Comparison

BlockMate vs LockPact

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

Head to head
About

BlockMate

Features
Read full description

Stop doomscrolling. Without willpower. BlockMate is your AI mate for intentional screen time on iPhone. Instead of hard-blocking apps, it asks one honest question when you reach for Instagram, TikTok, or any app you'd rather not be on. Most of the time, you put the phone down on your own. The friendly way to reduce screen time, without locking yourself out of your own phone. THE PROBLEM You unlock your phone 80+ times a day. Most of those weren't your idea. Hard blockers fail because you override them. Willpower runs out by 2 PM. The lever that actually works is intention — and you only need one second of it, the moment your thumb is moving. Whether you call it doomscrolling, phone addiction, or just a habit you'd like to break, the same one-second lever applies. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick the apps that pull you in. Instagram, TikTok, X, Reddit, YouTube Shorts — gate any apps, categories, or websites in Safari. BlockMate uses Apple's FamilyControls API, so the gating is real. 2. When you reach for one, BlockMate asks why. A short, honest exchange. No password, no countdown — a 30-second conversation. The AI mate reflects what you said before it asks anything. 3. Walk away, or get exactly the time you asked for. Real reason? You get the minutes you named. Just bargaining? You'll catch yourself, and the app stays closed. Auto-locks when time's up. WHY IT WORKS - Reflects, then asks. A bare question is interrogation. BlockMate restates what you said before asking anything. - Self-compassion, not shame. Honest impulses get honored. Guilt cycles drive more scrolling, not less. - Your past self knew. You set this up in a clear moment, for a foggy one. - Adapts as you grow. The more intentional you become, the quieter BlockMate gets. VS HARD BLOCKERS Opal, One Sec, Jomo, ScreenZen, Refocus — every one promises to reduce screen time. Every one relies on willpower. BlockMate uses a different lever: a 30-second conversation in the moment your thumb is moving. A mate, not a warden. PRIVACY - Apple FamilyControls — your blocklist stays on your device. - Conversations are short, anonymized, and never sold. - No ad networks. No third-party trackers. The product is the business. PRICING Free to start. Upgrade to unlock unlimited negotiations, multi-app gating, and adaptive coaching that learns your patterns. Yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial. The friendly way to reduce screen time. Helping people live a little more, scroll a little less. Terms of Service: https://cloudy-bite-d28.notion.site/Terms-of-Service-354cc3aac91081908268cf66507229ec Privacy Policy: https://cloudy-bite-d28.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-2f1cc3aac9108061b102e03cf5eb3ce8

About

LockPact

This app pairs you with a trusted partner for mutual screen time accountability. You both select apps to lock on your own devices, and only your partner can approve unlocking them. It's designed to help users reduce phone usage through shared responsibility.

Highlights
  • Mutual app locking with a partner
  • Unlock requests require partner approval
  • Bypass notifications sent to partner
  • Private screen time data processing
  • Solo lock timer for practice
  • Pairing via 6-digit code
Read full description

Your partner holds the key. LockPact pairs you with someone you trust for mutual screen time accountability. You both choose which apps to lock on your own device. Only your partner can approve unlocking. Free. HOW IT WORKS Pair with a friend, partner, or roommate using a 6-digit code Each of you selects which apps to lock on your own device When you need access, send an unlock request — your partner approves or declines That's it. No subscriptions, no surveillance, no complicated setup. WHY IT WORKS Willpower runs out. Accountability doesn't. Every solo app blocker eventually fails — because you're the one who can turn it off. LockPact is different: your locked apps need your partner's approval to open. That one moment of friction changes everything. And yes — bypass is still possible. Apple makes bulletproof locking impossible on iOS. We're honest about that. But when you bypass LockPact, your partner gets notified. Bypassing isn't silent anymore. It's embarrassing. That's the point. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT • Mutual — you lock each other's apps, not just your own • Honest — no false promises about "bulletproof" blocking • Actually free — core accountability features cost nothing, forever • Private — your screen time data never leaves your device Every other app blocker is you vs. yourself. LockPact makes screen time a pact between two people. WHAT'S FREE Everything that matters for accountability: • Pair with a partner via 6-digit invite code • Select apps to lock on your own device • Send and receive unlock requests • Get notified when your partner bypasses • Solo lock timer (for solo practice before pairing) No subscription. No paywall on core features. One optional ad plays before an unlock request is sent — that friction is the whole product. PRIVACY Your screen time data never leaves your device. LockPact only syncs lock status and unlock requests — never which apps you use, when you use them, or how long. Screen Time API data is processed on-device only, as required by Apple. Built for adults who want to spend less time on their phones — together.

Screenshots

BlockMate4 screens
LockPact4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: BlockMate at none against LockPact's shown. 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. BlockMate sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and LockPact sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
BlockMate versus LockPact: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlockMateLockPact
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequency—Every 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB27 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperOleh HykavyyRotate, LLC.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BlockMate

Subscriptions2
  • BlockMate Pro (Monthly)$6.991 Month
  • BlockMate Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
4 purchases

LockPact

One-time4
  • Spark$2.99
  • Steady$6.99
  • Willpower Waiver$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Torch$14.99

Questions

Is BlockMate free?
BlockMate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LockPact free?
LockPact is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BlockMate or LockPact have ads?
LockPact shows ads; BlockMate does not.

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