The best app blocker depends on how you slip. Opal is best for detailed rules and focus sessions, Brick for a physical lock you can't tap past, one sec for a short pause before each open, AppBlock for strict schedules, Freedom for blocking across phone and computer, and Prayer Latch for Christians who want their apps locked each morning until they pray.
We make Prayer Latch, so we're not neutral, but we've tried to be fair. Details about other apps come from their websites and US App Store listings as of October 2026. Prices change and vary by country, so check before you subscribe.
How do they compare?
| App | How it blocks | Hard to bypass? | Price (US) | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opal | Schedules, time limits and open limits; focus sessions | Hard Mode stops you turning it off | Free for 1 rule; Pro $19.99/month or $99.99/year | iPhone, Android, Mac |
| Brick | Tap your phone on a $59 magnetic block to lock apps; tap again to unlock | Yes: you need the physical Brick, with 5 emergency unblocks | $59 once, no subscription | iPhone, Android |
| one sec | A breathing pause before a distracting app opens; can also block at set times | Gentle by design | Basics free; Pro $6.99/month or $19.99/year | iPhone, Android, browsers |
| AppBlock | Profiles by time, place or Wi‑Fi; blocks apps, sites and keywords | Strict Mode, with a waiting period or another person's approval | Free plan; Premium from $4.99/month | iPhone, Android, browsers |
| Freedom | Block sessions synced across phone and computer | Locked Mode stops you ending a session early | Free basics; Premium $8.99/month or $39.99/year | iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Chromebook |
| Prayer Latch | Locks chosen apps at your wake-up time and other lock times until you pray | Free emergency unlock is always there, by design | 7 days free with no card; Plus $4.99/month or $24.99/year | iPhone, Android |
Which app blocker should I choose?
| If you… | Try |
|---|---|
| Want detailed rules and stats | Opal |
| Need something you physically can't tap past | Brick |
| Mostly open apps on autopilot | one sec |
| Need blocking on your computer too | Freedom |
| Want strict schedules and website blocking | AppBlock |
| Want to start the day with God instead of the feed | Prayer Latch |
Do app blockers really work?
They work best when they change your default, not when they rely on willpower in the moment. A blocker that's already on at 7 am beats a promise you make at 11 pm. They work less well if they're so strict you end up deleting them. Pick one you'll still have installed in a month.
What does the built-in Screen Time do?
iPhone's Screen Time and Android's Digital Wellbeing can limit and schedule apps for free. Their weakness is that they're easy to dismiss: on iPhone, limits can be ignored by default. They work much better with a passcode someone else chooses. See how to lock apps on iPhone and on Android.
What's the best free app blocker?
Your phone's built-in tools are free and private: Screen Time on iPhone and Digital Wellbeing on Android. Among apps, Opal, one sec, AppBlock and Freedom all have free plans with limits. Prayer Latch's prayers, Bible, journal and emergency unlock are free forever, and app locking is free for your first 7 days.
Is there a Christian app blocker?
Yes, several. Prayer Latch and other prayer-first blockers put a prayer or verse in front of your locked apps. See Christian app blockers compared for how they differ.
Can I use two app blockers at once?
On iPhone, several apps can use Screen Time at the same time, though overlapping rules can be confusing. A common pairing is Prayer Latch for mornings and a stricter blocker for work hours. On Android, two blockers that both use Accessibility can get in each other's way, so start with one.
Pray before you scroll
Prayer Latch locks your chosen apps each morning until you pray. Your first 7 days are free, no card needed.
Updated October 22, 2026 by the Prayer Latch team at Janus Works LLC.