Comparison

Strict App Blocker vs Nightlock

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Nightlock

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
Read full description

Scrolling in bed again? Nightlock puts your apps to bed on schedule. Pick the apps that keep you up and set a bedtime. They lock at night and open again in the morning. Add a daily limit for the rest of the day. No willpower required — just enough friction to stop you. HOW IT WORKS • Pick the apps, sites or categories that pull you in • Set a bedtime — they lock at night and unlock in the morning • Add a daily limit — when it runs out, they lock until tomorrow MORE THAN A TIMER • Lock now — shut everything for 25 minutes, an hour, two hours or until midnight • Schedules — bedtime, study time or any window you choose • Per-app limits — give one app a tighter budget of its own • Early unlocks cost time — each one today waits a little longer, up to 5 minutes • Strict mode (Premium) — a lock that can't be broken early at all • Streaks and stats — watch the scroll-free days add up • Calls, texts and alarms always get through PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account. No tracking. Your apps, limits and stats stay on your iPhone, on top of Apple's Screen Time. PLANS Free: up to 3 apps, sites or categories under one daily limit, one schedule and one per-app limit. It doesn't expire. Premium: unlimited apps, a limit for every app, as many schedules as you like, Strict mode, no unlock wait and your full stats history. Weekly or yearly subscription (7 days free on the yearly plan), or a one-time lifetime purchase. Cancel anytime. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://mikitach.github.io/timesup-legal/privacy.html

Screenshots

Strict App Blocker4 screens
Nightlock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Strict App Blocker at free against Nightlock's freemium. Strict App Blocker also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Strict App Blocker sells 4 one-off in-app purchases 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Strict App Blocker ships an update every 3 days, Nightlock every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Strict App Blocker versus Nightlock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStrict App BlockerNightlock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCasebuddy Pty LtdMikita Chyrkun

Customer experience

Strict App Blocker

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Nightlock

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Strict App Blocker

One-time4
  • A small tip$1.99
  • A good tip$4.99
  • A generous tip$9.99
Show 1 more
  • A very generous tip$19.99
3 purchases

Nightlock

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$2.907 Days
  • Yearly7 Days trial$39.901 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$79.90

Questions

Is Strict App Blocker free?
Strict App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nightlock free?
Nightlock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Strict App Blocker or Nightlock have ads?
Neither Strict App Blocker nor Nightlock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Strict App Blocker or Nightlock?
Strict App Blocker ships an update every 3 days, and Nightlock every 2 weeks. Most recently, Strict App Blocker was updated on October 10, 2026 and Nightlock on October 31, 2026.

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