TaskLock vs HoldUp
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TaskLock
This app helps you complete tasks and build habits by blocking distracting applications. Schedule events, create to-do lists, and set up focus sessions to stay on track with your goals.
- Create and manage tasks
- Build daily habits
- Organize calendar events
- Block distracting apps
- Reduce social media distractions
- Improve productivity
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TaskLock is a to-do list, habit tracker and calendar for iPhone and Apple Watch with a built-in app blocker. Choose the apps that distract you, and they stay locked until you finish the task, complete the habit or the event ends. No timer to wait out, no "ignore limit" button: you stay focused until the work is actually done. HOW IT WORKS 1. Add a task, habit or event, or sync your Apple Calendar. 2. Pick the apps, categories or websites to lock: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, games, anything you choose. 3. Opening a locked app shows a shield with the tasks still keeping it locked. 4. Check the task off on your iPhone or Apple Watch and the apps unlock. Locks are optional. Without one, TaskLock is a simple, fast to-do list. APP LOCKING • Lock until a task or habit is done, or for the length of an event, such as "Study" from 2 to 4 pm. • Lock single apps, whole categories like Social or Games, and websites. • Lock groups: save sets like "Social media" and assign them in one tap. • Start a lock later in the day. • Stay honest: a confirmation countdown before completing or removing a lock, and a daily limit on lock changes. Set it to "no changes" for strict mode. TASKS • One daily card with today's tasks, events and habits, other days a swipe away. • Timeline of everything past and upcoming, with filters. • Move missed tasks to today in one tap. Move or copy any task to another day. • Saved task lists for things you add often. • Reminders, notes, links with previews, locations, search and Control Center quick add. HABITS • Every day, chosen weekdays or every N days, up to several times a day. • Streaks, a history strip and a progress page with rings. • Skip a day, change today only, or edit from today on while past records stay intact. • Habit lists such as "Morning routine". CALENDAR • Two-way sync with Apple Calendar, including iCloud, Google and other accounts on your iPhone. • Private calendars that live only in TaskLock. • Timed and all-day events, repeat rules from daily to custom, reminders, locations and meeting links. APPLE WATCH, WIDGETS AND LIVE ACTIVITIES • Watch app: see today's plan, add tasks and events, and check off a task to unlock apps on your iPhone. Complications and Smart Stack widgets included. • Home Screen widgets, plus Live Activities on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. DESIGN • Minimalist, one main screen. Light and dark themes, nine accent colors or your own, alternative app icons. Available in 47 languages. PRIVACY • No account, no sign-up. Your data stays on your iPhone, and the app works offline. Optional backup to your own iCloud Drive. • App blocking runs on Apple's Screen Time framework. TaskLock cannot see what you do in other apps. PRICE Free to download. The free version limits how many tasks, habits and events you can create. TaskLock Premium removes those limits. Made for students, remote workers and anyone who wants their phone to wait until the work is done. Questions or ideas: info@tasklockapp.com Terms of Use: https://tasklockapp.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://tasklockapp.com/privacy
HoldUp
This app helps you focus by blocking distracting applications until you complete a real-world checklist. Set timed tasks and re-lock reminders to ensure your to-do list gets done before you scroll.
- Block distracting apps and categories
- Create unlimited checklists
- Staged time-blocks with start times
- Strict mode to hide skip button
- Re-lock reminders
- Private by design, no data collection
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holdup blocks your distracting apps until you finish a real-world checklist. before you scroll, do the thing. pick the apps that pull you in. write the list that matters — gym, dishes, homework, the email. until the list is done, those apps wait behind a gate. how it works — block individual apps, whole categories, or websites using apple's screen time framework — your checklist, unlimited items, free — staged time-blocks: give tasks start times, and apps re-lock when each window arms — strict mode hides the skip button for the days you mean it — honest by design: skipping exists, it's just a deliberate choice you have to look at — re-lock reminders so a new block never ambushes you private by design everything stays on your phone. no account, no tracking, no analytics, no data collected. the screen time framework's data never leaves your device — apple designed it that way, and we like it that way. the honest fine print holdup creates friction, not an unbreakable cage. ios doesn't let any app be a perfect jailer — re-locks land within about a minute of use, and skipping is always a visible choice (unless strict mode says otherwise). the point isn't to fight you. it's to make the doomscroll a decision instead of a reflex. before you scroll, do the thing.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HoldUp at none against TaskLock's 4. HoldUp also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). TaskLock's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days) and ratings volume (16 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. TaskLock sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. HoldUp asks for nothing beyond the download.
HoldUp holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TaskLock has 16 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
TaskLock ships an update every 3 days, HoldUp every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | TaskLock | HoldUp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (16 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 10 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MUSTAFA CALISKAN | Traid Co. LLC |
Customer experience
TaskLock
HoldUp
In-app purchases
TaskLock
- Weekly Subscription$4.997 Days
- Monthly Subscription$6.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$34.991 Year
- TaskLock Premium$79.99
HoldUp
No in-app purchases








