A Brick alternative that doesn't cost extra (and teaches you something)
Brick's idea is clever: a physical block you tap your phone against to lock and unlock your apps. The friction is real, because the device lives at home. But it costs real money on top of your phone, and walking to a piece of plastic teaches you nothing. QuizLocky creates its friction with knowledge instead: pass a quiz from your own notes and you've earned your screen time.
What Brick is
Brick is a small physical NFC device paired with an iPhone app. Tap your phone on the Brick to lock your distracting apps; tap again to unlock. Because you can leave the Brick at home, the friction of unlocking is physical distance.
QuizLocky vs Brick
| Brick | QuizLocky | |
|---|---|---|
| The friction | Walking to a physical device you bought | Passing a quiz built from your own study notes |
| Extra cost | A one-time hardware purchase | No hardware — subscription with a 3-day free trial |
| What you gain from unlocking | Nothing — you tapped a brick | Ten minutes of active recall on your actual coursework |
| If you're out with your phone | No Brick, no unlock (or emergency unlocks) | The quiz is always available — study anywhere, earn time anywhere |
| Platform | iPhone + the device | iPhone only, nothing to buy or carry |
When Brick is the better choice
- You want the most absolute block possible and like that the unlock lives physically at home
- You'd rather pay once for hardware than subscribe
- You don't need or want study features attached
When QuizLocky is
- You're a student — every unlock should push your grades, not your step count
- You don't want to spend on hardware or carry another object
- You want flashcards, spaced repetition and an AI study coach in the same app
Common questions
Is a software lock as strong as Brick's physical one?
Brick's separation-based friction is very strong. QuizLocky's lock uses Apple's Screen Time framework and is genuinely enforced — but its philosophy is different: make the unlock productive rather than merely difficult. For students, ten minutes of recall beats a walk to the kitchen.
Do I need to buy anything to use QuizLocky?
No. It's just an app: download, pick the apps to lock, add your notes, done in a few minutes.
What if I have an exam and need my phone free?
You control which apps are locked and can adjust your setup at any time — QuizLocky locks the distracting apps you chose, not your whole phone.
Make your scroll urge study for you
QuizLocky is free for 3 days. Set it up tonight, and tomorrow the next time your thumb heads for TikTok, you'll learn something first.
Download on the App StoreiPhone only · uses Apple Screen Time · cancel anytime
Also comparing: Opal · Forest · Quizlet · or read how to stop scrolling and actually study.