# ChessScroll vs Nightlock

The clearest difference is monetization model: Nightlock at freemium against ChessScroll's subscription. On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ChessScroll sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Nightlock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.90 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ChessScroll ships an update fortnightly, Nightlock every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ChessScroll | Nightlock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessscroll-earn-your-scroll/id6789703834/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 100 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MICHAŁ ROSTKOWSKI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888939019) | [Mikita Chyrkun](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786025466) |

## What reviewers say

### ChessScroll

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chessscroll-earn-your-scroll/id6789703834)

This app locks distracting applications behind chess puzzles. Solve a puzzle to earn minutes of screen time for your chosen apps. It aims to reduce screen time by integrating practice into existing habits.

**Highlights:** App locking with chess puzzles, Customizable scroll time per puzzle, Offline puzzle functionality, Personalized puzzle difficulty, Privacy-focused, no account needed, Reduces screen time through habit integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual Membership | $39.99 | per year |


### Nightlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightlock-bedtime-app-blocker/id6809753781)

This app helps you break scrolling habits by locking distracting apps on a schedule or after a set daily limit. It offers friction to encourage mindful usage and provides statistics on your progress. Calls, texts, and alarms are always accessible.

**Highlights:** App and website blocking, Scheduled lock times, Daily app usage limits, Per-app limits, Strict mode for unbreakable locks, Usage statistics and streaks, Always-on calls, texts, and alarms

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $2.90 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $39.90 | per year |
| Lifetime | $79.90 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ChessScroll free?

ChessScroll is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Nightlock free?

Nightlock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do ChessScroll or Nightlock have ads?

Neither ChessScroll nor Nightlock shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ChessScroll or Nightlock?

ChessScroll ships an update fortnightly, and Nightlock every 2 weeks. Most recently, ChessScroll was updated on October 28, 2026 and Nightlock on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*