Brainbuddy vs CardioUnlock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Brainbuddy
This app helps users break free from digital habits and addictive behaviors through a neuroscience-based approach. It offers educational programs, progress tracking, and community support to rewire the brain and improve self-control.
- Neuroscience-based habit rewiring program
- 100-day evidence-based education
- Progress tracking and daily checkups
- Supportive community and accountability challenges
- Content blocker and web filter
- Personalized 'Life Tree' growth visualization
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Brainbuddy is the #1 dopamine detox and habit rewiring app, built to help you crave less and live more. Whether your goal is to cut back or quit unwanted digital habits entirely, Brainbuddy’s neuroscience approach can help you change your relationship with screen time, intimacy, and dopamine. With a 100-day evidence-based education program, progress tracking, supportive community, and science-based recovery tools, Brainbuddy helps you rewire your brain and regain self-control. Reboot your life. (Note: All features require a paid Brainbuddy Premium subscription after onboarding). WHY MILLIONS CHOOSE BRAINBUDDY PREMIUM REWIRE YOUR BRAIN Based on 12 years of research, our state-of-the-art rewiring program teaches you how to conquer your impulses, one step at a time. Turn your brain into an ally. MAKE EVERY DAY A GOOD DAY Our fun, daily exercises are specifically designed to replace temptation with motivation and a positive outlook. Stop craving, start living. PROGRESS YOU CAN SEE Your daily checkup tracks in real-time the positive changes you are making to your relationships, mental clarity, and health. Don’t just feel the change, track it. GROW YOUR LIFE TREE Your own personal “Life Tree” grows with you. With every positive choice you make, your tree becomes a little more beautiful. Watch as it grows each day because of you. THE BEST COMMUNITY Brainbuddy has one of the most vibrant and friendly self-improvement communities. Stay motivated with stories from others, and work with your team to win healthy accountability challenges. EXPERIENCE PERSONAL SATISFACTION From one day to one year, build up your self-control and willpower one challenge at a time. You’ll be amazed at what you are capable of. TOOLS TO LIVE BETTER The most powerful content blocker and web filter on the planet. Master impulse control with machine learning. Brainbuddy has everything you need to live a focused, distraction-free life. LEVEL UP YOUR LIFE Rebooting your habits has immense psychological and physical benefits. Start now, change forever. REVIEWS FROM THE BRAINBUDDY COMMUNITY "Now I am controlled, stable, focused, and feel super confident. When you save your energy up, you get that unconquerable will where what would have been a huge wall for your old self becomes a little knee-high fence you can step over." "I feel a different person. I'm much more talkative and aware in social settings. At work I'm on top of everything instead of forgetting things and asking people to repeat themselves. It's been over a decade since I started struggling with these habits and this now feels who I truly am." "The clarity for me was extremely noticeable and you will likely feel like a different person. It gave me hope that there is nothing totally wrong with me. Just having that experience of clarity and happiness can be a powerful thing." "Confidence. When I walk down the street I don't feel uncomfortable anymore. I can speak to anyone without feeling shy. It's not that I have become arrogant, I just regard myself on equal footing with others where before I always felt inferior. My social anxiety has completely flown out the window." SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Brainbuddy requires a PREMIUM subscription to access all features. Payment is charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription will automatically renew unless turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends.You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew. Your Apple Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. Brainbuddy optionally saves your meditation sessions to the Apple Health app. Terms of Use - https://www.brainbuddyapp.com/terms Privacy Policy - https://www.brainbuddyapp.com/privacy-policy We love your feedback. Contact support@brainbuddyapp.com
CardioUnlock
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You already know you scroll too much. CardioScroll does something about it. CardioUnlock blocks your social media apps — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, whatever you pick — and only unlocks them when your heart rate is elevated. Connect your Apple Watch or any Bluetooth heart rate monitor, set your unlock threshold, and start moving. Your apps unlock automatically when you hit your target heart rate and lock back up when you stop. No willpower required. No screen time limits you can ignore. Your heart rate is the key. HOW IT WORKS Pick the apps you want blocked Connect your Apple Watch or Bluetooth HR monitor Set your heart rate threshold (default: 110 BPM) Start doing cardio — apps unlock automatically Stop moving — apps lock after a 2-minute grace period FEATURES Block any app using Apple's Screen Time API Real-time heart rate monitoring via Apple Watch or Bluetooth Adjustable BPM threshold (80–170 BPM) Adjustable grace period Commitment locks — lock your settings for 3, 7, 14, or 30 days so you can't cheat Daily streak tracking Custom blocked screen messages (Founder tier) Full workout analytics dashboard (Founder tier) WHAT YOU NEED iPhone running iOS 16 or later Apple Watch OR any Bluetooth heart rate monitor (Polar, Wahoo, Garmin HRM strap, CooSpo, etc.) BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO Know they scroll too much but can't stop Want to earn their screen time Need something stronger than willpower Are tired of screen time limits they just ignore Want to turn a bad habit into a workout trigger YOUR DATA STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE CardioUnlock has no backend, no accounts, and no servers. Your heart rate data, blocked apps, and settings never leave your phone. We literally cannot see your data. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdfla/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Brainbuddy at 13.0 against CardioUnlock'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. Brainbuddy sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and CardioUnlock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Brainbuddy | CardioUnlock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (26K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 26K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 112 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AppStudio Australia Pty Ltd | Tyler Duncan |
Bugs and requests
Brainbuddy
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inconsistent check-in tracking and streak resets
- Inability to delete or manage community posts
- Unreliable content blocker functionality
Requested features
4 requests- More meditation and relaxation content
- Improved social features and community interaction
- Customizable progress tracking and goal-setting
- Better integration with other devices (e.g., iPad, Mac)
CardioUnlock
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Brainbuddy
- Brainbuddy Full Access7 Days trial$2.997 Days
- Brainbuddy Full Access7 Days trial$12.991 Month
- Brainbuddy Full Access3 Days trial$12.991 Month
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- Brainbuddy Full Access$12.991 Month
- Brainbuddy Full Access$37.993 Months
- Brainbuddy Full Access$59.996 Months
- Brainbuddy Full Access7 Days trial$99.991 Year
- Course anxiety$7.99
- Course selfcontrol$7.99
- Course confidence$7.99
CardioUnlock
- CardioUnlock Monthly$9.991 Month
- CardioUnlock Founder's Yearly3 Days trial$14.991 Year
- CardioUnlock Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year









