Comparison

Unstuck vs Arc Lock

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

Head to head
About

Unstuck

This app helps you overcome procrastination by blocking distracting applications for a set duration. It offers multiple session modes and strict controls to ensure you stay focused on your tasks without intrusive reminders or tracking.

Highlights
  • OS-level app blocking via Screen Time
  • Multiple session modes (Pomodoro, Micro-task, Schedule)
  • Strict mode to prevent early bailouts
  • On-device focus logs and stats
  • Customizable recurring schedules
  • Privacy-focused with no tracking or cloud storage
Features
Read full description

Stop scrolling. Start finishing. Unstuck is a procrastination killer for people who already know the tricks and still can't stop opening the same four apps. Pick a task, set a duration, and Screen Time shields the distractions until the timer runs out. No mascots. No streak guilt-trips. No dashboards pretending to be work. Just a hard stop between you and the feed. **What it does** - OS-level blocking via Screen Time — not a polite reminder - Shielded apps stay shielded until the session ends - Live countdown with apps-blocked count front and center - Local focus log so you can see the minutes you actually showed up **Three session modes** - *Pomodoro* — 25/5 focus and break intervals - *Micro-task* — one small unstuck action, distractions off until it's done - *Schedule* — recurring weekly windows that run themselves **Built for serious users** - FamilyActivityPicker for private app and category selection - Custom recurring schedules with day and time ranges - Strict mode confirms before you can bail early - Daily streak and focus stats, on-device only **Privacy** App selections use Apple's privacy-preserving tokens. History stays on device. No accounts. No tracking. No cloud. Requires iOS 17 and Screen Time authorization. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Arc Lock

Features
Read full description

Companies fight for every second of your time to keep you distracted. Taking control of your screen time should be a human right, not something locked behind a paywall. Arc Lock blocks the apps and websites that eat your day, and once a block starts, it stays on. Every feature is free for everyone: no subscription, no account, no ads, no in-app purchases. SCHEDULES Pick apps, app categories and websites, choose the hours and days, and they lock on their own. Overnight windows like 11 PM – 7 AM work too (up to 22 hours). DAILY LIMITS Allow yourself a set time each day, from 5 minutes to 8 hours. See exactly how many minutes are used and left. When the time is used up, those apps lock until the limit resets: at midnight, or at the time you pick (say 4:00 AM, for late nights). A heads-up comes 5 minutes before. TIME-OUTS Not a full block, a pause. After a stretch of use, the apps take a short break, then open again. For example: after 20 minutes of short videos, a 10-minute break. It repeats all day and starts fresh at its reset time. BLOCK NOW Lock distractions right away, from 15 minutes to 12 hours. The Block now button is always one tap away. PLACES Pick one or more places on the map, like the library, your school or the gym, and the apps lock when you arrive. Each place block ends when you leave, or after a set time, whichever you choose, and starts only on the days you pick. Location access is asked for only when you set up a place block, and Arc Lock never sends your location anywhere. STRICT LOCK Every block can have Strict lock, and it's on by default. While a strict block runs: • it can't be stopped, loosened or deleted in Arc Lock • the date and time can't be changed by hand • the block screen has a single button: Close Daily limits and time-outs are locked in until they reset: you can make one stricter once a day, but looser settings only start at its next reset. Want a gentler block? Switch Strict lock off for that block, and you can stop it whenever you like. Switching Strict lock off for the whole app works right away: a block that's running or counting stays strict only until its own reset, or until it ends. DELETION PROTECTION On by default: no app can be deleted from your iPhone, Arc Lock included. Switching it off waits only until your strict blocks reset or end. LOCK-IN Freeze every rule for 1 to 30 days, even between blocks: no loosening, no deleting rules, no deleting apps. Changes you queued before it wait until it ends. WEBSITES BY ADDRESS Type a site like youtube.com and it's blocked in Safari and every other browser, in schedules, daily limits, time-outs and Block now. APPLE'S OWN LOOK Native lists and a compact Liquid Glass tab bar: Home, Blocks and Settings. Names are optional: a block without one is shown by its first app. Five themes (Navy, Graphite, Forest, Plum and Paper), each with a matching app icon. The phone-and-lock mark in the app closes while something is blocked. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Arc Lock works through Apple's Screen Time. Apple keeps your activity on your iPhone; Arc Lock never learns which apps you use and sends nothing anywhere. No account, no analytics, no tracking. OPEN SOURCE The complete source code is on GitHub under the MIT license: github.com/WeldingArc/arc-lock

Screenshots

Unstuck4 screens
Arc Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Arc Lock at none against Unstuck's 3. Arc Lock also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads 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. Unstuck sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Arc Lock asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Unstuck versus Arc Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUnstuckArc Lock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequency—Every 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB7 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperHarris ZimmermanJUN HYUK CHOI

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Unstuck

Subscriptions3
  • Unstuck Weekly Subscription$6.997 Days
  • Unstuck Monthly subscription$6.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$29.991 Year
None

Arc Lock

No in-app purchases

Questions

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

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