Comparison

MathBlocker vs VisionLock

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

Head to head
About

MathBlocker

This app places a math problem between you and apps you overuse. Solve a math question to regain access to blocked applications, with difficulty levels and problem sets from standardized tests.

Highlights
  • Block any app or category
  • Adjustable math problem difficulty
  • Choose from various standardized test problem sets
  • Earn back app time by solving problems
  • Set daily, weekly, and per-app limits
  • Schedule blocks by time of day
  • Usage dashboard
Features
Read full description

MathBlocker puts a math problem between you and the apps you open too much. You pick the apps you want blocked. When you try to open one after your time's up, a math question shows up instead. You answer it, you get a few minutes back. You don't, the app stays closed. The questions are real. They come from the same problem sets people use to study for the SAT, ACT, AMC, and AIME. You can set the difficulty. Easy questions if you just want a speed bump. Harder ones if you actually want to stop scrolling. Features - Block any app or category — social, video, games, news, browsers - Pick your difficulty, from warmup arithmetic to competition-level - Choose your problem set: SAT, ACT, AMC, AIME, Putnam, or general practice - Earn time back per problem solved (you set how much) - Daily, weekly, and per-app limits - Schedule blocks by time of day (bedtime, study hours, work hours) - Dashboard with usage broken down by app, hour, and day - Custom block screen so it actually feels like a stop sign - Works with Family Sharing if you're setting it up for someone younger A few ways people use it: blocking social apps during work hours. Locking everything after 10pm with hard math. Pairing it with actual SAT prep so the time you would've spent scrolling becomes practice instead. Everything stays on your phone. No account, no login, no data sent anywhere. iOS 16 and up. iPhone only.

About

VisionLock

Features
Read full description

Better than Apple's "Screen Time" feature, VisionLock helps you understand why you scroll, and adds friction exactly where your thumb runs on autopilot. 4 hours. That's the average time people spend on their phone today, often without even realizing it. Most blockers just ask "which apps do you want to block?" in 30 seconds. VisionLock starts differently: a short diagnostic to identify your real trigger (boredom, anxiety, a nighttime habit, social comparison...), then builds your Vision: what you want to protect with the time you win back. How it works Instead of a hard wall, VisionLock adds friction before you open the apps that waste your time: a countdown that gets longer every time you reopen the app during the day. This friction actually works. A field study (Grüning et al., PNAS 2023) found that a few seconds of delay reduced compulsive app-opening attempts by 37% over 6 weeks. Your Vision, always in view Before you open a distracting app, VisionLock shows you your Vision: the photos and sentences that represent what you actually want. A quiet reminder, at the right moment, not guilt-tripping. Features • Session blocking with progressive friction on the apps you choose • Usage reminders at a custom interval • Compulsive reopening (relapse) detection, with a one-time extension option • Fully customizable Night / Work schedules (hours, days) • Website blocking by domain • Personal Vision board: photos and sentences shown before opening apps • Weekly Vision Report: the time you protected this week • An honest streak that tracks daily consistency • Emergency unlock with a written reason, limited per month • Native integration with iOS Screen Time Free forever Core blocking will never be paywalled: one session block, reminders, one scheduled block, one Vision, free, with no time limit. VisionLock Plus unlocks Website blocking, multiple schedules and rules running at once, unlimited apps per block, unlimited Visions. A subscription is required to access all features, including widgets, themes, reminders, and sharing. Subscription details and pricing are available within the app. Privacy policy: https://visionlock.vercel.app/privacy Terms of use: https://visionlock.vercel.app/terms EULA: https://apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

MathBlocker4 screens
VisionLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MathBlocker at none against VisionLock's 2. VisionLock's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. VisionLock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. MathBlocker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
MathBlocker versus VisionLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMathBlockerVisionLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequency—Every 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB158 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndy PhuVianney Le Masson

In-app purchases

None

MathBlocker

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

VisionLock

Subscriptions2
  • Carlos Pro Weekly7 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Carlos Pro Yearly7 Days trial$45.001 Year

Questions

Is MathBlocker free?
MathBlocker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VisionLock free?
VisionLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MathBlocker or VisionLock have ads?
Neither MathBlocker nor VisionLock shows ads.

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