Brick Alternative: Block Apps Without the $59 Device
Updated
RemindLock is an iPhone app that locks the apps you pick until a specific reminder is done, using Screen Time, with no device to buy (Brick is a $59 physical device).
We make RemindLock. As of November 2026, Brick is a $59 puck with a free app and no subscription. Source: NBC News' Brick review
Brick vs RemindLock
| What | Brick | RemindLock |
|---|---|---|
| What starts the lock | Tapping your phone on the Brick, or one of up to 10 schedules you set | A reminder coming due: at its due time, the apps you picked lock. Or a focus lock you start, for a set time |
| What unlocks it | Tapping your phone on the Brick again; there's no remote unlock, and five emergency unbricks in the app (then you email Brick's support) | Type "I did" plus the reminder's title or take a photo; reschedule it twice, each time with a reason and a new time at least 15 minutes out; or drop it |
| Cost | $59 physical device, no subscription (as of November 2026) | $6.99 a month, or $44.99 a year with a 7-day trial, or $99.99 lifetime; no free tier |
| Hardware needed | Yes, the $59 Brick device | None; it uses Screen Time, built into iOS |
| What it can lock | All apps, specific apps, or everything except the apps you allow | The apps you pick; Phone, Messages and your always-allowed apps never lock |
A device or no device
RemindLock needs nothing to buy, carry or set up beyond Screen Time permission (Apple's permission for individuals, not parental controls) and the apps you pick. The lock is tied to a particular reminder, not to where an object is.
Brick works the other way round. You tap your phone on the puck to lock the apps you chose, and only tapping it again unlocks them, so if you leave it at home you can't unlock remotely. One Brick can serve more than one phone.
When Brick is the better pick
- People who want a physical step away from the phone.
- People who want app blocking that isn't tied to reminders, on a schedule or whenever they tap.
- Anyone who isn't on an iPhone, since RemindLock is iPhone only.
When RemindLock fits
- People who ignore reminders, including people with ADHD.
- People who want the apps they picked locked until a particular task is done.
- People who'd rather not buy or keep track of a device.
Escape valves and honest limits
- One 15-minute emergency unlock per day, in the app, which lifts all locks for 15 minutes before they come back.
- An optional strict mode, off by default.
- Phone, Messages and the apps you mark as always allowed are never locked.
- It needs Screen Time permission.
- iPhone only.
- There's no free tier.
Private
There's no account, and your reminders, reasons and photos stay on your iPhone.