Scrolly vs Brick, Unpluq, Opal & Bloom: Smarter Alternatives to Reduce Phone Addiction

You pick up your phone to set an alarm. Then you see a notification, open an app, and look up twenty minutes later.

If that sounds familiar, an app blocker can help. The difficult part is choosing one you’ll still use after the excitement of setting it up wears off.

This guide compares five popular options: Scrolly, Brick, Unpluq, Opal, and Bloom.

Scrolly: a physical blocker with motivation built in

Scrolly is for someone who needs a barrier to start focusing and a reason to repeat the habit tomorrow. You choose the apps to block, tap the device to begin a focus session, and leave it out of reach until you’re ready to unlock.

Focus Coins, character customization, and a global ranking make your progress more visible. Scrolly also offers schedules, reminders, and focus statistics. See how Scrolly works.

Scrolly costs $49, with lifetime access to its phone app. It works with iPhone and Android; Mac and iPad.

Choose Scrolly if: a physical boundary appeals to you, but rewards and friendly competition would help you keep using it.

Brick: a simple physical boundary

Brick is for someone who wants to set a rule and get on with their day. Choose the apps you want to block, tap your phone against the device, and put the Brick somewhere you’d have to walk to retrieve it.

That simplicity is its strength. Brick also offers schedules, custom modes, analytics, and emergency unlocks, and supports compatible iPhones and Android phones. It costs $59. Explore Brick.

Choose Brick if: you want the physical step without a character, coins, or a game around your focus sessions.

Unpluq: several ways to add friction

Unpluq is for someone who wants to experiment with how they unlock apps. Alongside its physical NFC Tag, the app offers barriers such as scanning a QR code or completing an action on your phone.

You can try a limited free version without the Tag. Using the Tag requires Unpluq Premium, so consider the subscription as well as the hardware when comparing costs. See Unpluq’s plans and Tag requirements.

Choose Unpluq if: you like the idea of trying different barriers before settling on a physical one.

Opal: an app-first approach

Opal is for someone who wants to start with the phone they already have. Its free version includes recurring rules and immediate focus sessions; Pro adds options such as more rules and stricter blocking.

Opal also makes progress engaging through Focus Gems, streaks, and a leaderboard. Those features mean social motivation isn’t exclusive to a physical blocker. Compare Opal’s free and Pro features and see its focus features.

Choose Opal if: you want to try software first and don’t need a separate object between you and your apps.

Bloom: a physical blocker that fits in your wallet

Bloom is for someone who likes the physical approach but prefers a card. Bloom also offers schedules, emergency exits, and break timers.

Choose Bloom if: you want a slim physical blocker.

So which app blocker should you get?

The most useful question is where you want the barrier to live.

• Start with Opal if you want to try an app before buying anything physical.

• Look at Unpluq if you want to choose between several digital barriers and a Tag.

• Pick Brick if a simple physical routine is what you’ll actually follow.

• Consider Bloom if you want a physical card in your wallet.

• Try Scrolly if a physical blocker plus coins, customization, and rankings sounds more motivating to you.

None of these tools needs to block your whole phone. Start with the apps that pull you in, and keep the ones you rely on available.

Next steps

Choose one moment you want back: the first hour of work, dinner, or the time before bed. Then choose two distracting apps to block during it.

Use that small routine for a week. You’ll learn more from whether you repeat it than from any feature list and you can see how Scrolly fits into that routine if the physical and playful approach appeals to you.