A Brick alternative that doesn't need a device
Brick is one of the cleverest ideas in this whole space. It's a little physical block. You tap your phone on it to block your distracting apps, and they stay blocked until you go back and tap it again. Leave it at home and your phone is boring all day. Simple.
I make HonorFit, which is an app-only blocker, so I'm biased. But I like Brick, and this page tries to be fair about when it's the better choice.
What Brick does well
- Real physical friction. To unblock, you have to be where the Brick is. If you leave it at home or in a drawer at the office, there's no talking yourself out of it in two seconds.
- Modes. You set up different modes in the Brick app, like Deep Work, Family Time, Study or Sleep, each blocking a different set of apps.
- No subscription. According to its site, you buy the device (about $59 when I checked in October 2026) and the app comes with it.
- Cross-platform. It works with iPhone (iOS 17 or later) and Android (12 or later), and one Brick can work with several phones.
- A safety valve. The app includes five Emergency Unbricks in case you lose the Brick, and emergency calls always work.
- Privacy. Brick says blocking info is stored on your phone.
Where HonorFit is different
Brick is an on/off switch. HonorFit is more like a meter. Your blocked apps stay locked until you log some reps, and each rep adds time to a balance. By default, one pushup earns one minute, a pull-up a minute and a half, and a situp or squat 30 seconds. The balance only counts down while a blocked app is actually on screen, and when it runs out, the apps lock again.
- Nothing to buy or carry. It's just an app. The free version does the main thing, with banked time capped at 20 minutes. Pro is $3.00 a month or $19.99 once.
- You can always earn your way in. With Brick, if the Brick is at home, you're done. With HonorFit, 10 pushups gets you 10 minutes, anywhere. Whether that's a pro or a con depends on what you need.
- Exercise is the key. You get a few reps in every time you want to scroll. (I built it on the honor system after a camera pushup app had me filming myself at a gas station, lol. No camera, no AI here.)
- Not a hard lock. HonorFit takes your word for your reps, so it's easier to get around than a device you've left across town.
Side by side
| Brick | HonorFit | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A physical NFC device plus an app | An app only |
| How you unblock | Tap your phone on the Brick again | Log reps to earn minutes |
| Model | On/off: blocked until you tap again | A balance you earn and spend |
| If you can't get to it | Five Emergency Unbricks | Not an issue, the reps go wherever you go |
| Strictness | High, if the Brick is far away | Honor system |
| Platforms | iPhone, Android | iPhone, Android |
| Cost | One-time device purchase, no subscription | Free; Pro $3.00/month or $19.99 once |
Who should pick which
Pick Brick if you want hard blocks for stretches of time, like a workday, family dinner or a weekend, and you like the idea of a physical key you can leave somewhere.
Pick HonorFit if you don't want to buy or keep track of a device, you'd rather earn screen time in small amounts through the day, or you like the idea of getting some pushups in every time you reach for Instagram.
FAQ
Is there a free alternative to Brick?
Yes, though none of them is a physical device. HonorFit is free (banked time is capped at 20 minutes). ScreenZen is free and donation-supported, one sec is free for one app, and your phone's built-in Screen Time or Digital Wellbeing tools cost nothing.
Does Brick need a subscription?
According to Brick's website, no. You buy the device once and the app is included.
What's the difference between Brick and an app blocker?
Brick still uses an app on your phone to do the blocking. The device is the key: to unblock, you have to tap your phone on it. With app-only blockers, the key is something else, like waiting, a pause, or with HonorFit, a few reps.
Can I use Brick and HonorFit together on iPhone?
Probably not at the same time. Both use Apple's Screen Time, and iOS currently only lets one app hold Screen Time access at a time. To switch, turn the other app off in Settings › Screen Time › Apps with Screen Time Access. HonorFit walks you through it if it hits that error.
Can I cheat HonorFit?
Yes. It runs on the honor system with no camera or AI checking your reps. If you need a block you truly can't talk your way out of, a Brick left somewhere else is stricter.
HonorFit Blocker locks the apps you choose until you earn time back with pushups, situps, squats or pull-ups. Free on iPhone and Android. Honor system: no camera, no AI, and nothing leaves your phone.