Compare

Compare iPhone app blockers by how easy the way out is

Fair comparisons, dated and sourced. Where another app is the better pick for you, we say so.

At a glance

App	Price (US)	How it blocks	How you get back in	Platforms
Bricked	Free (3 apps) · $39.90/yr · $59.99 lifetime	Daily limit fills a brick; apps lock when it’s used up	5-minute peeks; each costs a longer hold (Bricked+) or wait (free)	iPhone
Apple Screen Time	Free, built in	Time limits and schedules	“Ignore Limit” by default; a passcode you set yourself	iPhone, iPad, Mac
Brick	$59 device	Tap your phone to a physical device to start a session	Tap the device again; 5 emergency unbricks	iPhone, Android
Opal	Free plan · $99.99/yr · $399 lifetime	Scheduled and on-demand focus sessions	Hard Mode / Deep Focus can’t be ended early	iPhone, Android, Mac
one sec	Free (1 app) · $19.99/yr	A pause before the app opens	Wait out the pause, then open	iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android
ScreenZen	Free (donations)	A pause before the app opens, plus a lock mode	Wait out the pause	iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android

Competitor details from their official websites and App Store listings as of November 2026; we haven’t tested them hands-on. Prices change — check the App Store for yours. Bricked isn’t affiliated with Apple, Brick LLC, Opal, one sec or ScreenZen.

Bricked vs Screen TimeApple Screen Time vs Bricked: why your own limits don't holdScreen Time is free, built in and excellent for parents. For limits you set on yourself, the way past them costs one tap. Bricked uses Apple's own framework and swaps that tap for 5-minute peeks, each one behind a longer hold or wait.Bricked vs BrickBricked vs Brick: same idea, no deviceBrick puts the off switch in a small device you leave across the room. Bricked keeps it on your iPhone and makes every unlock short, and each one slower than the last. Here's how they really differ, as of November 2026.Bricked vs one secBricked vs one sec: pause before, or brick afterone sec stops you at the door every time you open an app. Bricked lets you in until your daily limit runs out, then the apps turn to brick. Which one fits depends on where your scrolling goes wrong.Bricked vs ScreenZenBricked vs ScreenZen: is free good enough?ScreenZen is free, flexible and well loved, and we'd tell anyone on a budget to try it. This page is about the cases where a daily limit that turns to brick works better for you.Opal alternativesThe best Opal alternatives for iPhoneOpal is polished, but Pro costs $99.99 a year in the US and it needs an account. Here are six alternatives, from free to hardware, with who each one is really for. Facts as of November 2026.

Tonight, the brick holds

Pick your worst three apps. Give them an hour. Watch what you do with the rest of the evening.