Comparisons
The strictest app blocker for iPhone is one you can't end on impulse. Stryct, Opal's Deep Focus and Freedom's Locked Mode all lock you in. Stryct goes furthest for the price: locks up to 90 days, no emergency unlock, and $29.99 a year.
The most reliable option: Stryct. Once a lock starts, there's no snooze and no button inside Stryct to end it early. Locks run from 15 minutes to 90 days, websites can be blocked 24/7 with a 24-hour wait to unblock, and Hardcore mode stops you from deleting the app mid-lock. Also strict: Opal's Deep Focus (no cancel, but Pro costs $99.99 a year) and Freedom's Locked Mode (one early exit a week unless you remove it). Free option: Apple's Screen Time works, but whoever knows the passcode, usually you, can lift a limit in seconds.
Most blockers look the same on the App Store. The difference shows up in the moment you want your apps back. Four questions tell you how strict a blocker really is:
Stryct was built to answer all four the strict way: no early exit, locks up to 90 days, no deleting it mid-lock with Hardcore mode, and websites covered.
Prices are US prices, checked on November 12, 2026, on the App Store and each company's site. They change often, so check before you buy.
Stryct was designed around one idea: once you lock, you stay locked. Hold Lock now and pick a Timer (up to 12 hours) or Days (up to 90 days). During the lock, the “Locked in” screen shows a countdown, and there's no snooze and no button inside Stryct to end it early.
It costs $29.99 a year (or $9.99 a month) after a 3-day free trial, and runs on iPhone and iPad. The trade-off: there's no free plan, and Stryct isn't on Android or Mac yet.
Opal's App Store listing describes Deep Focus as its highest protection level, one that won't let you cancel a session. That makes it one of the strictest options. It also has a polished design and a focus score. The catch is the price: Deep Focus sits in Opal Pro, listed at $99.99 a year or $19.99 a month, more than three times Stryct's yearly price. Our Stryct vs Opal comparison goes feature by feature.
Freedom's Locked Mode stops you from ending a session or editing your blocklists. By default, you still get one early exit every 7 days; you can remove it, but that choice is permanent. Freedom's strength is its reach: the same blocks sync to your Mac, Windows PC and Android phone. Premium costs $39.99 a year on the US App Store.
Brick is a $59 magnetic device. You tap your phone on it to start a block, and tap again to end it, so the key stays on your fridge or desk. Each Brick comes with 5 emergency unbricks, which the company can reset on request. It's a good fit if you like a physical ritual, less so if you travel or forget it at home.
one sec and ScreenZen are built around a pause: a breath or a short wait before a distracting app opens. Both are inexpensive (ScreenZen is free) and both now offer stricter blocks. They work well for gentle habit change, but by design you can usually tap through and open the app anyway.
Screen Time is built into every iPhone and iPad. App limits, Downtime and the website Never Allow list all work. The weak spot is the key: on your own phone, the Screen Time passcode is usually yours, and a limit can be lifted in a few taps. Asking someone else to set the passcode makes it much stricter. More in our Stryct vs Screen Time comparison.
Strictness isn't a feature you use every day. It's what decides whether your phone or you win at 1 a.m. We built Stryct for people who already tried the gentle options and kept tapping through them. If a pause is enough for you, take the free route. If it isn't, pick a lock you can't talk your way out of.
Lock your apps for an hour or 90 days. No snooze, no emergency unlock. Free 3-day trial on iPhone and iPad.
Get Stryct free