The 7 Best Brick Alternatives for iPhone and Android

A Brick alternative is any tool that locks distracting apps behind friction you cannot cancel on impulse. People go looking for one for a few honest reasons: Brick is about $59, it is a single fixed device you have to keep nearby, and its lockout is deliberately strict. Some want to spend less, some want a tag that travels, some want better Android support, and some want to test the idea before they pay.

The reason physical blockers exist at all is that soft tools fail at the moment of temptation. App timers and Screen Time live on the same phone, so it is easy to tap past a limit until the limit stops meaning anything. A blocker only works if getting back in takes a deliberate physical step. The seven alternatives below clear that bar in different ways.

Brick alternatives compared

All prices are as of June 2026. "Coming soon" means announced but not yet shipping.

The best Brick alternatives, ranked

1. Autonomous Key - best low-cost device

The Autonomous Key is the best low-cost finished device, and it is the alternative Autonomous makes. It is a $20 passive NFC key that locks the apps you choose until you physically scan it again. You set a schedule in the companion app, your phone drops to calls, texts, and work tools, and locked apps stay locked until you tap the key - leave it in another room and there is no quick cave. It runs on iPhone through Apple Family Controls and on Android through NFC, with no battery and no subscription.

The honest caveat: as of June 2026 it is on Kickstarter and ships in July 2026, so unlike Brick it has no long-term review record yet. If you want the lowest one-time price with real cross-platform support and can wait for the ship date, it is built for that.

2. Foqos - best free Brick alternative

Foqos is the best free alternative to Brick. It is an open-source iPhone app that turns any NFC tag or printed QR code into an app lock, so your only cost is a tag, which runs under a dollar. You assign a tag to a blocking profile, tap to start a session, and tap to end it, with timer-based sessions and scheduled profiles built in. It is iPhone-first and you assemble the setup yourself, which rewards people comfortable configuring their own tags. For a no-cost test of whether physical friction works for you, it is the clear starting point.

3. Unpluq - best portable Brick alternative

Unpluq is the best portable alternative to Brick. Its NFC tag is small and clips to a keychain, so it moves with you and lets you unlock apps anywhere rather than only at a desk. It works on both iPhone and Android and is one of the more polished cross-platform options. The trade-off is the price model: Unpluq runs on a yearly subscription rather than a one-time cost, so over two years it can cost more than any one-time device here. If portability matters more than avoiding a subscription, it is the pick.

4. Bloom - best one-time card

Bloom is the best one-time card alternative to Brick. It is a flat NFC card at about $39 that you keep on a desk or in a wallet, and it includes a child mode for stricter use. It works well on iPhone, though some owners report mixed results on Android, so check current support if Android is your main phone. For people who want a wallet-friendly form factor without a yearly fee, it is a strong pick.

5. Blok - best card for both platforms

Blok is the best card option for people on either platform. It is a similar NFC card to Bloom at about $40, one-time, with iPhone and Android support and no subscription. It does the core job - tap to lock chosen apps, tap to unlock - in a slim card you can carry. It suits anyone who wants a cross-platform card without committing to a subscription.

6. Focus Bear - best with habit structure

Focus Bear is the best alternative for people who want structure on top of blocking. It is a software tool that pairs distraction blocking with habit and routine guidance, so it pushes you from blocked toward actually starting the task. It runs on phone and desktop on a subscription. Because it is software, it is easier to override than a physical key, but the routine-building layer is something no NFC device offers.

7. Opal and Freedom - best software-only options

Opal and Freedom are the best software-only alternatives to Brick. Both schedule and delay apps across your devices and sync settings, which is convenient and fully cross-platform. The trade-off is real: the off switch lives on the same phone, so they rely on willpower in the moment more than any physical blocker. Both are subscription tools, and they fit people who want lighter guardrails with easy overrides.

How to choose a Brick alternative

The right Brick alternative depends on platform, budget, and how strict you need the lockout to be.

• Choose Foqos if you want to test physical friction for free and you are on iPhone.
• Choose the Autonomous Key if you want the lowest one-time cost with native iPhone and Android support, and you can wait for the July 2026 ship.
• Choose Unpluq if portability matters more than avoiding a subscription.
• Choose Bloom or Blok if you want a one-time card to keep on a desk or in a wallet.
• Choose Focus Bear, Opal, or Freedom if you want software-only guardrails and accept that they are easier to override.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Brick alternative?

The best Brick alternative depends on your need. Foqos is best if you want a free option, the Autonomous Key is best for the lowest one-time device price with iPhone and Android support, and Unpluq is best if you want a portable keychain tag. All three lock distracting apps behind physical friction.

What are the best alternatives to Brick for Android?

The Autonomous Key and Unpluq are the best Android alternatives to Brick, since both are built cross-platform rather than ported. Blok also runs on Android as a one-time card. Foqos is iPhone-first, and Brick's own Android version is reported to trail its iPhone one.

What are the best alternatives to Brick for iPhone?

Foqos and the Autonomous Key are the best iPhone alternatives to Brick. Foqos is free and works with any NFC tag, while the Autonomous Key uses Apple Family Controls for harder-to-bypass blocking. Bloom is a strong iPhone card option at about $39.

Is there a free alternative to Brick?

Yes. Foqos is a free, open-source iPhone app that turns any NFC tag or printed QR code into an app lock, with no subscription. You supply a tag, which costs under a dollar, or print a QR code. It is iPhone-first, so Android users have fewer free options.

What is the cheapest Brick alternative?

Foqos is the cheapest, since the app is free and a compatible NFC tag costs under a dollar. The Autonomous Key is the cheapest finished device at $20, one-time. Both undercut Brick's roughly $59 price and avoid any subscription.

Which Brick alternative is hardest to bypass?

The hardest to bypass are physical blockers you can move out of reach: Brick, the Autonomous Key, and Bloom in child mode. Locking your apps and leaving the key or card in another room beats a software timer you can cancel from the phone in your hand.

What is the most portable Brick alternative?

Unpluq is the most portable, since its tag clips to a keychain and travels with you. Brick, Bloom, and the Autonomous Key are designed to stay in one place, which helps strict focus but is less convenient if you unlock apps in several locations during the day.

Do Brick alternatives need a subscription?

Most physical ones do not. Foqos, Bloom, Blok, and the Autonomous Key are one-time costs. Unpluq charges yearly for its tag, and software tools like Focus Bear, Opal, and Freedom are subscription-based. One-time devices usually cost less over two years.

Are physical Brick alternatives better than Screen Time?

For people who already override Screen Time, usually yes. A physical blocker needs a real object to unlock apps, so you cannot cancel the block on impulse. Screen Time and app timers live on the same phone, which makes them easier to bypass in a weak moment.

Is the Autonomous Key a good Brick alternative?

The Autonomous Key matches Brick's tap-to-lock model at $20 with native iPhone and Android support and no subscription. The main caveat is timing: as of June 2026 it is on Kickstarter and ships in July 2026, so it lacks Brick's long review history. Disclosure: Autonomous makes the Key.

Where can I buy a Brick alternative?

Foqos is on the App Store, Bloom and Blok sell cards through their own sites, and Unpluq sells its tag with a subscription. The Autonomous Key is available to back on Kickstarter as of June 2026, with shipping in July 2026.