Comparison

bloc vs OpenNow

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

Head to head
About

bloc

Read full description

Bloc blocks your distracting apps so you can focus on what matters. Start a focus session and Bloc shields the apps you choose at the OS level. No willpower needed — the apps are simply unavailable until your session ends. Want to quit early? You'll have to earn it. Bloc's friction challenges make you shake your phone, type a commitment phrase, or scan your physical NFC tag before you can unlock. It's the barrier between you and your impulses. How it works: Pick the apps you want to block Set your focus duration (5 min to 4 hours) Tap to start — your apps are instantly shielded Stay focused or complete a friction challenge to end early Features: Real OS-level app blocking (not just a timer or reminder) Friction challenges: Shake, Type, Sing, or go Upside Down to unlock early NFC tag support: Pair a physical tag to start/stop sessions by tapping Scheduled sessions: Automate daily focus blocks (e.g., every weekday 9-5) Live Activity: See your remaining time on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island Streak tracking: Build consistency with daily focus streaks Activity dashboard: Track your focus minutes, sessions, and weekly trends Beautiful dark-first design with multiple themes Bloc uses Apple's Screen Time APIs to block apps at the system level. You choose which apps to block — Bloc never monitors your usage or shares your data. Your focus is yours. Bloc just helps you protect it.

About

OpenNow

Features
Read full description

Can’t open a received file? OpenNow helps you open it instantly and read it right away. Supports Markdown, HTML, web reports, ZIP web packages, and more. No conversion. No account required. OpenNow makes received files immediately readable on your device. 【Membership】 Membership options include Monthly, Yearly, and Lifetime access. Access periods differ by purchase type, but member benefits are the same. Member features include: • AI summaries • Document Q&A • Custom AI Key • Cross-file content search • iCloud sync • Action item extraction • PDF and long-image export • Original media file download Monthly and Yearly plans are auto-renewable subscriptions. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account after purchase. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in Settings - Apple Account - Media & Purchases - Subscriptions. Lifetime access is a one-time purchase that unlocks member features long term. 【Terms】 • Privacy Policy: https://chen465tai.github.io/ReadNOW/privacy-policy • Terms of Use: https://chen465tai.github.io/ReadNOW/index

Screenshots

bloc4 screens
OpenNow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: bloc at none against OpenNow's 3. OpenNow's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, ads, 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. OpenNow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. bloc asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

bloc ships an update monthly, OpenNow every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
bloc versus OpenNow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterblocOpenNow
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYash Verma甸甸 陈

In-app purchases

None

bloc

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

OpenNow

Subscriptions2
  • 即刻阅览 Pro 月度会员$0.991 Month
  • 即刻阅览 Pro 年度会员$3.991 Year
One-time1
  • 即刻阅览 Pro 永久买断$19.99

Questions

Is bloc free?
bloc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpenNow free?
OpenNow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do bloc or OpenNow have ads?
Neither bloc nor OpenNow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, bloc or OpenNow?
bloc ships an update monthly, and OpenNow every 5 days. Most recently, bloc was updated on September 19, 2026 and OpenNow on September 18, 2026.

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