Brick

Your Phone, Minus The Distractions

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Your Phone, Minus The Distractions

106 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 Focus Bear, log off, Barrier: The FREE screen time focus app, BePresent, and Session.

Focus Bear

4.2 ·

Choose Focus Bear if...

✓you need cross-device blocking on desktop and mobile
✓you want guided routines for ADHD-friendly structure
✓you struggle staying on-task while reading online

See details ↓

log off

Choose log off if...

✓you want strict scheduled blocks without hardware
✓you’re motivated by streaks and tree-growing rewards
✓you need flexible rules like breaks and vacations

See details ↓

Barrier: The FREE screen time focus app

5.0 ·

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

✓you want simple cooldown friction before opening apps
✓you prefer a free option over buying hardware
✓you only need lighter, time-based social limits

See details ↓

BePresent

5.0 ·

Choose BePresent if...

✓you want gamified challenges instead of hard locks
✓you want social accountability with friends or family
✓you’re motivated by points, quests, and leaderboards

See details ↓

Session

5.0 ·

Choose Session if...

✓your biggest distractions happen on your Mac
✓you want Pomodoro focus sessions with analytics
✓you want Slack status to auto-update while focusing

See details ↓

What to Consider

Brick is best known for turning distraction blocking into something you physically have to opt into (via its NFC “key”), creating real-world friction that’s hard to ignore. The alternatives branch into very different philosophies: Focus Bear pairs cross-device blocking with guided routines built for ADHD/executive-function support, while log off and BePresent lean on software rules, streaks, and gamified rewards to make restraint feel motivating. Barrier takes the lightweight, budget-friendly route with simple time-based friction (like cooldown waits) and no hardware, and Session shifts the battle to the desktop with Pomodoro-style focus blocks and workday-friendly integrations.

In evaluating these options, we weighed how enforceable the blocking is (physical vs software), whether support extends beyond the phone to desktop, and how much structure is included (routines, breaks, or timed sessions). We also considered ease of setup, reliability and support signals from reviews, the presence of integrations (e.g., calendars or Slack), and the tradeoffs between free/ad-supported tools versus premium subscriptions or hardware-backed approaches.

Focus Bear

Block Distractions. Build Habits. For ADHDers by ADHDers.

4.2 · 17 reviews

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Focus Bear goes beyond phone-only blocking by combining distraction control across desktop and mobile with built-in routines that guide what to do next. That makes it a compelling alternative to Brick when the real problem isn’t just unlocking apps, but staying on track throughout the day.

Its standout strength is executive-function scaffolding: morning and evening routines, guided breaks, and prompts that nudge attention back to the task at hand. This is especially useful for ADHD-style challenges where starting, switching, and returning to work are the hardest parts—not simply avoiding an app.

Focus Bear also fits academic and knowledge-work contexts where distraction happens while reading and researching online. Rather than relying on a physical “key” moment, it supports continuous focus habits and can reduce time lost to drifting into unrelated tabs or sites.

The trade-off is that a fuller software suite can require more setup and occasional tuning to match a real schedule. If the goal is a more holistic, cross-device system that pairs blocking with structure and coaching, Focus Bear is the more comprehensive path.

Best for

Ideal for ADHD/AuDHD users, students, and knowledge workers who want cross-device blocking plus guided daily structure.

Standout features

✓Cross-device distraction blocking
✓Guided routines for morning and evening
✓Break scheduling and recovery prompts
✓Back-on-task nudges while browsing
✓Progress tracking and habit reinforcement

log off

gamified app blocker where you grow trees by logging off

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Log off takes a rules-first approach, using scheduled, unskippable blocks and gamified rewards to make staying off distracting apps feel measurable and motivating. It’s a strong alternative to Brick for anyone who wants structure without carrying hardware or physically tapping an NFC device.

Where Brick shines with physical friction, log off wins on flexibility: time-of-day rules, one-time blocks, vacation modes, and controlled breaks can be tailored to match real life. That’s useful when the need is predictable boundaries—like no social media before work, or a hard bedtime cutoff.

The gamification layer adds positive reinforcement through streaks and progress visuals, which can be more sustainable for users who respond to incentives instead of purely restrictive locks. It also makes it easier to see momentum building over weeks, not just feel momentary friction.

If the priority is an iPhone-native, schedule-driven system that pairs enforcement with rewards, log off is often a better fit than a physical-key workflow.

Best for

Best for iPhone users who want strict schedules and gamified motivation instead of hardware-based unlocking.

Standout features

✓Scheduled app blocks
✓Gamified streaks and rewards
✓Break quotas and rule customization
✓Vacation and one-time block modes

Barrier: The FREE screen time focus app

Stop doomscrolling by blocking your addictive apps!

5.0 · 1 review

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Barrier focuses on lightweight time friction: short usage windows, then a lock, plus a brief wait to unlock again. It’s a practical alternative to Brick when the goal is reducing compulsive checking rather than fully preventing access until you’re near a physical key.

Instead of enforcing an all-or-nothing barrier, Barrier uses “cooldown” moments to interrupt autopilot behavior. That small pause can be enough to stop reflex opens, especially for social apps that thrive on quick hits throughout the day.

Barrier also appeals on simplicity and cost, offering an approachable way to experiment with boundaries without committing to hardware. For many people, a softer constraint is more realistic and less disruptive, particularly when occasional access is still needed.

If a free, minimal setup tool that adds just enough delay is the desired change mechanism, Barrier is the more lightweight alternative to Brick’s heavier friction model.

Best for

Best for budget-conscious users who want simple, time-based friction on social apps.

Standout features

✓Timed usage sessions
✓Unlock cooldown wait
✓Ad-supported free access
✓Simple social app limiting model

BePresent

Duolingo for reducing screen time

5.0 · 1 review

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BePresent reframes screen-time reduction as a game, using challenges and social accountability to replace the dopamine loop of scrolling with progress and rewards. It’s a strong alternative to Brick when motivation and community pressure work better than a hard physical gate.

Rather than relying on a single “unlock” ritual, BePresent keeps engagement high through points, streaks, quests, and shared goals. That approach can feel less punitive and more identity-building, especially for users who want encouragement instead of strict enforcement.

The social component is the differentiator: friends, families, or groups can participate together, making it easier to sustain behavior change over time. When distraction is tied to boredom or habit, social reinforcement often creates stickier outcomes than solitary blocking.

If the aim is to build long-term habits through accountability and gamified momentum—without buying a device—BePresent stands out as a more motivational alternative to Brick.

Best for

Ideal for people who want gamified, socially reinforced accountability to cut screen time.

Standout features

✓Gamified challenges and streaks
✓Social accountability and group motivation
✓Points and progress rewards
✓Behavior-change focus over hard locks

Session

Start your momentum by focusing in 25-minute sessions

5.0 · 1 review

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Session is built around focused work sprints, bringing Pomodoro-style sessions and desktop blocking to the center of the workflow. It’s a better alternative to Brick when the biggest distractions happen on a Mac—not on a phone—and deep work needs structure.

Instead of physical friction, Session uses timeboxed focus blocks paired with website or app limits to protect attention during work hours. The format makes it easier to start, because the commitment is “25 minutes” rather than an open-ended lockout.

Session also fits modern remote work by integrating with daily tooling like Slack status updates, signaling focus time without manual toggling. That subtle automation is valuable when interruptions and context switching are team-driven, not just self-driven.

If the goal is consistent desktop deep-work habits with clear start/stop boundaries and lightweight work integrations, Session is the more natural fit than Brick’s phone-centric, hardware-backed model.