CompareBrick
brb vs Brick
Brick adds physical friction: tap an NFC tag to lock or unlock. brb adds movement friction: chosen apps stay blocked until you walk. For phone habits, walking is usually the better unlock.
The short answer
Prefer brb when the unlock should be walking first — with Strict Mode and a once-a-day Emergency Unlock on iPhone, no hardware to buy or lose. Choose Brick only if you specifically want NFC tap ritual, Android, or a one-time hardware purchase instead of a subscription.
Choose brb if
- You want apps locked until a daily step goal, not until you find a tag.
- You want Strict Mode plus Emergency Unlock: five minutes, once per day.
- You are on iPhone and want software-only setup with a 7-day trial.
Only pick Brick if
- NFC tap lock/unlock is the ritual you already know you want.
- You refuse any subscription and prefer paying for hardware once.
- You need Android, or you want a tag you can leave in another room.
brb vs Brick at a glance
| Feature | brb | Brick |
|---|---|---|
| Core rule | Daily step goal unlocks chosen apps | Tap NFC tag to lock or unlock |
| Hardware | None — install and walk | NFC tag (paid hardware; app free) |
| Blocking | Apple Screen Time | Companion app + physical Brick |
| Platforms | iPhone | iPhone and Android |
| Pricing | 7-day free trial, then subscription | Hardware cost (~$59); no app subscription |
| Emergency access | 5 minutes, once per day | Limited emergency unbricks (see Brick) |
| Ordinary unlock | Hit step goal in Apple Health | Tap the NFC tag |
Why walk-to-unlock beats tap-to-unlock for most people
brb ties unlock to a daily step goal from Apple Health and Screen Time shields on chosen apps. Strict Mode removes the casual ignore path while they stay locked. Emergency Unlock is five minutes, once a day.
There is no tag to buy, lose, or leave at home. The bargain is movement before the feed — which also happens to be good for you — not fetching hardware every time you want Instagram.
What Brick is still good at
Brick is built around a physical NFC tag. Lock and unlock are deliberate taps. You pay for hardware once and use the companion app without a subscription. It also runs on Android.
If your problem is unlocking too easily on the phone alone and you already want a tangible object in the loop, Brick is a coherent product. It is a different friction model than walking.
Honest differences
Both can feel strict; neither is a magic “no bypass ever” guarantee. Brick’s bypass story is physical access to the tag. brb’s is Emergency Unlock plus Screen Time permissions you control — with a daily walk as the intended path.
Pick brb for walk-first unlock on a single iPhone workflow. Pick Brick only when tap ritual, Android, or no-subscription hardware is the deciding requirement.
Questions
Does brb replace Brick?
For most iPhone users who want movement before the feed, yes. Brick is hardware plus tap control. brb is walk-to-unlock software. Different friction — brb’s is usually the better habit.
Can I use Brick on Android and brb on iPhone?
They are separate products. brb is iPhone-only. Brick supports Android. There is no shared lock state between them.
Which is cheaper long term?
Brick front-loads cost in hardware. brb has a 7-day trial then subscription. Compare current prices — and weigh whether a tag you can tap is as sticky as a step goal you have to earn.
