brb vs Brick
Brick adds physical friction: tap an NFC tag to lock or unlock. brb adds movement friction: chosen apps stay blocked until Apple Health says you hit your step goal.
The short answer
Choose Brick when you want a one-time hardware purchase, tap-to-toggle control, and iPhone or Android without a subscription. Choose brb when the unlock should be walking first, with Strict Mode and a once-a-day Emergency Unlock on iPhone.
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 fine with a 7-day trial, then subscription.
Choose Brick if
- You want NFC tap lock/unlock and like physical ritual over steps.
- You want no ongoing subscription after buying the hardware.
- You need Android or prefer hardware 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 | 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 |
What Brick is good at
Brick is built around a physical NFC tag. Lock and unlock are deliberate taps, not a step count. You pay for hardware once and use the companion app without a subscription, which suits people who want a tangible object in the loop.
It runs on iPhone and Android. If your problem is unlocking too easily on the phone alone, leaving the tag across the room is a different kind of friction than walking.
What brb is good at
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 tap and no Android app. The bargain is movement before the feed, not fetching hardware.
Honest differences
Both can feel strict; neither is a magic “no bypass ever” guarantee. Brick’s bypass story is physical access to the tag and whatever emergency unbricks they allow. brb’s bypass story includes Emergency Unlock and anything you can change in Screen Time settings.
Pick Brick for tap ritual and no subscription after hardware. Pick brb for walk-first unlock on a single iPhone workflow.
Questions
Does brb replace Brick?
Only if steps matter more than NFC taps. Brick is hardware plus tap control. brb is subscription software plus a step goal. They solve different friction models.
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 with no app subscription. brb has a 7-day trial then subscription. Compare current App Store pricing and Brick’s hardware price when you decide.
Walk first tomorrow morning
Download brb free and let your first unlock of the day be steps — not your phone.
Download on the App Store