CompareWalkLock
brb vs WalkLock
Both turn walking into the price of screen time on iPhone. brb’s daily gate with Strict Mode is the cleaner everyday rule. WalkLock adds hourly mode and Live Activities if you need that complexity.
The short answer
Prefer brb for one daily goal, Strict Mode, and a once-a-day Emergency Unlock. WalkLock only wins if you specifically need hourly re-locking during long desk stretches or Live Activity progress on the Lock Screen.
Choose brb if
- You want a simple daily rule: hit the goal, apps open for the day.
- You want Strict Mode and a single five-minute Emergency Unlock.
- You care about a home screen widget for steps and streak — without hourly complexity.
Only pick WalkLock if
- You specifically need an hourly / rolling 60-minute re-lock.
- Live Activities on the Lock Screen are a must for you.
- You prefer WalkLock’s free-with-purchases packaging over brb’s trial.
brb vs WalkLock at a glance
| Feature | brb | WalkLock |
|---|---|---|
| Core rule | Daily step goal — simple and sticky | Daily goal, or hourly / rolling 60-minute mode |
| Blocking | Apple Screen Time | Apple Screen Time |
| Steps | Apple Health (device data) | Apple Health; manual additions do not count |
| Strict enforcement | Strict Mode | Mode-dependent; social unlock requests exist in some versions |
| Emergency / break | 5 minutes, once per day | Varies; some builds show friend-voted extra minutes |
| Lock Screen / Live Activity | Home screen widget for steps & streak | Live Activities and Lock Screen widgets |
| Pricing shape | 7-day trial, then subscription | Free download with optional purchases / Pro |
Why a daily gate usually wins
brb’s ordinary day is simple. Midnight resets the count. Until you hit the goal, blocked apps stay locked. After you hit it, they stay open. That clarity is the product — fewer modes to game, one rule to keep.
WalkLock’s distinctive option is hourly mode: a rolling window that can re-lock apps if you go long stretches without moving. Useful for some desk days. For most people shopping walk-to-unlock, the daily gate is the habit that sticks.
Progress without complexity
brb shows steps and streak on a home screen widget so the goal stays visible. WalkLock leans on Live Activities and Lock Screen widgets — nice if you want that surface, not required to make the walk happen.
Neither replaces walking. Prefer brb unless Lock Screen Live Activities are the reason you would actually open the competitor.
Pick one
Both read Apple Health. Both block with Screen Time. Do not run both on the same apps. If you only need a daily gate with Strict Mode and a named Emergency Unlock, brb is the clearer pick. Reach for WalkLock only when hourly re-locking is non-negotiable.
Questions
Does brb have an hourly mode like WalkLock?
No — by design. brb uses a daily step goal. That simplicity is the point. WalkLock’s hourly window is the main reason to pick it instead.
Does WalkLock use Apple Health the same way?
Yes for real steps. WalkLock’s site notes that manual step additions do not count toward unlock. brb unlocks from Health-reported steps toward your daily goal.
Which is stricter?
brb’s Strict Mode closes the casual ignore path and limits Emergency Unlock to five minutes once a day. WalkLock can feel stricter in hourly mode during a sedentary afternoon — but most people get a harder, clearer everyday lock from brb’s daily rule.
