Comparison

DepthWork vs Intent Lock

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

Head to head
About

DepthWork

Features
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Most focus apps just count minutes. DepthWork measures the quality of your attention β€” built for ADHD minds, developers, and anyone who's tried every timer and still can't stay focused. Cal Newport called it deep work. We built the tool that measures whether you actually did it. Designed around peer-reviewed research on attention, habit formation, and flow states, DepthWork turns deep work into a system you can actually train. WHAT MAKES DEPTHWORK DIFFERENT Focus Depth Index (FDI) β€” a single 0–100 score that reflects how deep your focus really went, not just how long you sat there. Flow state detection β€” sessions that cross the ~25-minute uninterrupted threshold earn a rare Flow badge, inspired by CsΓ­kszentmihΓ‘lyi's research. Distraction timing matters β€” interruptions early in a session cost more than late ones, modeling the well-known 23-minute re-focus cost. Goal completion bonus β€” set a micro-goal before each session β€” completing it adds a significant bonus to your FDI score. Focus fitness tracking β€” watch your focus score grow week over week as your sessions get deeper. HOW IT WORKS Set your intention. A short pre-session goal primes your attention before the timer starts. Focus without interruption. The app silently tracks session quality in the background. Get your FDI score. Completion ratio, distraction decay, timing penalty, and goal completion combine into a meaningful number. Build the habit. Your FDI trend, flow badges, and weekly progress chart show how your attention actually improves β€” not just whether you showed up. ACHIEVEMENTS THAT MEAN SOMETHING Every badge marks a measurable point in your focus development β€” backed by the same research that powers the FDI score: First Synapse β€” your first focus session Myelin Builder β€” one week in, your routine is taking shape Habit Encoded β€” three weeks of practice, focus starts to feel automatic Neural Architect β€” one month in, focus is becoming part of who you are Flow Native β€” six months, flow sessions are a regular part of your week Zone Entered β€” your first fully uninterrupted session THE RESEARCH BEHIND IT 23-minute distraction recovery (UC Irvine attention research) Repeated, deliberate practice as the foundation of habit-building Goal completion as one of the most reliable reinforcement loops Strategically timed breaks to sustain attention Flow state thresholds drawn from CsΓ­kszentmihΓ‘lyi's work Pink and white noise at low volumes to support sustained attention PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account required All data stays on your device No tracking, no ads, no data sharing Works fully offline WHO IT'S FOR Knowledge workers tired of shallow productivity timers Students preparing for deep, sustained study Writers, designers, developers, researchers, and anyone who lives by their attention People with ADHD rebuilding focus after years of fragmented digital habits PRICING Try DepthWork Premium free for 7 days. After your trial, Premium continues at $1.99/month unless canceled. Cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the end of the trial. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription in your Apple ID account settings. Train your focus. Work deeper. Think clearer. A NOTE ON THE SCIENCE DepthWork is informed by widely cited attention and focus research, but it does not measure your brain directly β€” there are no EEG sensors or neural readings. The Focus Depth Index is a behavioral score derived from your session activity (interruption timing, goal completion, session length, and distraction patterns). It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose or treat ADHD or any other condition.

About

Intent Lock

Features
Read full description

Most mornings, the first thing you do is check your phone. Notifications. Social media. News. And just like that, your day has already started without you. Intent Lock flips that script. Your phone stays locked until you set your intentions for the day. No scrolling. No distractions. Just you and your goals before anything else gets your attention. HOW IT WORKS Every morning, Intent Lock activates during your wake hours. Your phone is blocked from your usual apps until you open Intent Lock and write down what you actually want to accomplish today. Set your goals. Hit submit. Your phone unlocks. That's it. Throughout the day, come back to your dashboard to check off goals as you complete them. Watch your progress bar fill. Keep your streak alive. End the day knowing exactly what you did and did not do. FEATURES - Phone and App Blocker: Keeps your phone locked each morning until your daily goals are set, using Apple's Screen Time FamilyControls framework. - Daily Goals and Intentions: Set a drag-to-reorder list of intentions each morning. Clear, simple, no system to learn. - Progress Dashboard: Check off goals throughout the day. Visual progress bar shows how your day is going at a glance. - Streak Counter: Build a consecutive day streak displayed on a full-screen weekly calendar so every day counts. - Home Screen Widgets: Interactive goal checkboxes right on your home screen via WidgetKit. See and complete your goals without opening the app. - Live Activities: Persistent goal progress visible on your lock screen and Dynamic Island throughout the day. - Flexible Wake Hours: Configure your own blocked hours. Whether you wake at 5am or 9am, Intent Lock adapts to your schedule. WHY INTENT LOCK IS DIFFERENT Most app blockers just block apps. Most goal trackers just track goals. Intent Lock connects the two. Your phone access is the incentive. You don't get your apps until you have decided what today is for. This is not about restriction. It is about intention. Your phone is a tool, not a default. Intent Lock makes sure you pick it up on purpose. WHO IT IS FOR Intent Lock is for anyone who has ever picked up their phone in the morning and lost 30 minutes without meaning to. If you have tried habit trackers, goal apps, or app blockers and nothing has stuck, it is because none of them had a real consequence. Intent Lock does. Start your first intentional day. Download Intent Lock and wake up tomorrow ready to start with intention. (Note: Intent Lock requires an active subscription. No features are available without one.) Terms of Use: https://intentlock.noctavelabs.com/terms Privacy: https://intentlock.noctavelabs.com/privacy

Screenshots

DepthWork4 screens
Intent Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Intent Lock at every 2 days against DepthWork's every 8 days. Intent Lock also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

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

Both are free to download. DepthWork sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Intent Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DepthWork ships an update every 8 days, Intent Lock every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
DepthWork versus Intent Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDepthWorkIntent Lock
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 2 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS26.015.1 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size43 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJakub NowakowskiNOCTAVE LABS PTE. LTD.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

DepthWork

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
2 purchases

Intent Lock

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month

Questions

Is DepthWork free?
DepthWork is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Intent Lock free?
Intent Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DepthWork or Intent Lock have ads?
Neither DepthWork nor Intent Lock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DepthWork or Intent Lock?
DepthWork ships an update every 8 days, and Intent Lock every 2 days. Most recently, DepthWork was updated on October 4, 2026 and Intent Lock on October 8, 2026.

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