Why Lock In?
Two meanings. One mission. Learn why you should use Lock In (the app) and why you need to lock in (the commitment to focus and get things done).
The Battle Inside Your Brain
The Instant Gratification Monkey
As Tim Urban explains in his viral TED talk, procrastinators have an Instant Gratification Monkey in their brain that hijacks rational decision-making. It wants fun NOW, not later.
The Panic Monster only shows up when deadlines loom. But what about tasks without deadlines? That's where Lock In comes in.
Your Life in Weeks
Tim Urban's "Your Life in Weeks" visualization shows a 90-year life as just 4,680 weeks. Each box is one week.
When you see your entire life laid out like this, every week matters. Lock In helps you make the most of each one by creating conscious distance between distraction and action.
Lock In's Solution: Conscious Friction
Lock In creates a deliberate pause between your impulse to check Instagram and actually opening it. The hold-to-unlock delay (configurable seconds) forces you to ask: "Do I really need this right now, or am I just avoiding work?" This conscious distance helps your rational brain override the Instant Gratification Monkey.
What Makes Lock In Different?
Not just another app blocker. Lock In combines psychology, flexibility, and zero paywalls.
Unlike Freedom ($8.99/month) or AppBlock ($4.99/month), Lock In never gates functionality behind subscriptions. Focus should be free.
Most apps only blacklist distractions. Lock In's Android whitelist lets you approve essentials (Spotify, Messages) while blocking everything else. Precise control.
Set 3, 5, or 10 seconds to unlock. This brief moment lets your rational brain catch up to your impulse, fighting the Instant Gratification Monkey.
Every minute focused = 1 unit of currency. Build streaks, hit daily goals, and optionally watch a rewarded ad for +10 bonus minutes. More transparent than Forest's tree-based rewards.
iOS uses Screen Time for blacklisting. Android adds persistent notifications and whitelist mode. Both platforms get the same core experience.
We follow iOS App Tracking Transparency guidelines and let you reset consents anytime in settings. We don't sell or share your information.
How Lock In Compares
See how Lock In stacks up against the biggest competitors and built-in alternatives.
| Feature | Lock In | Forest | AppBlock | iOS Screen Time | Android Wellbeing | RescueTime | Opal | Freedom | Stay Focused | Cold Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Core Features | ||||||||||
| Android Whitelist Mode | ||||||||||
| Hold-to-Unlock Friction | ||||||||||
| Gamification (Minutes/Points) | ||||||||||
| Bonus Time After Timers |