Deny vs Goals Lock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Deny
This app helps you regain focus by blocking distracting applications. It requires a friend's approval to unlock apps, fostering accountability and making screen time limits stick. Take back your attention with a collaborative approach to digital well-being.
- Block distracting apps and sites
- Schedule app blocking
- Daily time limits for apps
- Friend approval required for unlocks
- Temporary unlock with countdown
- Collaborative progress tracking
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Deny locks the apps that waste your time — and puts a friend in charge of the key. Most screen-time apps fail for one reason: the moment you want back in, you just tap "ignore limit." Deny removes that escape hatch. Block your most distracting apps, and when you want to unlock them, you have to ask a friend to approve it. HOW IT WORKS • Build block groups — pick the apps and sites to lock, on a schedule or a daily time limit. • Stay locked. Blocked apps are shielded by iOS, so there's no sneaking past them. • Allow temporary unlocks — give yourself a set number of minutes, with a live countdown showing exactly when apps re-lock. • Bring in friends. Connect with an invite code, then ask a friend for screen time. They approve or deny — you stay accountable. • See each other's progress and keep one another honest. WHY DENY • Friends make it stick. Accountability beats willpower. • Honest by design — no one-tap "ignore." • Private. Your data is yours; we never sell it or use it for ads. Deny uses Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls) features to block apps on your own device. Take back your attention — together.
Goals Lock
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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
Verdict
Deny and Goals Lock are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Deny | Goals Lock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | StepAI K.K. | Sahil Kamble |
In-app purchases
Deny
No in-app purchases
Goals Lock
No in-app purchases









