A Brick alternative that needs no device
Brick is a $59 device. You tap your phone on it to block apps and tap again to unblock, so the device has to be there to get your apps back. Lock In Squad is a free app with no hardware, and ending a session early takes a hold of 1 to 10 seconds.
Lock In Squad makes this page and the Lock In Squad app compared on it. Every fact about Brick links to Brick's own pages.
How Brick works
Brick pairs a small device with a free app for iPhone and Android. In the app you choose which apps to block, or flip it around and choose only the apps you want to keep, and you can save up to 10 custom modes such as Work or Sleep. According to Brick's product page, tapping your phone on the Brick blocks those apps, and tapping it again unblocks them.
You can start a block from anywhere by holding the virtual Brick in the app for 3 seconds on iPhone or 5 on Android, but ending it needs the physical Brick. For emergencies, the app includes 5 Emergency Unbricks, and if you use them all, Brick's support resets them within 1 business day.
Brick works on iOS 17 or Android 12 and later. The Brick FAQ says it can block any iPhone app except Phone, per Apple's policy, along with selected Safari sites, and any Android app except Phone and the launcher. The Brick costs $59, and its App Store listing says there are no subscriptions or monthly fees.
Where Brick is stronger
- Distance. Ending a block needs the device, so leaving the Brick in another room puts real space between you and your apps. Lock In Squad's exit is a hold of at most 10 seconds on the phone in your hand.
- Schedules. Brick can block at start and end times you set in advance, and Lock In Squad has no scheduled blocking.
- Strict Mode. Brick's product page says it locks settings and stops you from deleting the app to end a block.
Where Lock In Squad fits
Lock In Squad suits you if you would rather not buy or carry anything. The app is free on iPhone and Android, and a $4.99 purchase, paid once, removes ads. You pick the apps to block, start a timer or stopwatch, and the apps stay blocked until you hold the Lock Out button for the delay you set, from 1 to 10 seconds.
It also keeps a streak on the work days you choose and shows your sessions as a heatmap. You can add friends, lock in together in a group session and keep a friend streak with each of them. For more options, see app blockers without a subscription.
Brick and Lock In Squad side by side
| Brick | Lock In Squad | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59 for the device, with no subscription | Free, and $4.99 paid once removes ads |
| Hardware | The Brick | None |
| Starting a block | Tap the Brick, hold the virtual Brick for a few seconds, or set a schedule | Tap Lock In to start a timer or stopwatch |
| Ending a block early | Tap the Brick again, or use one of 5 Emergency Unbricks | Hold Lock Out for 1 to 10 seconds |
| Block everything except chosen apps | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduled blocks | Yes | No |
| Platforms | iPhone on iOS 17 or later, Android 12 or later | iPhone and Android |
If you like the idea of a physical key but want to spend less, Bloom sells a metal NFC card for $39 once, with no subscription, for iPhone and Android.
Prices checked on September 22, 2026. Sources:
Questions
Can you use Brick without the device?
Partly. You can start a block without it by holding the virtual Brick in the app for 3 seconds on iPhone or 5 on Android, but ending a block needs the physical Brick. The exception is Emergency Unbricks, 5 of which come with the app, and Brick's support can reset them if you use them all.
Is there a free alternative to Brick?
Yes, if you can do without a physical key. Lock In Squad is a free app for iPhone and Android that blocks the apps you pick during a timer or stopwatch session, and quitting early takes a hold of 1 to 10 seconds. ScreenZen is also free, and it adds schedules and daily limits.
Can Brick block the Phone app?
No. Brick says it can block any iPhone app except Phone, per Apple's policy, and any Android app except Phone and the launcher. On iPhone it can also block selected Safari sites. Brick works with iPhones on iOS 17 or later and with Android phones on version 12 or later.
Does Brick have a subscription?
No. Brick's App Store listing says there are no subscriptions and no monthly fees, so you pay $59 once for the device and the companion app comes with it. Lock In Squad has no subscription either, since the app is free and a $4.99 purchase, paid once, removes its ads.
Try Lock In Squad free
No device to buy. The app is free on iPhone and Android, and $4.99 paid once removes the ads.
