---
title: "Brick Alternative for iPhone: Unlockr vs Brick (2026)"
source: https://unlockr.space/compare/brick-alternative
---

Unlockr vs Brick · An honest comparison
vs
# Looking for a Brick alternative?
Unlockr is a Brick alternative with no device to buy. Brick puts the off switch on a $59 block you tap your phone against; Unlockr keeps everything on your iPhone and asks for 20 squats, a plank or a quick Math round to earn minutes that only count while you use the app.
Try Unlockr freeSee the comparison ↓ TT
Full disclosure: I make Unlockr, so I'm not neutral. I think Brick is a genuinely good app, and this comparison plays it straight. Where Brick is the better pick, I say so.
Tin, maker of Unlockr
## Unlockr vs Brick at a glance
| Feature | Unlockr | Brick |
| Upfront cost | Free | $59 device |
| Ongoing cost | Free for 1 app; Premium $34.99/yr | None, app included |
| How you get back in | Finish a challenge | Tap the Brick again |
| Emergency unblocks | Not needed, you can always earn time | 5 included |
| Hardware | No | Yes |
| Bedroom auto-block | No | Yes (Brick Night, $129) |
| Schedules | Yes, up to 8 rules | Yes |
| Exercise to unlock | Yes, counted on device | No |
Pricing and features checked November 2026. Sources: Brick on the App Store · Brick website.
## What Brick does well
- The barrier isn't on your phone at all. Leave the Brick in another room and willpower in the moment stops mattering.
- Perfect for long stretches: an evening, a weekend, a family dinner.
- A one-time purchase with the app included, no subscription.
- Very well liked: 4.9 stars from more than 60,000 ratings on the US App Store.
### When Brick is the better choice
If you want to switch off for hours and keep the off switch somewhere your hands can't reach, Brick is the better pick. Unlockr suits a different day: short, deliberate breaks between work, wherever you are, without a device to carry, buy or lose.
## Why try Unlockr
- Effort, not willpower — a set of squats, push-ups or a plank, or a Math or Memory round, stands between you and the app. Much harder to tap past on autopilot.
- Time that only counts while you use it — earned minutes tick down only while the app is open, so locking your phone never wastes them. They reset at midnight.
- Rules that follow your day — up to 8 rules for work hours, evenings or your own schedule, each with its own apps, challenge and reward.
- The camera stays on your iPhone — reps are counted on device. No frame is saved or uploaded, and Math, Memory and Breathe don't need the camera at all.
- Built and answered by one developer — Unlockr is made by Tin in Da Nang, Vietnam. When you email support, he answers.
## Frequently asked questions
**Q:** Does Brick need a subscription?
According to Brick's App Store listing, buying the Brick or Brick Night includes full access to the companion app.
**Q:** What if I need an app while blocked?
With Brick you go back to the device, or use one of 5 emergency unbricks. With Unlockr you complete a challenge to earn time.
## What people say about Unlockr.
★★★★★
> Really help me reduce screen time 🥹
★★★★★
> Very helpful app. Should use this to improve your health and reduce using your phone every day.
★★★★★
> This app is very useful. It offers different ways to improve your health, and it also helps curb overusing your phone for entertainment.
★★★★★
> Really suited to helping cut down daily phone use.
## Pricing
Free
$0
Free forever
Download free
- 1 rule protecting 1 app
- Every challenge, with your own target and reward
- Schedules, streak and stats
- Daily Breathe bonus
Premium Best value: yearly
$34.99/year
3-day free trial for eligible users · or $5.99/month, $2.99/week, $69.99 once
Start free trial
- Multiple apps, whole categories and websites
- Up to 8 rules for different times of day
- Everything in Free
- If Premium ends, your rules stay saved
Prices in US dollars. The App Store shows your local price before you buy.
## More comparisons
- Opal alternativeUnlockr vs Opal
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- Screen Time alternativeUnlockr vs Screen Time
- Best app blockersSeven options side by side
## Ready to earn your screen time?
Start free with one protected app. It takes a minute to set up.
Download on theApp Store