Comparison

Focus Blocks vs App Screen Time Lock

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

Head to head
About

Focus Blocks

Read full description

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. 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 • Choose whether a rule applies to all devices or only this device • 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

App Screen Time Lock

Features
Read full description

App Screen Time Lock helps you set clear daily boundaries for distracting apps. Choose the apps you want to control, give each one its own allowance, and the app applies a Screen Time shield after that allowance is used. Use it to: - Set separate daily limits for social, video, games, and other distracting apps - Enable Strict Lock to reduce impulsive changes after limits are active - Add a Guardian Code for an extra accountability step on sensitive changes - Set a local accountability partner name for shareable unlock requests - Share unlock request messages through the iOS share sheet when you need help deciding - Use limited Break Passes for short, intentional pauses without deleting your setup - Review and share a local event log for lock, pass, and settings changes - Keep useful apps available while only blocking the apps you selected The app uses Apple's Screen Time frameworks. Selected apps are handled as Apple-protected tokens, and your limit settings, Guardian Code data, accountability settings, break-pass state, and event logs are stored locally on your device.

Screenshots

Focus Blocks4 screens
App Screen Time Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: App Screen Time Lock at 16.0 against Focus Blocks's 18.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
Focus Blocks versus App Screen Time Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus BlocksApp Screen Time Lock
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMikhail NemilovKRISHNA PINNAMANENI

In-app purchases

None

Focus Blocks

No in-app purchases

None

App Screen Time Lock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focus Blocks free?
Focus Blocks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is App Screen Time Lock free?
App Screen Time Lock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Focus Blocks or App Screen Time Lock have ads?
Neither Focus Blocks nor App Screen Time Lock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Blocks or App Screen Time Lock?
Focus Blocks ships an update every 4 days, and App Screen Time Lock every 4 days. Most recently, Focus Blocks was updated on September 21, 2026 and App Screen Time Lock on September 12, 2026.

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