Brick

Your Phone, Minus The Distractions

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Your Phone, Minus The Distractions

111 followers

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Time tracking apps

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Activity tracking

A device that temporarily removes distracting apps (and their notifications) from your phone - leaving only the powerful tools you choose. Now you don’t have to take the distractions with you everywhere - leave them behind with the Brick, and engage with more.

The Best Brick Alternatives

The best Brick alternatives are Unpluq, Focus Bear, BePresent, Barrier: The FREE screen time focus app, and Shrewd Observer.

Unpluq

5.0 ·

Choose Unpluq if...

✓you want NFC tap friction to unlock apps
✓you want a friend holding the key
✓you want random unlock patterns for extra friction

See details ↓

Focus Bear

4.2 ·

Choose Focus Bear if...

✓you need routines plus blocking across desktop
✓you have ADHD and want guided nudges
✓you want breaks and wellbeing-focused structure

See details ↓

BePresent

5.0 ·

Choose BePresent if...

✓you’re motivated by streaks and gamification
✓you want accountability without carrying hardware
✓you prefer a lighter touch than hard lockouts

See details ↓

Barrier: The FREE screen time focus app

5.0 ·

Choose Barrier: The FREE screen time focus app if...

✓you want short social sessions with a timer
✓you want free software instead of hardware
✓you like time-delay friction over physical tapping

See details ↓

Shrewd Observer

Choose Shrewd Observer if...

✓you’re on Android and want scheduled lockouts
✓you want nighttime scrolling restrictions automatically
✓you prefer discipline prompts over app unlocking

See details ↓

What to Consider

Brick is best known for using a physical “out of reach” moment to break compulsive phone-checking—turning willpower into a tangible routine. The alternatives span everything from similar hardware-like friction (Unpluq’s NFC key/tag and optional accountability partner handoff) to software-first approaches that trade hard lockouts for flexibility, like Barrier’s timed micro-sessions and BePresent’s gamified motivation loop. On the other end, Focus Bear broadens the problem into a cross-device focus and routine system, targeting distractions on desktop as much as mobile and adding structure for ADHD/executive-function needs. There are also Android-leaning, schedule-based options like Shrewd Observer for people who want time-window restrictions rather than “unlock with a device.”

In evaluating these options, we looked at how strong the friction really is (and how bypassable it can be), setup effort and day-to-day usability, platform coverage (iOS vs Android, mobile vs desktop), and whether the product emphasizes solo self-control versus external accountability. We also weighed practical considerations like pricing model (free vs paid vs hardware), reliability and support risk signaled in reviews, and how well each approach scales from “light nudge” to “hard stop” depending on the severity of the habit.

Unpluq

Off Your Screen, Into Your Life.

5.0 · 22 reviews

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Unpluq leans into the same “physical friction beats willpower” philosophy as Brick, but implements it as an NFC key/tag you tap to unlock chosen apps. That makes it a strong fit for anyone who wants the ritual of unlocking without needing to relocate a separate device, and who prefers app access to be explicitly gated.

It also supports a more direct accountability style: the key or unlock codes can be held by a trusted person, turning “I shouldn’t scroll” into a concrete handoff that’s harder to rationalize away. For people who want more than a simple on/off switch, Unpluq can add variability with a random unlocking pattern, which keeps the habit loop from becoming too predictable.

On day-to-day usability, the setup is designed to be straightforward, and the friction is intentionally small but repeated, creating a pause that discourages reflexive opens. The trade-off versus Brick is that Unpluq is still tightly coupled to mobile OS constraints and permissions, so the “hardness” of enforcement depends on the device environment as well as the physical key.

Overall, it’s a compelling Brick alternative when the goal is a dumb-phone-like experience while still keeping a smartphone available for work, travel, or family needs.

Best for

Best for people who want physical NFC-based app unlocking with optional accountability support.

Standout features

✓NFC key/tag to unlock selected apps
✓Optional accountability partner key handoff
✓Random unlock pattern for extra friction
✓Designed to break compulsive checking loops

Focus Bear

Block Distractions. Build Habits. For ADHDers by ADHDers.

4.2 · 17 reviews

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Focus Bear shifts the conversation from “stop scrolling” to “run a better day,” combining blocking with routines, breaks, and guided structure. Compared to Brick’s hardware-centric friction, it’s a broader focus system that targets distractions on desktop and mobile—useful when the biggest time sinks happen in a browser, not just on a phone.

The product stands out for neurodivergent-friendly scaffolding: it’s built to help with follow-through, not just restriction, and it can reduce the cognitive load of deciding what to do next. Features like keeping online reading on-topic and making calendar prompts harder to ignore aim to prevent drift before it becomes a lost hour.

Because it’s an all-in-one suite (routines, blocking, tracking, and planning), it can replace a patchwork of separate timers, blockers, and habit apps. The trade-off is that it can take more time to configure than simpler “lock and go” options, but the payoff is a system that supports deep work and wellbeing, not just abstinence.

It’s the better alternative when structure and consistency matter more than a single physical barrier.

Best for

Ideal for knowledge workers and neurodivergent users who want structured routines and cross-device focus control.

Standout features

✓Cross-device blocking on desktop and mobile
✓Guided daily routines and break scheduling
✓On-topic prompts while reading online
✓Time tracking with tasks and projects
✓Calendar-aware notifications and nudges

BePresent

Duolingo for reducing screen time

5.0 · 1 review

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BePresent takes a motivational approach to screen time, using gamification to make “using your phone less” feel rewarding instead of restrictive. Where Brick relies on physical friction to stop an impulse, BePresent focuses on building a positive habit loop through streaks, challenges, and a sense of progress.

This makes it a strong alternative for people who dislike hard lockouts or don’t want to carry or remember a physical accessory. The behavior-change layer can feel more sustainable for users who respond to incentives, milestones, and gentle social accountability rather than strict enforcement.

BePresent also fits well when the goal is overall screen-time awareness and reduction across everyday contexts, not just blocking a handful of high-risk apps. The trade-off versus Brick is that it’s typically easier to override a motivation system than a physical barrier, but it can be far more pleasant to live with day to day.

For many users, the big win is making focus feel like a game you keep winning, rather than a fight you keep restarting.

Best for

Best for users who want a gamified, low-friction way to reduce screen time.

Standout features

✓Gamified streaks and progress mechanics
✓Motivation-first screen time reduction
✓Always-available without extra hardware
✓Lightweight accountability cues

Barrier: The FREE screen time focus app

Stop doomscrolling by blocking your addictive apps!

5.0 · 1 review

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Barrier is built for people who don’t want to quit social media—just stop losing hours to it. Instead of Brick’s physical unlock ritual, Barrier adds software friction through short session limits and a brief unlock delay that interrupts autopilot.

The micro-session model is a practical alternative when total blocking feels unrealistic: it allows quick check-ins while preventing the “open the app and disappear” pattern. This approach can be easier to adopt for users who need social apps for messaging, community updates, or work-adjacent networking, but still want hard edges around scrolling.

Being free and lightweight can also be a deciding factor, especially compared with buying dedicated hardware. The trade-off is that delay-based friction is inherently softer than physically having to go unlock something, but it’s often enough to create the moment of awareness that breaks the loop.

It’s the right pick when you want a simple rule—short bursts only—without changing your setup or carrying anything extra.

Best for

Ideal for people who want simple, timed social media sessions without hardware.

Standout features

✓Timed social sessions in short increments
✓Unlock delay to break autopilot scrolling
✓Lightweight, software-only approach
✓Designed for quick check-ins, not binges

Shrewd Observer

Android app for discipline and quality life moments

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Shrewd Observer centers on scheduled restraint—setting boundaries by time of day rather than by physical unlocking. Compared to Brick’s “go touch the device” friction, it’s better suited to routines like cutting off late-night scrolling automatically or enforcing predictable focus windows.

Because it’s Android-oriented, it fits users who prefer system-level scheduling patterns and a discipline-first mindset. The experience is less about one-off moments of temptation and more about designing an environment where certain hours are protected by default.

This style can be especially effective when the problem is consistent: bedtime doomscrolling, morning distraction, or recurring work blocks that need to stay clean. The trade-off is that scheduled rules can be less responsive to unexpected exceptions than an on-demand physical unlock, but they excel at creating reliable daily structure.

For anyone who wants their phone to respect a timetable, Shrewd Observer is a clear alternative to hardware-based friction.