AppBlock vs minimalist phone

AppBlock

• Phone users who want blocks that start by time, place or Wi-Fi network
• People who need a block they cannot easily switch off
• Blocking the same sites on a phone and in a desktop browser

minimalist phone

• People who open social apps out of habit and want friction first
• Android users who want a text-only launcher in place of app icons
• Buyers who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription

AppBlock

• Free limits differ by platform: iOS allows 2 schedules and 12 hours of Strict Mode, Android 3 schedules and 24 hours.
• Allowlist mode, adult content blocking, backup and the Quick Block timer need Premium on both iOS and Android.
• On a computer AppBlock runs only as an extension for Chrome, Edge and Brave; no Mac or Windows app is listed.
• The student discount and business licences are arranged through forms, and neither page states a price.

minimalist phone

• There is no free plan: after the 7-day trial you choose a monthly, yearly or lifetime purchase.
• No prices are published on the vendor's site. The US App Store lists several amounts for each plan, and Google Play shows a range of $0.29 to $59.99 per item.
• The iPhone app requires iOS 17 or later and is not offered for iPad; there is no desktop or browser version.
• Hiding apps and notifications, monochrome mode and short-video blocking are listed for Android but not on the iPhone page.

AppBlock

App and website blocking

Block apps, websites, specific URLs and keywords. On Android, Premium can also block newly installed apps and browsers the app does not support.

Schedules

Profiles for work, study or sleep switch on by time, day, location or connected Wi-Fi network and then run automatically.

Quick Block

Starts a block right away without a schedule. Free use is capped at 4 hours on iOS or 3 apps and 3 sites on Android; Premium adds a timer.

Strict Mode

Makes blocks harder to bypass, with a cooldown and approval by another person. The free plan caps it at 12 hours on iOS and 24 hours on Android.

Allowlist mode

A Premium mode that blocks everything except a set of chosen apps, which the vendor describes as a dumbphone-like setup.

Browser extensions

Extensions for Chrome, Edge and Brave block websites and keywords on a computer, with Quick Block and Schedules.

minimalist phone

Icon-free home screen

A text-only list of apps takes the place of the icon grid. On Android the app is a launcher that replaces the default home screen; on iPhone the layout is built from text-based widgets.

App and website blocking

Block chosen apps and websites for a few hours, or put apps into a detox mode that the Android page says can run for 30 days.

Mindful launch delay

A 15-second pause before a chosen app opens, intended to interrupt the habit of opening apps without thinking.

In-app reminders

Set a time limit each time you open an app. A reminder appears while you are in it, and you are pushed out when the time is up.

Blocking schedules

Recurring windows in which chosen apps are blocked, for work, study or sleep. The vendor's iOS page lists them, while its App Store description still says they are coming soon.

Notification filter and monochrome mode

On Android you can hide apps and their notifications and show selected apps in black and white. The Google Play listing also mentions blocking short videos.

AppBlock

• Free$0

  Blocking within limits: 2 schedules on iOS or 3 on Android, schedule usage limits of up to 30 minutes a day and time-capped Strict Mode.

• Premium (yearly)$29.99

  per year ($2.50 / month), after a free week

  Unlimited Quick Block, schedules and Strict Mode, plus Allowlist mode, adult content blocking and backup.

• Premium (monthly)$4.99

  per month

  The same Premium features paid month to month, with cancellation at any time.

• Premium (lifetime)$89.99

  one-time payment

  Premium features for a single payment with no subscription.

minimalist phone

• Monthly Plan$2.99 or $4.99

  per month, US App Store; two amounts listed

  Subscription with a 7-day free trial. The listing shows $4.99 and $2.99 and does not say which one a new subscriber pays.

• Annual Plan$9.99 or $19.99

  per year, US App Store; two amounts listed

  Yearly subscription with a 7-day free trial, listed at $19.99 and $9.99.

• Lifetime access$29.99 to $69.99

  one-time, US App Store; four amounts listed

  One-time purchase listed at $29.99, $49.99, $59.99 and $69.99. It is charged immediately, with a 7-day refund in place of a trial.

AppBlock

• Annual discount

  Yearly Premium costs about half of monthly

  The pricing page lists Premium at $29.99 a year against $4.99 a month, which comes to $59.88 over twelve months.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Premium for a one-time payment

  The pricing page lists a Lifetime Premium option at $89.99, paid once.

• Education

  Student discount on Premium

  Students who submit their university, field of study and academic year get a link that shows a student discount in the app. The page does not state the amount.

minimalist phone

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime access for a one-time payment

  A lifetime option is sold alongside the monthly and yearly plans. The US App Store lists it at $29.99 to $69.99, and the vendor says it is charged immediately with a 7-day refund.