Comparison

Merit. vs Lerf

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — 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 — the gym, library, office, or anywhere you commit to being. No timers, no willpower needed. Just show up. HOW IT WORKS • Set a commitment: pick a location, choose which apps to block, and set your schedule • When your commitment activates, selected apps are blocked • Walk to your location — Merit detects your arrival via GPS and unlocks your apps • Build streaks by showing up consistently TWO BLOCKING MODES • Block Until Arrival — apps stay locked until you show up (perfect for getting yourself to the gym) • Block While At Location — 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 • Daily streaks and weekly progress • See how often you show up to each location • Monthly history and unlock records FREE TO START • 1 commitment with up to 3 blocked apps • Join shared commitments from friends • Full streak and stats tracking MERIT PRO • Unlimited commitments and locations • Unlimited blocked apps • Create shared commitments • 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

Lerf

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking distracting applications during specific periods. It offers flexible blocking modes and ambient sounds to support relaxation, study, or sleep. The focus is on protecting your time and peace without intrusive tracking.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Set custom session timers
  • Easy and Strict blocking modes
  • Ambient soundscapes
  • Designed for minimal interaction
  • Protect personal time
Read full description

10 minutes on your phone turned into 2 hours. Again. Do Not Disturb stops notifications. Lerf turns your phone back into a tool that supports your goals. HOW IT WORKS Choose apps, set a schedule (optional) or tap start and distracting apps lock down. No streaks. No account. Nothing to check. Flexible Mode lets you end blocking early. Strict Mode keeps your apps blocked until the timer (or schedule) ends. FOR Focus: work or study without negotiating with your phone. Sleep: less scrolling before bed. Family time: set boundaries around distracting apps so family time means actually being together. PRICING Lerf is free to download. Full access is $12.99 a month or $39.99 a year after a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime in Settings. WHY LERF Our smartphones are our greatest tools and our worst distractions. Lerf's mission is to turn smartphones back into tools, helping people take back control of their time, attention, and technology. PRIVACY Lerf uses Apple's Screen Time framework. Your app choices and usage stay on your phone. Lerf never sees them, and there's no account to create. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://lerfapp.com/privacy

Screenshots

Merit.4 screens
Lerf3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Lerf at 17.0 against Merit.'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. Merit. sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Lerf sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Merit. ships an update every 3 days, Lerf every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Merit. versus Lerf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMerit.Lerf
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—15 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.217.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMerit Apps LLCGrant Hergenroeder

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
5 purchases

Lerf

Subscriptions5
  • Lerf Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Lerf Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Lerf Monthly7 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Lerf Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Lerf Yearly14 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Merit. free?
Merit. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lerf free?
Lerf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Merit. or Lerf have ads?
Neither Merit. nor Lerf shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Merit. or Lerf?
Merit. ships an update every 3 days, and Lerf every 5 days. Most recently, Merit. was updated on October 25, 2026 and Lerf on October 24, 2026.

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