Comparison

FocusGuard vs Goals Lock

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

Head to head
About

FocusGuard

Features
Read full description

Take back your time. FocusGuard blocks the apps that pull you in, and makes sure the block holds when your willpower doesn't. THE PROBLEM Most of us unlock our phones dozens of times a day, usually without deciding to. The apps are built to keep you scrolling, and a simple time limit is one tap away from "Ignore". Blocking only works if it's hard to undo. THE SOLUTION FocusGuard is built on Apple's Screen Time, so blocks are enforced by iOS itself. You choose how strict to be, from a gentle pause to a session that can't be cancelled. HOW IT WORKS 1. Tell us your goal. A short setup builds your plan: a daily focus goal, a starter schedule and the apps that distract you most. 2. Block in one tap. Start a focus session from a quick preset or with Siri. 3. Pick your strictness. Flexible allows a mindful pause, Focus asks for a 30-second challenge to quit, Strict can't be ended early. 4. Watch your streak grow. Every focused day counts toward your streak, gems and milestones. WAYS TO BLOCK • Focus Sessions: block the apps and sites you choose for a set time • Schedules: block automatically on the days and hours you pick, including overnight • Daily App Limits: give social apps a daily budget. When it's spent, they lock until midnight • Always On: keep apps blocked until you turn it off • Dumb Phone Mode: allow only the few apps you truly need. Everything else locks • Sleep Mode: distractions lock automatically at bedtime HARD TO BACK OUT OF • Strict Mode: no cancel button. One Emergency Pass per week for real emergencies • Mindful Pause: one slow breath and a reason before a short, timed unlock. Apps lock again on their own • See how many times you resisted today, right on the block screen • PIN and uninstall protection against impulse decisions STAY MOTIVATED • Focus Score: your progress toward today's focus goal • Weekly focus charts, streaks, evolving gems and milestones • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, plus a Live Activity while you focus • Siri and Shortcuts: start focusing or lock apps hands-free • Focus sounds: white, pink and brown noise WHY FOCUSGUARD IS DIFFERENT • Blocks are enforced by iOS Screen Time, not a reminder you can swipe away • No VPN profile, no account, no ads • FocusGuard never sees which apps you use. Apple keeps that private, and your data stays on your iPhone FREE • Unlimited Flexible focus sessions with Mindful Pause • 1 schedule plus Sleep Mode, and 1 daily app limit • Streaks, Focus Score, widgets and 7-day stats FOCUSGUARD PRO • Focus and Strict difficulty • Dumb Phone Mode • Unlimited schedules and app limits • PIN and uninstall protection • 30-day history and focus heatmap Pro is available as a weekly, monthly or yearly auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → your name → Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Goals Lock

Features
Read full description

Reclaim your focus, break the scroll loop, and get active. Goals Lock is the ultimate screen time controller that transforms physical movement into digital freedom. Instead of locking yourself out of apps with passive passwords, Goals Lock challenges you to earn your screen time through physical exercises like pushups and squats, tracked in real-time by advanced on-device Vision AI. Whether you want to limit social media scrolling, lock distracting gaming apps during work hours, or build a healthier daily routine, Goals Lock bridges the gap between digital wellness and physical fitness. HOW IT WORKS: CHOOSE YOUR LIMITS: Group distracting apps and categories (social media, entertainment, games) that you want to restrict. SQUAT OR PUSHUP TO UNLOCK: When you need access, place your phone down. The front camera and private, on-device Vision AI will track and count your reps automatically. ENJOY GUILT-FREE ACCESS: Successfully hitting your rep goal unlocks a custom timer session. Once the timer expires, the apps lock back up automatically. ACCUMULATE IN THE VAULT: Don't want to use your minutes immediately? Save your earned exercise minutes in your personal Vault to redeem them whenever you need them. KEY FEATURES: ON-DEVICE VISION AI TRACKER: No manual input or cheating. Place your phone down and let our smart Vision AI count your squats and pushups automatically using your front camera. FOCUS MODE WITH AMBIENT AUDIO: Need to study or work? Start a Focus Session. Block all distractions completely and listen to offline ambient sounds like Rain, Ocean, or Forest to keep you in the zone. STRICT MODE: Prevent impulsive decisions. When Strict Mode is active, you cannot bypass or disable locks instantly, forcing you to stick to your goals. BONUS MINUTES BANK: Convert extra workouts into a reserve of unlockable screen time. NATIVE SCREEN TIME SHIELDING: Powered by Apple's Screen Time API (ManagedSettings) for system-level locking that you cannot simply swipe away or force close. PRIVACY-FIRST AND SECURE: Your privacy is our highest priority: Vision AI processing is executed 100% on-device. Camera frames are analyzed in real-time and immediately discarded. No video, image, or personal data ever leaves your device or is sent to any server. No sign-ups, accounts, or internet connection required. Stop scrolling mindlessly. Turn screen time into healthy habits with Goals Lock. Download now and start earning your digital freedom!

Screenshots

FocusGuard4 screens
Goals Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Goals Lock at every 2 weeks against FocusGuard's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FocusGuard ships an update every 2 months, Goals Lock every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
FocusGuard versus Goals Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocusGuardGoals Lock
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developererdem caygorSahil Kamble

In-app purchases

None

FocusGuard

No in-app purchases

None

Goals Lock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FocusGuard free?
FocusGuard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Goals Lock free?
Goals Lock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FocusGuard or Goals Lock have ads?
Neither FocusGuard nor Goals Lock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FocusGuard or Goals Lock?
FocusGuard ships an update every 2 months, and Goals Lock every 2 weeks. Most recently, FocusGuard was updated on October 24, 2026 and Goals Lock on October 13, 2026.

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