Deny vs App Screen Time 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.
App Screen Time Lock
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App Screen Time Lock helps you set clear daily boundaries for distracting apps. Choose the apps you want to control, give each one its own allowance, and the app applies a Screen Time shield after that allowance is used. Use it to: - Set separate daily limits for social, video, games, and other distracting apps - Enable Strict Lock to reduce impulsive changes after limits are active - Add a Guardian Code for an extra accountability step on sensitive changes - Set a local accountability partner name for shareable unlock requests - Share unlock request messages through the iOS share sheet when you need help deciding - Use limited Break Passes for short, intentional pauses without deleting your setup - Review and share a local event log for lock, pass, and settings changes - Keep useful apps available while only blocking the apps you selected The app uses Apple's Screen Time frameworks. Selected apps are handled as Apple-protected tokens, and your limit settings, Guardian Code data, accountability settings, break-pass state, and event logs are stored locally on your device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: App Screen Time Lock at 16.0 against Deny's 18.0. 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Deny | App Screen Time Lock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | — | Every 4 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | StepAI K.K. | KRISHNA PINNAMANENI |
In-app purchases
Deny
No in-app purchases
App Screen Time Lock
No in-app purchases









