Comparison

Before You Scroll vs StepLock

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

Head to head
About

Before You Scroll

This app introduces a mindful pause before you open other applications. Select your mood to receive a reflective quote, then unlock your apps with intention. Designed to help you manage your time and attention more consciously.

Highlights
  • Mood-based quotes
  • Quote of the Day
  • App locking and unlocking
  • Streaks and achievements
  • Emergency unlock
  • Privacy-focused design
Features
Read full description

Pause with intention - then unlock your apps Before You Scroll adds a mindful pause between impulse and action. Instead of instantly opening distracting apps, you're invited to reflect for a moment with a short quote tailored to your current mood. Once you've taken that pause, your apps unlock - helping you stay intentional with your time, attention, and habits. How it works: 1. Choose how you're feeling - struggling, down, okay, good, or great 2. Receive a short, thoughtful quote aligned with your mood 3. Reflect briefly, then unlock your selected apps It's a simple moment of awareness before you scroll. Features: - Mood based quotes that adapt to how you're feeling - Quote of the Day featuring timeless sayings and wisdom - App locking & unlocking using Apple's Screen Time tools - Streaks & achievements to encourage consistency - Emergency unlock when you need instant access - Privacy first design with no data being sold and no social feeds Free vs Premium Free: - One mood based quote every 12 hours - Daily quote access - Core app locking experience Premium: - Unlimited mood based quotes - Advanced insights - Premium customization and features (Subscriptions available monthly or yearly) Designed for balance Before You Scroll isn't about restriction or guilt. It's about creating a small, intentional pause - so your time is spent more consciously. Quotes are for reflection only and are not medical, financial, or professional advice. Privacy Your data stays yours. No ads. No social pressure.

About

StepLock

Features
Read full description

StepLock turns daily movement into app time for the distracting apps you choose. Select apps, categories, or web domains to lock. StepLock reads your steps, Apple Exercise Time, and Apple Stand Time from Health, then turns that movement into one shared app-time bank for your selected apps. StepLock is built for simple daily focus: - 150 steps = 1 app minute - 1 exercise minute = 1 app minute - 3 stand minutes = 1 app minute - Screen Time controls block selected apps when your earned time is used - Live Activity, Dynamic Island, and widgets show your earned app time Free includes 1 blocked app selection. StepLock Premium unlocks unlimited blocked app selections with a one-time lifetime purchase. No account required. No backend. Your progress stays on your device. Privacy Policy: https://okandavut.dev/steplock/en/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://okandavut.dev/steplock/en/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Before You Scroll4 screens
StepLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: StepLock at 18.0 against Before You Scroll's 26.2. On price, update cadence, 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. Before You Scroll sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and StepLock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Before You Scroll ships an update weekly, StepLock every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Before You Scroll versus StepLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBefore You ScrollStepLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.218.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB16 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperEJ Labs LLCOkan Davut

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Before You Scroll

Subscriptions2
  • Before You Scroll Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Before You Scroll (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
1 purchases

StepLock

One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$19.99

Questions

Is Before You Scroll free?
Before You Scroll is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is StepLock free?
StepLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Before You Scroll or StepLock have ads?
Neither Before You Scroll nor StepLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Before You Scroll or StepLock?
Before You Scroll ships an update weekly, and StepLock every 9 days. Most recently, Before You Scroll was updated on November 5, 2026 and StepLock on October 28, 2026.

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