App Blocker vs Strict App Blocker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
App Blocker
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The app blocker that actually holds the line. A Screen Time limit you can dismiss in one tap isn't really blocking anything. Grindly is the app blocker that physically locks the apps wrecking your focus — until you've done what matters. No willpower required. Just lock in. HOW IT WORKS • Pick the apps to block — socials, games, whatever hijacks your focus • Set your daily non-negotiables — gym, deep work, reading… • Finish them to unlock, and watch your streak grow A REAL BLOCKER, NOT JUST A TIMER Grindly uses Apple Screen Time to actually shield your apps. Run a hard Lock-In Session (a focus timer you can't casually dismiss) or a task-gate that keeps apps locked until your non-negotiables are done. Everything runs on-device and private — your app selections are never readable by us. BLOCK APPS, BUILD STREAKS • A "don't break the chain" streak grid • Current and best streak, completion rate, and a discipline score • Locked-in hours plus weekly and monthly momentum BUILT TO BEAT DISTRACTION Doomscrolling. Phone addiction. Exam grind. A real dopamine detox. Whatever you're locking in for, Grindly keeps you accountable — and makes showing up feel good. HONEST PRICING Grindly Free is genuinely useful: a block profile, your non-negotiables, and the full lock-in and streak loop. Go Pro for unlimited tasks and block profiles, multiple Lock-In Sessions, advanced discipline analytics, optional Anti-Cheat photo check-ins, an AI discipline coach, and premium themes. Simple monthly or annual pricing with a clear free trial — no predatory weekly billing, cancel anytime. Block the apps. Lock in. For real. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://betteryouknow.github.io/grindly/privacy.html
Strict App Blocker
This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting daily limits or blocking specific applications during designated hours. Features include a countdown timer, a strict "hard mode" for complete blocking, and a grayscale option to discourage usage. It offers a ten-day training period to build new habits.
- Daily time limits for apps
- Scheduled app blocking (Hard Mode)
- Grayscale mode for usage deterrence
- Strict training mode to lock settings
- Sixty-day usage history
- No account required, data stays on device
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Set a daily time limit on the apps that eat your day, or shut them off completely between the hours you choose. When the time is gone, it's gone. Free. No account, no subscription, no trial that runs out. DAILY BUDGET Pick your worst apps and give them a limit. The timer counts down while you use them and resets each morning. Open a blocked app and you see how long is left, not a wall with no explanation. HARD MODE Schedule a window and the apps simply don't open. 9 to 5. 11pm to 7am. Whatever you need. No countdown, no bargaining. GREYSCALE Turn the screen black and white the moment you open something you're trying to cut down on. It sounds like a gimmick. It works better than it should. STRICT TRAINING Ten days to get used to it, then you can lock the settings so the version of you at 1am can't undo what you decided at 10am. WHY IT'S FREE Every other blocker wants forty dollars a year to help you use your phone less. This one doesn't. There's a tip jar in Settings if you want to, and that's the whole business model. No account means there's nothing to leak, and your data never leaves your phone. Dark mode, a sixty day history of the days you left your rules alone, and Otto, who tells you where you're at without nagging.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Strict App Blocker at every 3 days against App Blocker's every 3 weeks. 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. App Blocker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Strict App Blocker sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
App Blocker ships an update every 3 weeks, Strict App Blocker every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | App Blocker | Strict App Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Taylan Karadeniz | Casebuddy Pty Ltd |
In-app purchases
App Blocker
- Grindly Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
- Grindly Pro Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
Strict App Blocker
- A small tip$1.99
- A good tip$4.99
- A generous tip$9.99
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- A very generous tip$19.99









