy, and walking distance from Apple Health. Your health data stays on your device and is never sent to any server. Strut uses HealthKit data solely to calculate your earned screen time. SUBSCRIPTION Strut requires a subscription to activate app blocking. You can restore purchases at any time from the paywall screen. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.strut-app.com/privacy Support: https://www.strut-app.com/support

Screenshots

Couch Potato App Blocker4 screens
Strut4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Strut at every 5 days against Couch Potato App Blocker's every 2 months. Couch Potato App Blocker's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Couch Potato App Blocker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Strut sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. 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 Couch Potato App Blocker against 5.0 for Strut. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Couch Potato App Blocker ships an update every 2 months, Strut every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Couch Potato App Blocker versus Strut: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCouch Potato App BlockerStrut
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander BoothCybernetica.io

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Couch Potato App Blocker

Subscriptions2
  • Couch Potato Premium$2.997 Days
  • Couch Potato Premium (Annual)$29.991 Year
2 purchases

Strut

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Subscription$9.991 Month
  • Pro Subscription3 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Couch Potato App Blocker free?
Couch Potato App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Strut free?
Strut is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Couch Potato App Blocker or Strut?
Couch Potato App Blocker and Strut are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Couch Potato App Blocker or Strut have ads?
Neither Couch Potato App Blocker nor Strut shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Couch Potato App Blocker or Strut?
Couch Potato App Blocker ships an update every 2 months, and Strut every 5 days. Most recently, Couch Potato App Blocker was updated on October 22, 2026 and Strut on October 25, 2026.

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