Comparison

FocusGuard vs AppBlocker

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

AppBlocker

Features
Read full description

PEAK turns a focus session into a commitment your phone helps you defend. Pick what distracts you. Pick how long you want to work. Then lock in. For the length of the session PEAK uses Apple's Screen Time to shield the apps and websites you chose, so the decision to focus gets made once instead of every ninety seconds. LOCK THEM OUT Choose apps, categories and websites through Apple's own picker. PEAK never learns which ones you picked. Screen Time hands the app an opaque token and nothing else. STRICT MODE Strict mode holds the session closed. Quitting early takes a deliberate confirmation rather than a reflex tap, so a dull moment does not cost you the block. PRESETS THAT FIT THE WORK SPRINT runs 25 minutes on and 5 off. DEEP WORK runs 50 and 10. LOCK IN runs 90 and 15. Build your own when none of those match the task. A DAILY TARGET Set a target in minutes and watch the day fill in. Progress keeps your completed sessions, your streak and an honest record of where the hours went. ROUTINES Schedule recurring sessions by weekday and time. The morning block starts itself. HOLD TO COMMIT Starting a session takes a press and hold rather than a tap. Small friction, deliberately placed. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Sessions, presets and routines stay on your device. There is no account, no login and no cloud sync, and your Screen Time selection never leaves your phone. PEAK PRO PEAK is a subscription app. Full access needs PEAK Pro, an auto-renewing subscription available as a weekly or a yearly plan. Prices are shown in the app before you buy. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase, and the subscription renews automatically unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel it any time in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://peak-landing.avilletardpiano.workers.dev/privacy Terms of Use: https://peak-landing.avilletardpiano.workers.dev/terms

Screenshots

FocusGuard4 screens
AppBlocker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FocusGuard at none against AppBlocker's 2. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. AppBlocker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. FocusGuard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
FocusGuard versus AppBlocker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocusGuardAppBlocker
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developererdem caygorAugustin Villetard

In-app purchases

None

FocusGuard

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

AppBlocker

Subscriptions2
  • PEAK Pro Weekly$9.997 Days
  • PEAK Pro Yearly$39.991 Year

Questions

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

Other comparisons