Brick Alternatives (2026): Cheaper Apps and NFC Tags Compared
Want Brick's tap-to-lock without the $59 puck? The best Brick alternatives for iPhone, from a cheap NFC sticker to software-only blockers.
Brick works because walking to the fridge to get your apps back is a real barrier. But it only works where the puck is, and it blocks everything, quick checks included. If you want the same holding power on the go, a cheap NFC sticker or a strict software blocker will do it for less.
Quick answer
- Cheapest Brick clone: an NFC sticker plus Refocus or Jomo.
- Other hardware: Unpluq.
- Phone and laptop: Freedom.
- Protection anywhere, quick checks still allowed: Detox.
What does Brick get right?
- Real friction. Walking to another room beats tapping a button. For many people, that's where the urge dies.
- One-time price. About $59, free app, no subscription.
- Zero maintenance. A passive NFC tag: no charging, nothing to break.
- A ritual you can feel. Home, brick, dinner.
- iOS and Android.
Where does a physical blocker fall short?
- It only works where the Brick is. On a train, at a friend's or on holiday, it is either out of reach (no unlock) or in your pocket (no barrier).
- All or nothing. While bricked, a 30-second check means undoing the whole thing.
- There's an emergency exit. Good for safety, a known way out for a determined scroller.
- It's a gadget. One more thing to buy, ship and not lose.
If you mostly scroll at home in the evening, Brick may be perfect. If you scroll everywhere, you need something that travels with the phone.
What are the best Brick alternatives?
An NFC tag with Refocus or Jomo (cheap)
Refocus and Jomo can both use an NFC tag as a trigger. Stick a cheap sticker in another room and you have a software Brick for the price of the app. Same strengths, same location limits.
Unpluq (hardware)
Another tag-based device with the same "go get the key" logic. Worth a look if you are set on hardware.
Opal (limited free tier, about $99.99 a year)
Software only, iPhone-first, with schedules and a strict Deep Focus mode that is hard to end early. More flexible than a puck, but a pricier subscription. See Opal alternatives.
Freedom (subscription or lifetime)
If your laptop distracts you too, Freedom's Locked Mode sessions cover phone and computer together. See Freedom alternatives.
Apple Screen Time (free)
Built in, but with a one-tap "Ignore Limit", the opposite of Brick's philosophy. See why Apple Screen Time doesn't work.
Detox (iPhone and iPad, paid, free trial)
Detox gives you Brick-like holding power without the puck and without losing quick checks.
- Session limit: reply to a message, check a map, fine. Once you have scrolled the chosen apps continuously past your limit, they lock for a short break. It works wherever you are.
- Schedules recreate the "evenings are phone-free" ritual, and Block now locks apps instantly for deep work.
- Strict mode stops you from editing or deleting a rule, or uninstalling apps, while it blocks. Set a rule's Unblocks to None and there is no way out until it ends. An urgent unblock is there for real emergencies, once every 24 hours.
Unlike Brick, it is iPhone and iPad only.
Brick vs the alternatives
| Option | Type | Works away from home? | Quick checks allowed? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brick | Physical NFC puck | Only if you carry it | No, while bricked | ~$59 one-time |
| NFC tag + Refocus or Jomo | DIY tag and app | Only if you carry it | Depends on rules | App price plus a tag |
| Opal | Software | Yes | Not during sessions | Subscription |
| Freedom | Software, cross-device | Yes | Not during sessions | Subscription or lifetime |
| Screen Time | Built in | Yes | Yes (too easily) | Free |
| Detox | Software | Yes | Yes, blocks only long scrolls | Paid, free trial |
Which should you choose?
- A physical ritual at home: Brick, or a DIY NFC tag.
- Your laptop too: Freedom.
- Protection anywhere, without giving up quick checks: Detox.
A Brick is a wall at your front door. Many of us need one that goes where the phone goes.
Frequently asked questions
How does Brick work?
Brick is a small magnetic NFC puck with no battery that pairs with a free app on iOS or Android. You tap your phone on it to lock chosen apps and tap again to unlock, so the walk to the puck is the friction.
How much does Brick cost?
About $59 one-time for the device; the app is free and there is no subscription. Prices and bundles change, so check the official site.
Can you bypass Brick?
There is an emergency unbrick for when you need your apps without the puck. Sensible, but it's a known way out. The bigger issue is location: if the Brick is at home and you aren't, you can't unlock; if you carry it, it's barely a barrier.
What's a software-only alternative to Brick?
Refocus and Jomo support NFC tags, so a cheap sticker can be your own Brick. For a tag-free approach, Detox locks apps after continuous scrolling past your limit, wherever you are, with a strict mode that stops you from editing the rule.