BEST FREE ALTERNATIVES TO BRICK APP (2026)

Brick popularised NFC-based app blocking, and it's a well-made product. But at €62, it's not for everyone. Here's a look at what else is out there — including free and open-source options.

The Concept: Physical Friction

The idea behind all of these tools is the same: software-only blockers are too easy to dismiss. Adding a physical step — tapping an NFC tag, walking to another room — creates enough friction to break the autopilot scrolling habit. Brick was one of the first to bring this concept to a wide audience, and it deserves real credit for that.

But the NFC technology itself is a commodity. A single NFC sticker tag costs under €1, and a pack of 10 runs €2–5. The real question is which app ties the blocking logic together best — and whether you need to pay for it.

Quick Comparison

Paid Options

Brick — €62 One-Time

Brick is a polished, cross-platform product with a well-designed app and a magnetic NFC puck. It works on both iOS and Android, supports up to 10 custom modes, scheduled blocking, and a Strict Mode that makes bypassing genuinely difficult. No subscription — you pay once and keep it forever. If you want a turnkey solution and the price works for you, Brick is a solid choice.

Worth noting: You get five emergency unbricks total (refilling requires contacting support). International shipping adds to the cost. The app has strong iOS reviews (4.9 stars) while Android users sometimes report a rougher experience.

Unpluq — ~€27 Tag + ~€64/Year

Unpluq takes a different approach: the tag itself is cheaper (~€27), but it requires a Premium subscription (~€64/year) to function. The upside is flexibility — Unpluq offers multiple unlock methods (NFC, shake, tap pattern, QR), a 5-minute auto-relock timer after unlocking, and works fully offline. The downside is that it becomes the most expensive option over time.

Opal — ~€99/Year

Opal is a premium software-only screen time app, primarily for iOS and macOS. It has beautiful analytics, a strong community, and a Deep Focus mode that's hard to bypass. However, it has no NFC support whatsoever — it's purely digital. If physical friction is what you're looking for, Opal isn't the right tool. And at ~€99/year, it's a significant ongoing investment.

Free & Open-Source Alternatives

nfcGuard — Free, Android

Disclosure: this is our app. nfcGuard was built on a simple idea — NFC-based blocking should be accessible to everyone, regardless of budget. You buy a pack of NFC sticker tags for a couple of euros, stick them wherever you want, and get the same physical friction mechanic.

nfcGuard offers unlimited modes (not capped at 10), per-day scheduling with different times for each day of the week, and each mode can require a specific NFC tag to deactivate. The emergency reset uses a 60-second cooldown with no limit on how many times you can use it. Configuration is exportable as JSON or YAML, so you can share setups or back them up. The entire codebase is MIT-licensed and available on GitHub.

Limitations: Android only. No iOS support. The UI is functional but less polished than commercial products. No usage-tracking dashboard yet.

Switchly — Free, Android

Another strong open-source option for Android. Switchly supports NFC, QR codes, and barcode unlocking. It goes beyond basic app blocking with in-app surface blocking (e.g., block Reels inside Instagram), per-profile website blocking, and usage statistics. The core is free; an optional premium tier adds more schedules and customization.

Foqos — Free, iOS

The go-to free alternative for iPhone users. Foqos supports both NFC tags and QR codes, timer-based sessions with physical unlock, habit tracking, smart breaks, and Live Activities on the lock screen. Rated 4.9/5 with over 2,200 App Store reviews. Completely free with no in-app purchases.

Broke — Free, iOS (Developer-Only)

Broke is an open-source project inspired by Brick — a minimal iOS app that supports any NFC tag. It's not on the App Store; you need to clone the GitHub repo and build it in Xcode yourself. The creator explicitly encourages supporting Brick if you want a polished product. Best suited for developers who want a bare-bones starting point.