Comparison

OpenAlarm vs BarLock

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

Head to head
About

OpenAlarm

This alarm clock offers multiple challenges to ensure you wake up, including math problems, memory games, or physical actions. It allows for a snooze budget and wake-up checks to prevent oversleeping. The app also supports nap timers with lock screen controls.

Highlights
  • Multiple disarm challenges (Math, Memory, Steps, Shake, Scan)
  • Customizable snooze budget
  • Wake-up check feature
  • Repeating weekday/weekend alarms
  • Nap countdown timers
  • Lock screen and Dynamic Island controls
Features
Read full description

OpenAlarm is the alarm clock for mornings when a normal alarm is too easy to silence. Build alarms around the way you actually wake up: • Require one or more disarm challenges: Math, Memory, Steps, Shake, or Scan • Set a snooze budget so snoozing eventually stops being an option • Enable a wake-up check that asks whether you are still awake a few minutes later • Schedule repeating weekday and weekend alarms • Skip or move one occurrence without changing the repeating schedule • Start nap countdowns and pause or extend them • Control active naps from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island OpenAlarm uses Apple’s alarm system so scheduled alarms remain dependable. Your alarms and settings stay on your device. There are no accounts, ads, analytics, or tracking. OpenAlarm is free and open source.

About

BarLock

This alarm clock requires users to scan a unique barcode or QR code located away from their bed to turn it off. It's designed to prevent snoozing and ensure users get out of bed. Features include backup alerts and a lock window to prevent early cancellation.

Highlights
  • Scan barcode/QR code to stop alarm
  • No snooze functionality
  • Wake-Up Check feature
  • Backup alerts
  • Lock Window to prevent early cancellation
  • Tiptoe Mode for quiet disarming
Features
Read full description

You don't have a waking-up problem. You have a turning-off-the-alarm problem. BarLock keeps ringing until you get up and scan a barcode across the room. No snooze. No negotiating. Pick an alarm time, scan a barcode or QR code on something that lives away from your bed, and that exact code becomes the only way to stop the alarm. Toothpaste, coffee, medication, a notebook. Anything that forces you to stand up. HOW IT WORKS 1. Create an alarm. 2. Scan a barcode or QR code on an item away from bed. 3. Name the item. 4. When the alarm fires, walk to the item and scan it. 5. Wrong item, wrong code, or no scan? The alarm keeps ringing. WHY IT WORKS Most alarms die from one tap while you are still half asleep. BarLock moves the off switch across the room. By the time you have scanned, you are on your feet, and getting on your feet is the whole battle. BUILT FOR • Heavy sleepers • Students with early classes • Shift workers • Serial snoozers • Anyone who turns off alarms without remembering it WHAT YOU GET • An alarm only your chosen barcode or QR code can stop • A full-screen Scan to Stop screen the moment it rings • Wake-Up Check. BarLock rings again a little later to make sure you stayed up. • Backup Alerts. Opened the alarm but never finished the scan? It comes back. • Lock Window. In the minutes before it rings, the alarm can't be edited, paused, or deleted without a scan. 2 a.m. you can't sabotage 7 a.m. you. • Tiptoe Mode. A few quiet seconds after you press Stop, enough to reach your item without waking the house. Miss the scan and the volume comes back. • Stickers. Keep getting up and you'll earn them, in holographic foil. • Alarm sounds built to cut through deep sleep • Everything stays on your phone. No account, no ads, no tracking. WHAT'S INCLUDED One barcode alarm, one sound, and the standard wake-up rules. Enough to fix tomorrow morning. BARLOCK PRO Pro is a one-time purchase. No subscription. • Unlimited alarms for weekdays, naps, travel, and backups • Tiptoe Mode • Your own settings for Lock Window, Backup Alerts, and Wake-Up Check • Your sticker collection, revealed in full holographic color • Every alarm sound in the app PRIVACY Your alarms and scanned codes never leave your device. No account, no advertising, no tracking. Stop snoozing. Scan to stop.

Screenshots

OpenAlarm4 screens
BarLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BarLock at 4.3 against OpenAlarm's 2.9. OpenAlarm's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. BarLock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. OpenAlarm asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BarLock holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 8 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenAlarm ships an update every 8 days, BarLock every 4 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
OpenAlarm versus BarLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenAlarmBarLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (12 ratings)4.3 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.0 — better26.1
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel GretzkeCODE IN MOTION SRL

In-app purchases

None

OpenAlarm

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

BarLock

One-time1
  • BarLock PRO Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is OpenAlarm free?
OpenAlarm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BarLock free?
BarLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, OpenAlarm or BarLock?
BarLock is rated higher. OpenAlarm averages 2.9 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while BarLock averages 4.3 from 8 ratings.
Do OpenAlarm or BarLock have ads?
Neither OpenAlarm nor BarLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenAlarm or BarLock?
OpenAlarm ships an update every 8 days, and BarLock every 4 days. Most recently, OpenAlarm was updated on November 5, 2026 and BarLock on November 5, 2026.

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