Guide

Best accountability-partner app blockers: Locked In vs LockPact vs AppBlock

Published: October 29, 2026 ยท Updated: October 29, 2026

Locked In is an iPhone app that blocks distracting apps by time, by place, or on demand. Its App Store tagline is "Text a Friend to Unblock Apps": with Guardian (Pro), a friend you pick approves or declines by text when you try to end a block early. It's a friend keeping you honest, not a hard lock.

Which app lets a friend approve unlocking my apps?

Three good options on iPhone: LockPact (free, both partners need iPhones and only your partner approves unlocks), AppBlock Strict Mode with Approval (Premium; your partner approves by email), and Locked In Pro (your Guardian approves on a web page from a text, which opens in any phone browser, with no app to install, and you can always choose math problems or a typed phrase instead). Pick by how strict you want it and whether your friend has an iPhone.

Side-by-side (as of Oct 2026)

Locked In (Guardian, Pro only) LockPact AppBlock (Strict Mode, Approval)
How the friend gets the request A text from your phone through Messages, with a link to a get-lock-in.com page Push notification in the LockPact app Email
Does the friend install anything? No Yes, LockPact on their iPhone No, they approve by email with one click
Friend's phone Any phone browser (tested on iPhone) Must be an iPhone Any device with email
Request expiry 15 minutes Requests don't expire Not stated
Other ways to unlock early Always: solve math problems or type a phrase None besides partner (bypass via iOS Settings is possible, and partner is notified) Depends on chosen condition (cooldown, timer, PIN, charger, etc.)
Mutual (both lock each other)? No, one-way Yes No, one-way
Bypass alerts No deletion alerts Partner notified on bypass Strict Mode can block uninstalling AppBlock
Other blocking Quick Block, Schedules, Red Zones (location) Locks, schedules, solo timer Check AppBlock's site for current details
Price for friend approval Pro: $9.99/month or $89/year, 7-day free trial Free; optional ad before each request, removable with a one-time $9.99 purchase Premium required for Approval: from $4.99/month or $29.99/year (US App Store)
Platforms iPhone iPhone (iOS 18+) Check AppBlock's site for current details

Who should pick which

Choose LockPact if: you want it free, you and your friend both have iPhones, and you want a mutual pact where only your partner can approve unlocks.

Choose AppBlock Strict Mode if: you want the strictest setup: it can stop you uninstalling AppBlock or changing blocks, and your partner approves by email.

Choose Locked In if: you want a friend who keeps you honest without making them install an app, plus location blocking (Red Zones). Your Guardian (a Pro feature) approves or denies from a web page that opens in any phone browser, requests expire after 15 minutes, and you can always unlock with math problems or a typed phrase instead. It's friendly friction, not a hard lock.

FAQ

Can my friend control my Screen Time? Not through Apple's own settings for adults. These apps add a request-and-approve step: you set the block, and a friend approves ending it early.

Is there a free app where a friend approves my unlock? Yes: LockPact's core features are free (with an optional ad before each request). AppBlock's Approval needs Premium. Locked In's Guardian is part of Pro, with a 7-day free trial.

What if my friend doesn't answer? In LockPact, requests don't expire and apps stay locked. In Locked In, the request expires after 15 minutes, and you can choose math problems or typing a phrase instead.

Can I get around these apps? On iPhone, the phone's owner can usually remove Screen Time-based blocks in Settings. LockPact tells your partner when you do; AppBlock's Strict Mode makes it harder; Locked In has no strict mode and deleting it removes its blocks.

Does my friend need an iPhone? For LockPact, yes. For Locked In, no: the approval page is a regular web page that opens in a phone browser, and it has been tested on iPhone. For AppBlock, they need email.

Get Locked In on the App Store

Sources