Lock In Squad vs Freedom
Choose Freedom to block your computer and phone together, and Lock In Squad to block your phone for free. Freedom Premium costs $8.99 a month or $39.99 a year. Lock In Squad charges nothing beyond an optional $4.99 to remove ads, and it adds a hold to quit early, which Freedom lacks.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Lock In Squad | Freedom |
|---|---|---|
| Free core features | Yes | Partial (Start Now sessions only) |
| No subscription | Yes | Lifetime plan ($199) |
| Hold to unlock | Yes | No |
| Whitelist mode | Android now, iPhone in the next update | Websites only (Mac, Windows) |
| Desktop support | No | Yes |
| Focus stats and streaks | Yes | No |
Prices checked on September 22, 2026. Sources: Freedom, Cold Turkey.
The verdict
If blocking your laptop is essential, Freedom's sync across devices is its real strength, while Lock In Squad is focused on mobile today. But if your distractions live on your phone, Lock In Squad gives you a hold to unlock that makes you pause before quitting, plus stats and streaks, without any subscription. Freedom's free plan limits you to sessions you start on the spot.
Want to see how Lock In Squad stacks up against every major blocker? See the full comparison.
Questions
Is the Freedom app free?
Partly. Freedom's free account can block apps, websites or the entire internet on unlimited devices, but each session has to start the moment you set it up and last 2 hours or less, and you can't schedule blocks or lock yourself in. Premium lifts those limits, and you can try it free for 7 days.
Is there a free Freedom alternative?
For your phone, yes. Lock In Squad blocks the apps you choose on iPhone and Android without a subscription, and a free session can run on a timer or a stopwatch for as long as you like. For a computer, Cold Turkey's free version blocks websites on Windows and macOS, and its Pro upgrade is a single $45 purchase.
What apps are like Freedom?
On a computer, Cold Turkey is the closest match, and its locks can make you type random characters or wait out a countdown before a block lifts. On a phone, Opal and AppBlock also sell subscriptions like Freedom's, while Forest and Lock In Squad block apps for free.
Try Lock In Squad free
Real blocking, stats, and streaks, free on iOS and Android with no subscription. The App Store and Google Play list it as Lock In until the next update.
