Comparison

Focus Blocks vs OpenAppLock

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

Head to head
About

Focus Blocks

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Focus Blocks is an app blocker for iPhone and iPad that puts distracting apps out of reach during the time you set aside to focus. Choose the apps. Choose the rule. Block during focus hours, allow only inside chosen windows, or set a daily app budget. When a rule applies, selected apps are hidden system-wide until they are allowed again. No willpower games, no streaks, no social layer — just one clear setting that gives you your attention back. Built on Apple's Screen Time APIs, Focus Blocks works entirely on your device. It has no backend and no account. Your rules sync between your own devices through iCloud, under your own Apple ID. Screen Time app selections are private device-local tokens, so each device asks you to confirm the apps it should block before enabling a synced rule there. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Create as many focus blocks as you want — mornings, weekdays, deep-work afternoons • Pick specific apps and whole categories in one tap • Block during a schedule, allow only during a schedule, or set a daily limit • Enable synced rules separately on each device after confirming local app selections • Add a weekly setup window so blocks cannot be edited on impulse • Enable or disable any inactive block from one screen PRIVACY BY DEFAULT • No sign-up, no account • No analytics, no ads, no third-party SDKs • Uses Apple's Screen Time framework — selections and usage stay on-device • iCloud Key-Value Store is the only remote storage, and it lives in your own Apple ID Focus Blocks is self-directed. It is not a parental-control product and does not monitor or manage other people's devices. Requires iOS 18 or later.

About

OpenAppLock

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking specific applications. You can set schedules, time limits, or open limits for apps, and even create custom rules to prevent unwanted usage.

Highlights
  • Block apps on a schedule
  • Set time or open limits
  • Preset and custom rules
  • Lock rule edits
Features
Read full description

Block apps and reclaim your screen time! - Block apps on a schedule, or add a time/open limit - Choose from preset rules, or create your own - Lock rule edits to prevent changes while blocking

Screenshots

Focus Blocks4 screens
OpenAppLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Focus Blocks at 18.0 against OpenAppLock's 26.0. 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Blocks ships an update every 4 days, OpenAppLock weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Focus Blocks versus OpenAppLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus BlocksOpenAppLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—6 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMikhail NemilovBrendan Chen

In-app purchases

None

Focus Blocks

No in-app purchases

None

OpenAppLock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focus Blocks free?
Focus Blocks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpenAppLock free?
OpenAppLock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Focus Blocks or OpenAppLock have ads?
Neither Focus Blocks nor OpenAppLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Blocks or OpenAppLock?
Focus Blocks ships an update every 4 days, and OpenAppLock weekly. Most recently, Focus Blocks was updated on October 8, 2026 and OpenAppLock on October 9, 2026.

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