Brick Alternatives in 2026: Physical App Blockers Compared
Brick Alternatives in 2026: Physical App Blockers Compared
Brick helped popularize the idea of using a physical device to make distracting apps harder to access. Today, there are several physical app blockers that use the same basic idea but differ meaningfully in price, shipping, subscriptions, phone compatibility, schedules, analytics, and the experience around staying focused.
I compared five Brick alternatives using current information from official product pages, help centers, and app-store listings. I focused on the details that matter after the novelty wears off: what the product actually costs, whether it works on your phone, whether there is a recurring fee, and whether it helps you build better habits beyond simply blocking an app.
Prices and features checked September 21, 2026. Pricing, promotions, shipping policies, and app features can change.
Brick Alternatives Compared
All of the products below add friction between you and distracting apps, but the total experience is different. Here is the quick comparison.
| App Blocker | Price | Free Shipping | Subscription | iPhone | Android | Schedules | Insights / Coaching |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OrbieLock | $24.80 | Free | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Insights + daily goal coaching |
| Brick | $59 | Requires 2+ Bricks | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Focus insights |
| Bloom | $39 | Requires 2+ Blooms | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Screen-time analytics |
| Blok | $29 | Requires 2+ Bloks | App Store lists a paid Pro tier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Streaks + daily history |
| Unpluq | $26.50 tag + Premium subscription | No, Varies by destination | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Screen-time / time-saved stats |
| Flow | $40 |
Not free to U.S. |
No | Yes | No | Yes | Focus analytics |
For Blok, the current hardware store says card purchases include app access, while Apple's App Store also lists paid Pro, membership, and emergency-unlock in-app purchases. Check the current in-app offering if those features matter to you.
Why Look for a Brick Alternative?
Brick is one of the better-known physical app blockers, but the category has grown quickly. A cheaper Brick alternative may offer the same core physical friction while changing the tradeoffs around shipping, subscriptions, schedules, analytics, and how much support the app gives you throughout the day.
For me, blocking Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or another distracting app is only one part of the problem. The harder part is staying aware of your habits after a focus session ends. That is why I care about features such as daily goals, useful insights, and reminders that help you notice when your screen time is drifting in the wrong direction.
OrbieLock
OrbieLock combines physical NFC app blocking with timed locks, automatic schedules, focus insights, daily screen-time goals, and coaching features. It works on iPhone and Android, requires no recurring subscription, and currently costs $24.80 with free shipping.
Among the physical app blockers in this comparison, that is the lowest listed hardware price. I wanted the product to stay simple to buy without turning the useful app features into another monthly bill.
Daily Screen-Time Goals, Insights, and Coaching
OrbieLock lets you set a daily screen-time goal and see how your day is tracking against it. Instead of only showing a graph after the day is already over, the app can nudge you while there is still time to change course and suggest locking in when your usage is trending above your goal.
The idea is to make the blocker feel more like an active coach than a switch you only remember when you are already distracted. Timed locks and schedules also let you start focus sessions automatically or away from the physical tag when that fits your routine better.
Meet Orbie: A Focus Companion That Grows With You
OrbieLock also includes Orbie, a virtual focus companion that progresses as you focus. Staying locked in helps you build out Orbie's world, including clothes for the character and upgrades to the room.
I wanted focusing to feel like you were building something instead of only watching a screen-time number go down. The more consistently you focus, the more visible progress you have to come back to.
OrbieLock at a Glance
- Physical NFC app blocking
- iPhone and Android support
- No recurring subscription
- Free shipping
- Timed locks and automatic schedules
- Daily screen-time goals
- Focus insights and coaching
- Orbie virtual companion, clothing, and room upgrades
Brick
Brick costs $59 (no free shipping on one tag) and supports iPhone and Android with no recurring subscription. Its app includes custom modes, schedules, remote activation, and focus insights. Brick currently advertises free shipping on orders of two or more devices rather than on a single Brick.
Bloom
Bloom is a $39 stainless-steel NFC card for iPhone and Android. Its app has no subscription and includes schedules, breaks, strict mode, child controls, streaks, and screen-time analytics. Shipping is calculated at checkout, and does not offer free shipping unless your order is over $75.
Blok
Blok's physical card is currently listed at $29 and supports iPhone and Android. The app includes schedules, remote sessions, strict mode, streaks, and daily history. Its current product page says a card purchase includes app access, although Apple's App Store also lists paid Pro, membership, and emergency-unlock purchases, so the exact paid-feature mix is worth checking before buying.
Unpluq
Unpluq sells its physical NFC tag for $26.50 (close to OrbieLock), but using the Tag requires Unpluq Premium subscription. It supports iPhone and Android and adds multiple digital friction methods, schedules, and screen-time tracking. The required Premium plan makes its long-term pricing different from one-time-purchase options.
Flow
Flow sells a $40 metal NFC card with a free companion app and no ongoing subscription. It includes schedules and focus analytics, but it currently supports iPhone only, with Android still listed as coming later. Flow ships from Australia, so international shipping terms depend on the order and destination.
What Should You Look for in a Physical App Blocker?
Total Cost, Not Just the Tag Price
Compare the hardware price, shipping, and any required subscription together. A cheaper tag can become the more expensive option over time if the app requires an ongoing plan.
iPhone and Android Support
Platform support matters if you change phones, share the system with someone else, or want one setup that works across both iPhone and Android.
How Flexible Is the Blocking?
The physical tag is useful when you want strong friction, but schedules, timed sessions, and remote activation can make the system easier to use during work, school, travel, or days when the tag is somewhere else.
Does It Help Beyond Blocking?
Most products in this category can block an app. The bigger differences are what happens around that action: whether you get useful analytics, goals, coaching, streaks, social accountability, or another reason to stay consistent.
That is the part of OrbieLock I care most about. The physical block handles the immediate distraction, while screen-time goals, coaching, and Orbie's progression system are designed to keep the habit visible after the focus session ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest Brick alternative in this comparison?
As of September 21, 2026, OrbieLock has the lowest listed hardware price in this comparison at $24.80 and includes free shipping.
Blok is listed at $29 before shipping making it much pricier, while Unpluq's $26.50 Tag requires Premium subscription to use the physical Tag.
Which Brick alternatives do not require a subscription?
OrbieLock, Bloom, and Flow currently do not require a recurring subscription for their core companion apps. Blok's hardware store says app access is included, although its App Store listing also shows paid Pro and membership options. The Unpluq Tag requires Unpluq Premium.
Which Brick alternatives work on Android?
OrbieLock, Bloom, Blok, and Unpluq support Android. Flow doesn't seem to currently have an app for Android.
Can a physical app blocker work without the physical tag nearby?
Yes, depending on the product. Brick currently supports schedules and remote activation, but it no longer offers timed locks that let you set a fixed lock duration. OrbieLock supports timed locks and automatic schedules without needing the physical tag nearby.
Other physical app blockers also offer different forms of scheduled, remote, or app-based blocking, so it is worth comparing how each one works without the tag.
What does OrbieLock add beyond app blocking?
OrbieLock adds daily screen-time goals, focus insights, in-day coaching nudges, and Orbie, a virtual companion whose clothes and room can improve as you focus. The goal is to make progress feel visible instead of treating every focus session as an isolated timer.
Do physical app blockers actually help?
A physical blocker adds an extra step between the impulse to open a distracting app and actually opening it. For people who routinely dismiss ordinary software limits, that extra friction can make the decision more deliberate. Results still depend on how you use the system and where you keep the physical tag.
Which Brick Alternative Makes Sense?
The important differences between physical app blockers are no longer just whether they can block an app. Price, shipping, subscriptions, platform support, automation, analytics, and the way the app keeps you engaged with your goals can matter just as much.
I built OrbieLock around both sides of that problem: physical friction when you need a hard stop, and goals, coaching, insights, schedules, and Orbie's progression system to help you stay on track throughout the rest of the day. At $24.80 with free shipping and no recurring subscription, it is designed to stay accessible without stripping out the habit-building features.