Comparison

Merit. vs TapLock

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

Head to head
About

Merit.

Features
Read full description

Show up. Apps unlock. Merit blocks distracting apps until you physically arrive at the places that matter โ€” the gym, library, office, or anywhere you commit to being. No timers, no willpower needed. Just show up. HOW IT WORKS โ€ข Set a commitment: pick a location, choose which apps to block, and set your schedule โ€ข When your commitment activates, selected apps are blocked โ€ข Walk to your location โ€” Merit detects your arrival via GPS and unlocks your apps โ€ข Build streaks by showing up consistently TWO BLOCKING MODES โ€ข Block Until Arrival โ€” apps stay locked until you show up (perfect for getting yourself to the gym) โ€ข Block While At Location โ€” apps lock only while you're there (perfect for staying focused at the library) ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS Invite a friend to join your commitment. See when they show up. Hold each other accountable. Because it's easier to skip when nobody's watching. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS โ€ข Daily streaks and weekly progress โ€ข See how often you show up to each location โ€ข Monthly history and unlock records FREE TO START โ€ข 1 commitment with up to 3 blocked apps โ€ข Join shared commitments from friends โ€ข Full streak and stats tracking MERIT PRO โ€ข Unlimited commitments and locations โ€ข Unlimited blocked apps โ€ข Create shared commitments โ€ข Custom themes, fonts, and app icons MERIT PRO PRICING Merit Pro is available as a monthly subscription ($6.99/month, introductory offer: $0.99 for the first month) or annual subscription ($49.99/year). A lifetime purchase is also available. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID account settings. Privacy Policy: https://usemerit.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://usemerit.app/terms

About

TapLock

Read full description

TapLock turns a physical NFC card into the only key that unlocks your apps. Tap your card to lock your iPhone's distracting apps behind a Screen Time shield. To get them back, you have to physically tap the card again. The card has to be in your hand. There are no shortcuts. HOW IT WORKS Choose which apps to block, then tap "Lock Now" Apps stay blocked until you tap your registered NFC card to the top of your phone Need a break? Pause the session and it picks up right where you left off Set a timer to auto-unlock after a focus session ends WHAT CARDS WORK Any NFC card you already carry: transit cards, hotel keys, student IDs, office keycards, or cheap NFC stickers. If your iPhone can read it, TapLock can use it. FEATURES NFC card unlock, tap to lock, tap to unlock Timed locks with auto-unlock countdown Pause and resume a session without losing your remaining time Custom blocking profiles, block specific apps and websites or allow only a selected few Lock Now widget and Control Center button, lock in one tap without opening the app Siri and Shortcuts, start a lock by voice or build automations by time, place or Focus Multiple cards supported, each with its own name Block app deletion while locked so you can't cheat by uninstalling Session stats, see your total focus time and how long your last session ran Live Activity and Dynamic Island timer visible from your lock screen Your cards and settings sync across your devices via iCloud Remote Key, unlock a family iPad or second iPhone by tapping your card on your own iPhone Native iPad app with a landscape layout REMOTE KEY AND IPAD Lock a family iPad or a second iPhone, then open it by tapping your card on your own iPhone. Both devices just need the same Apple ID. iPads have no NFC reader, so they pair as a kept device and are always opened from your iPhone. EMERGENCY ACCESS A 6-digit PIN is available if you lose your card. It works, but it is deliberately slow, so you will want to keep your card nearby. TapLock does not replace your iPhone's lock screen. It uses Apple's Screen Time framework to shield apps while your phone stays accessible for calls and emergencies. Free 7-day trial. One-time purchase. No subscription, ever. Terms of Use: https://www.aimakecoolstuff.com/legal/taplock/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.aimakecoolstuff.com/legal/taplock/privacy

Screenshots

Merit.4 screens
TapLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Merit. at every 3 days against TapLock's every 10 days. TapLock's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Merit. sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and TapLock sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Merit. ships an update every 3 days, TapLock every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Merit. versus TapLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMerit.TapLock
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 days โ€” betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad โ€” better
Requires iOS26.217.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size9 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMerit Apps LLCSze Yuen HO

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Merit.

Subscriptions2
  • Merit Pro Monthly7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Merit Pro Annual$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Merit Pro Lifetime$149.99
2 purchases

TapLock

One-time2
  • TapLock Free TrialFree
  • TapLock Lifetime$4.99

Questions

Is Merit. free?
Merit. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TapLock free?
TapLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Merit. or TapLock have ads?
Neither Merit. nor TapLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Merit. or TapLock?
Merit. ships an update every 3 days, and TapLock every 10 days. Most recently, Merit. was updated on September 25, 2026 and TapLock on September 29, 2026.

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