Comparison

Latch vs ShiftFlow

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

Head to head
About

Latch

This app helps you regain focus by blocking time-wasting apps and websites. It requires a physical action, like scanning an NFC sticker or QR code, to unlock them, encouraging mindful usage. Features include customizable profiles, schedules, and location-based locking.

Highlights
  • Physical key scan to unlock apps
  • NFC sticker and QR code support
  • Customizable app and website blocking
  • Location-based locking
  • Scheduled locking profiles
  • Commitment mode for extended focus
Features
Read full description

Latch blocks the apps that steal your time — and puts the unlock button somewhere you have to walk to. Pick the apps, categories and websites that pull you in, then slide the latch to lock them. To unlock, scan your key: a few-cent NFC sticker or a QR code you print at home. Keep it on the fridge, in the car or at your desk at work, and the few steps it takes to go get it are usually enough to change your mind. Latch uses Apple's Screen Time (Family Controls) to block apps on your own iPhone. Your choices stay on your iPhone. YOUR KEY, NO GADGET • Use any NTAG213, NTAG215 or NTAG216 NFC sticker — a few cents each — or a QR code you print at home (the camera scans it) • Tap the sticker with Latch closed, or scan it in the app • Stickers are locked with a password after writing, so no one can write over them. Save the password in Apple's Passwords app • Share one key with family or roommates — one sticker on the fridge for the whole house • Tell Latch where each key lives, and the lock screen tells you where to walk • One key works with all your iPhones • A steps key (Pro): walk 500 to 20,000 steps to unlock, counted with Motion & Fitness • On iPad, use a QR key. NFC stickers, the steps key and lock while driving need an iPhone LOCKS BEFORE YOU THINK TO • Built-in profiles — Work, Social and Bedtime — ready with the usual suspects • Schedules (Pro): every weekday morning, or at bedtime until you scan your key • Places: lock when you arrive at the office or the gym, and unlock when you leave (uses your location) • Lock while driving (Pro): Latch notices a drive with your location and Motion & Fitness, locks the profile you choose, and unlocks after you park • A Control Center toggle (iOS 18): tap to lock, tap again to open the scanner • Siri: "Latch my phone", or "Latch my phone with Work". Also in Shortcuts and on the Action button BUILT FOR THE DAYS YOU'D RATHER NOT • Daily limits (Pro): give an app or category a few minutes a day while you're unlocked • Commitment mode (Pro): stay locked for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours • Hard lock: choose to block deleting apps, installing apps and in-app purchases while you're locked • Break glass: three times a month, open your apps for 5–15 minutes without your key; they lock again on their own • Block explicit websites with Apple's filter, per profile • Your own words on the block screen, like "Finish your work first" SEE THE TIME YOU GOT BACK • A daily locked-time goal and a streak to keep • Your last 7 days, how they compare with the week before, and a Sunday recap • How often you reached for a blocked app, and what broke your focus • Month and all-time views (Pro) • Lock Screen widgets and a Dynamic Island timer • iCloud sync between your iPhones PRIVATE BY DESIGN Latch has no accounts, no ads and no analytics. Apple's Screen Time keeps your app choices and usage on your iPhone, so we never see them. LATCH PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE Free includes one key, three profiles, two places and seven days of stats. Pro unlocks unlimited keys, profiles and places, schedules, daily limits, commitment mode, lock while driving, key hours, a steps key and full history. No subscription.

About

ShiftFlow

This offline calendar helps you plan repeating work shifts and days off. Build custom rotations, set reminders, and view statistics. Your data stays on your device.

Highlights
  • Custom shift rotation builder
  • Local reminders for shifts
  • Monthly schedule sharing
  • Shift statistics and analysis
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Offline data storage
  • JSON data backup and restore
Read full description

Plan work. Make room for life. ShiftFlow is an offline calendar for repeating work shifts. Build a rotation from your own shifts and see workdays, nights and days off together. BUILD A ROTATION Add shifts in order, such as day, day, night, night, rest, rest. Choose the first date and save. Create up to 20 shift types and rotations of up to 60 days, with an explicit schedule time zone. HANDLE DATE CHANGES Tap a date to enter shifts across consecutive days; each choice advances to the next day. Add a note or return to the rotation when needed. Shift times support overnight work. REMIND AND SHARE Enable local reminders for each shift at its start, 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes before, or at a chosen time on the same day or the previous day. Share an image of the month's schedule when you need to communicate your plans. STATISTICS AND WIDGETS Review shift counts, work hours, workdays, rest days and unassigned days by month, year or a custom period. No wage calculations. Check your rotation with Home Screen or Lock Screen widgets. KEEP DATA ON YOUR DEVICE No account is required. Shifts and notes stay on your device. Export a complete JSON backup; restoring preserves a copy of the previous file. Includes 10 interface languages, light and dark appearance, larger text and reduced animations. Reminders cover up to 60 upcoming work shifts. Reopen the app to extend coverage. iOS permissions, Focus and system settings can affect delivery. Nonexistent daylight-saving times move to the next valid time. Your entries are personal plans: check your employer's official roster. Export a backup before uninstalling or changing devices.

Screenshots

Latch4 screens
ShiftFlow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Latch at 100% against ShiftFlow's 50%. Latch also leads on ads (none vs shown). ShiftFlow's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Latch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ShiftFlow asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Latch ships an update weekly, ShiftFlow every 10 days. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Latch versus ShiftFlow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLatchShiftFlow
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLukla Logic LLCPengPeng Li

Customer experience

Latch

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ShiftFlow

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Latch

One-time1
  • Latch Pro$9.99
None

ShiftFlow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Latch free?
Latch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShiftFlow free?
ShiftFlow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Latch or ShiftFlow have ads?
ShiftFlow shows ads; Latch does not.
Which is updated more often, Latch or ShiftFlow?
Latch ships an update weekly, and ShiftFlow every 10 days. Most recently, Latch was updated on November 6, 2026 and ShiftFlow on November 6, 2026.

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