brb vs WalkLock
Both turn walking into the price of screen time on iPhone. brb is a daily step gate with Strict Mode. WalkLock also offers an hourly mode and Lock Screen Live Activities.
Direct answer
Choose brb when you want one daily goal, Strict Mode, and a once-a-day Emergency Unlock. Choose WalkLock when you want hourly re-locking during long desk stretches, Lock Screen / Live Activity progress, or its free-with-purchases packaging.
Side by side
| Feature | brb | WalkLock |
|---|---|---|
| Core rule | Daily step goal | 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 | Live Activities and Lock Screen widgets |
| Pricing shape | 7-day trial, then subscription | Free download with optional purchases / Pro |
brb is a better fit 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.
WalkLock is a better fit if
- — You want an hourly mode that looks at a rolling window of steps.
- — You want Live Activities / Lock Screen progress toward unlock.
- — You prefer WalkLock’s free download with optional purchases.
Daily gate vs hourly accountability
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.
WalkLock’s distinctive option is hourly mode: a rolling window that can re-lock apps if you go long stretches without moving. That is useful for desk days. It is a different product rhythm than a once-per-day unlock.
Progress on the Lock Screen
WalkLock leans on Live Activities and Lock Screen widgets so you see steps remaining without opening a feed. brb shows steps and streak on a home screen widget.
Neither replaces walking. The question is which surface makes the goal visible enough that you actually move.
Honest overlap
Both read Apple Health. Both block with Screen Time. Do not run both on the same apps. If you only need a daily gate, either can work. If you specifically want hourly re-locking, WalkLock owns that idea. If you specifically want Strict Mode plus a named once-a-day Emergency Unlock, brb owns that framing.
Questions
Does brb have an hourly mode like WalkLock?
No. brb uses a daily step goal. WalkLock’s hourly / rolling window is the main product difference.
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?
Depends on settings. 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. Compare the exit you will actually use.
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