Comparison

Blocus vs Brain Games

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

Head to head
About

Blocus

This app helps you break distraction habits and regain control of your time by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers various enforcement modes, from gentle nudges to strict, irreversible blocks, and allows unlocking distractions only after completing specific tasks or challenges.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps and websites
  • Set daily limits and smart schedules
  • Extreme Mode for irreversible blocking
  • Unlock distractions via challenges or tasks
  • PIN Code Mode for external accountability
  • Integrates with system Screen Time
Read full description

Blocus – The Focus App That Actually Stops You From Cheating Blocus is a powerful focus and productivity app designed to help you break distraction habits and regain control of your time. Whether you need gentle nudges or absolute enforcement, Blocus adapts to your willpower — or replaces it when needed. Block distracting apps and websites using Blocklists or Allowlists, set daily limits, or automate focus with smart schedules. Blocus integrates seamlessly with Screen Time, ensuring reliable and system-level blocking you can trust. For moments when discipline isn't enough, Blocus offers strict enforcement modes: Extreme Mode A fully irreversible block. Once activated, it cannot be ended early — no tricks, no loopholes, no excuses. Challenges & Unlock Tasks Unlock distractions only after completing meaningful actions: • Steps or workout challenges • Push-ups, squats, planks • Pomodoro sessions • Sudoku or math challenges • Location-based unlocks PIN Code Mode A trusted friend receives a unique unlock code — so only someone else can free you. Perfect for real accountability. Advanced Control & Convenience • Smart schedules by time or day • Flexible or ultra-strict configurations Whether you're studying, working, training your focus, or fighting phone addiction — Blocus gives you the structure you need and the freedom you earn. Stop negotiating with distractions. Block them. Commit. Focus with Blocus. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.blocus-app.com/privacy

About

Brain Games

This app helps break mindless scrolling habits by requiring users to solve a quick puzzle before opening distracting apps. It turns passive screen time into active mental exercise, empowering users to regain control over their device usage and build discipline.

Highlights
  • Logic, math, memory, and pattern puzzles
  • App blocking by category or individual app
  • Tracks abandoned app unlocks
  • Difficulty scales with user speed
  • Privacy-focused, no data leaves device
  • Integrates with Apple's Screen Time framework
Features
Read full description

Let's be honest: you've opened Instagram, closed it, and reopened it within the same minute. No new notifications. No reason. Just thumbs moving on their own while your brain idles in the back seat. That's not a willpower problem. That's autopilot. And you can't out-discipline a habit your hands do without asking you. BrainScreen fixes the loop with one beautifully annoying idea: before you can open the apps that eat your day, you have to solve a quick puzzle. Logic, math, memory, patterns — 15 seconds of actually thinking. Two things happen. Sometimes you solve it, get in, and carry on (a little sharper than before). And sometimes, halfway through the puzzle, your brain catches up and goes "wait, why am I even opening this?" — and you close the app and get on with your life. That second moment is the whole point. Most of your unlocks aren't decisions. They're reflexes. A tiny puzzle is just enough friction to turn the reflex back into a choice. GET SMARTER, NOT NUMBER Every app you'd normally scroll into becomes a 15-second mental rep. Over a week that's hundreds of little workouts for your brain instead of hundreds of dead-eyed scrolls. Same phone. Opposite result. - Logic puzzles designed to catch you mid-autopilot - Quick math with just enough time pressure to wake you up - Memory and pattern challenges - Word and attention tests that are weirdly satisfying - Difficulty that scales up as you get faster YOU PICK THE GATEKEEPING You decide which apps get the puzzle treatment. Lock down the obvious offenders, leave your maps and music alone. You're in charge of where the friction goes. - Block any app or whole category - Set it once, forget it, let the puzzles do the work - Built on Apple's Screen Time framework, so the blocks actually hold — no flimsy workarounds WATCH THE WINS ADD UP BrainScreen counts the unlocks you started but abandoned — the scrolls you talked yourself out of. Turns out "didn't open it" is a stat worth celebrating. - See how many pointless unlocks you skipped - Build streaks that reward discipline, not screen time - Track your puzzle speed climbing as your brain wakes back up ACTUALLY PRIVATE Your app activity never leaves your phone. We use Apple's own Screen Time technology, which means we literally cannot see what you do — and we built it that way on purpose. Your business stays your business. THE MATH THAT SHOULD ANNOY YOU The average person burns 4+ hours a day on their phone. A lot of that is autopilot you'd happily skip if something just made you pause. BrainScreen is that pause. Trade the mindless scroll for a few seconds of thinking, and get back hours you didn't know you were losing. Your thumbs have been running the show long enough. Time to make your brain do the unlocking. BrainScreen offers an auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use - https://brainscreen.io/terms.html Privacy Policy - https://brainscreen.io/privacy.html EULA - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Blocus4 screens
Brain Games4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Blocus at free with in-app purchases against Brain Games's subscription. Blocus also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Blocus sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Brain Games sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blocus holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blocus has 226 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of Blocus's written reviews are positive against 0% of Brain Games's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blocus ships an update every 3 days, Brain Games fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Blocus versus Brain Games: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlocusBrain Games
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (226 ratings) — better4.3 (28 ratings)
Positive reviews9.1% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings226 — better28
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size148 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDiyar DirikScreentime Labs LLC

Customer experience

Blocus

All ratings226 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral4.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive9.1%
Neutral18.2%
Negative72.7%

Brain Games

All ratings21 ratings
Positive76.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative19.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Blocus

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly plan$9.991 Month
  • Yearly plan$29.991 Year
  • Yearly$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly plan7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time6
  • Unlock$0.99
  • Unlock$3.99
  • Unlock$8.99
Show 3 more
  • Unlock$17.99
  • Unlock$44.99
  • Unlock$89.99
5 purchases

Brain Games

Subscriptions5
  • Brain Screen Pro$7.997 Days
  • Brain Screen Pro$39.991 Year
  • Brain Screen Pro$49.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Brain Screen Pro$59.991 Year
  • Brain Screen Pro$69.991 Year

Questions

Is Blocus free?
Blocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Brain Games free?
Brain Games is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Blocus or Brain Games?
Blocus is rated higher. Blocus averages 4.5 out of 5 from 226 ratings, while Brain Games averages 4.3 from 28 ratings.
Do Blocus or Brain Games have ads?
Neither Blocus nor Brain Games shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blocus or Brain Games?
Blocus ships an update every 3 days, and Brain Games fortnightly. Most recently, Blocus was updated on October 21, 2026 and Brain Games on October 24, 2026.

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