Comparison

Friction vs PushLock

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

Head to head
About

Friction

This app helps you break free from mindless scrolling by requiring you to complete quick physical challenges before accessing distracting apps. Earn scrolling time through exercise and build healthier digital habits with a privacy-first approach.

Highlights
  • Complete physical challenges to earn screen time
  • Connect to Screen Time for app control
  • Track progress and build discipline
  • Privacy-first design with on-device detection
  • Breaks impulsive scrolling loops
  • Customizable app blocking
Features
Read full description

Friction helps you stop doomscrolling by making screen time intentional. Instead of opening distracting apps automatically, Friction asks you to complete a quick challenge first. Do a few push-ups, squats, or a plank, and earn scrolling time on purpose. How it works: • Connect Screen Time and choose the apps you want to control • Complete short physical challenges to unlock access • Earn minutes based on reps and track your progress • Build better habits through small, repeatable actions Why Friction: • Breaks impulsive scrolling loops • Turns “just 5 minutes” into a conscious choice • Helps you train discipline daily, not occasionally • Clean, fast flow designed for real-world use Privacy-first by design: • Exercise detection runs on-device • We do not collect, store, or share your Screen Time data • Challenge processing stays local to your device If you’re serious about reducing mindless scrolling and reclaiming your focus, Friction is built for you. Subscription notice: • Friction uses an auto-renewable subscription to access paid features • Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase • Subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • You can manage and cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings If you’re serious about reducing mindless scrolling and reclaiming your focus, Friction is built for you. TERMS: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

PushLock

Take back control of your screen time by turning phone addiction into motivation. This app lets you block applications and only unlock them by completing physical exercises like push-ups, squats, and sit-ups. Spend less time scrolling and more time being active.

Highlights
  • Block applications
  • Unlock apps with exercise
  • Perform push-ups, squats, sit-ups
  • Convert addiction to motivation
  • Gain screen time
  • Reduce scrolling
Read full description

Take back control of your screen time. Spending too much time on your phone? Turn your addiction into motivation. This app lets you block your apps and unlock them only by working out: push-ups, squats, sit-ups. You earn screen time. You spend it whenever you want. Less scroll. More action. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Friction4 screens
PushLock3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PushLock at 57% against Friction's 23%. Friction's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (329 vs 5). 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. Friction sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and PushLock sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Friction holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Friction has 329 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 23% of Friction's written reviews are positive against 57% of PushLock's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Friction ships an update every 6 days, PushLock weekly. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Friction versus PushLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFrictionPushLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (329 ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews23.1% of reviews57.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings329 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.617.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTalkUp LLCNoah Ferre

Customer experience

Friction

All ratings327 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral3.7%
Negative5.8%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive23.1%
Neutral7.7%
Negative69.2%

PushLock

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Friction

Subscriptions8
  • Monthly Subscription$5.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$14.991 Year
Show 5 more
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$39.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year
7 purchases

PushLock

Subscriptions5
  • Pro$8.991 Month
  • Pro7 Days trial$17.991 Year
  • Pro$22.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Pro7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • pro$24.99
  • Pro$34.99

Questions

Is Friction free?
Friction is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PushLock free?
PushLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Friction or PushLock?
Friction is rated higher. Friction averages 4.6 out of 5 from 329 ratings, while PushLock averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Friction or PushLock have ads?
Neither Friction nor PushLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Friction or PushLock?
Friction ships an update every 6 days, and PushLock weekly. Most recently, Friction was updated on October 28, 2026 and PushLock on October 28, 2026.

Other comparisons