Lagerland Lagerland

Steps over reps · Apple Watch · $19.99 lifetime

Looking for a
StepBloc alternative?

StepBloc unlocks distracting apps when you finish a set of push-ups, squats, or steps. EarnLock takes the same idea and tightens it in three places: the mechanic is ambient body movement (steps, active minutes, active calories) so it can't be faked with a 20-second indoor rep burst; the Apple Watch is a first-class surface with complications; and the lifetime tier is $19.99 — five dollars under StepBloc's $24.99. Plus a custom shield on every blocked app with the exact count remaining ("3,412 steps until unlock").

See EarnLock Compare side by side

How does EarnLock compare to StepBloc?

Compared against StepBloc's public App Store listing (developer: Hamsters Technology / HAMSTERS TECHNOLOGIES LLC, app ID 6480580480). Re-verify before switching — competitor offerings change frequently.

Feature EarnLock StepBloc
How blocked apps unlock Daily activity goal hit (steps / active minutes / active calories), measured by Apple Health — ambient, continuous Push-ups, squats, OR steps to earn timed access — reps are counted in-app
Custom shield with live progress ring on the blocked app Yes — ShieldConfiguration extension paints a ring + "X steps until unlock" Not described in public listing — verify in the app
Apple Watch app + complications Yes — first-class, reads HealthKit on the Watch, complications on every face style No Apple Watch app listed
Cheapest one-time / lifetime tier $19.99 lifetime (one-time) $24.99 lifetime (one-time)
Cheapest paid monthly tier $1.99 / month (or $9.99 / year) — 7-day free trial on either $3.99 / month
Account or sign-up required No — no email, no Apple ID required Not disclosed on App Store listing — check the app
App Privacy label (Apple-verified) Data Not Collected — every release Data Not Linked — Health, Fitness, Usage Data, Diagnostics collected
Languages 39 locales (incl. Arabic + Hebrew RTL) 3 — Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish
Platforms iOS 17+ · watchOS 10+ iOS 16+ · iPadOS · macOS 13+ (M1) · visionOS 1.0+
Family Sharing eligible Yes — every paid tier (Monthly, Yearly, Lifetime); one purchase covers up to 5 family members Not disclosed on App Store listing — check per-IAP setting before buying

Verified 2026-05-23 against StepBloc's public App Store listing (apps.apple.com/us/app/stepbloc-screen-time-blocker/id6480580480). Mechanism descriptions reflect each app's own published documentation; re-verify before switching.

When should I pick StepBloc instead?

Honest answer — pick StepBloc if any of these matter more than ambient activity, Apple Watch, and the lower lifetime price:

EarnLock is built for the person who tried StepBloc, did the 10 push-ups on the couch in 20 seconds, and realized the friction needed to be ambient — paid in steps spread across the day, not in reps fired off in a burst.

About EarnLock

EarnLock icon
EarnLock
Earn your screen time. Move, then scroll.
Lock Instagram, TikTok, X until you hit your daily step goal. Custom shield, Apple Watch, no account, no server. $19.99 lifetime — or free.
lifestyle iOS · watchOS

Questions

FAQ

What is the best alternative to StepBloc?
EarnLock is the closest direct alternative to StepBloc among screen-time blockers that gate access on physical activity. The differences are mechanic, surface, and presentation. EarnLock uses steps, active minutes, and active calories — continuous, ambient, hard to game indoors. StepBloc adds push-ups and squats — rep-based exercises you can complete sitting in front of the same couch you were trying to leave. EarnLock has a first-class Apple Watch app and complications; StepBloc has no Watch app listed. EarnLock's lifetime tier is $19.99; StepBloc's is $24.99.
How is EarnLock different from StepBloc?
Four things. (1) Unlock mechanic: EarnLock uses ambient body movement (steps / active minutes / active calories) read from Apple Health; StepBloc adds rep counting for push-ups and squats. We picked ambient over reps deliberately — reps are gameable at home; steps and active-minutes require continuous motion. (2) Apple Watch: EarnLock ships a first-class Watch app and complications; StepBloc has no Watch app listed. (3) Pricing: EarnLock's lifetime is $19.99 (one-time); StepBloc's lifetime is $24.99. (4) Privacy and reach: EarnLock's App Privacy label reads Data Not Collected and the app ships in 39 locales; StepBloc collects Health, Fitness, Usage Data, and Diagnostics under Data Not Linked, and ships in 3 locales.
Is EarnLock cheaper than StepBloc?
Yes. EarnLock's $19.99 one-time lifetime tier undercuts StepBloc's $24.99 lifetime by exactly $5. EarnLock's monthly is $1.99 versus StepBloc's $3.99 — half. EarnLock's yearly is $9.99 (Family Sharing eligible across 5 family members), with both monthly and yearly carrying a 7-day free trial. Both apps ship a free baseline tier.
Why does EarnLock use steps instead of push-ups and squats?
Because reps are gameable and steps are continuous. You can do 10 push-ups in 20 seconds without standing up from the couch you were trying to leave. You cannot fake 8,000 steps in a single burst — the count requires sustained, distributed motion measured by Apple Health, and it accrues across the day's actual movement. EarnLock's premise is that the unlock cost should be denominated in something the user's life also benefits from, and ambient activity does that better than indoor reps. Both apps cite Apple Health for steps; EarnLock additionally supports active minutes and active calories in Premium.
Does StepBloc have an Apple Watch app?
Per StepBloc's App Store listing (developer Hamsters Technology, app ID 6480580480), the app runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac (M1+), and visionOS — no Apple Watch app is listed. EarnLock ships a first-class watchOS app: the Watch reads HealthKit directly so the count keeps running during long walks, runs, and gym sessions without the iPhone in your pocket. Complications mount on modular, circular, corner, and graphic faces.
Which is more private — EarnLock or StepBloc?
EarnLock's Apple App Privacy label reads Data Not Collected — no analytics SDK, no advertising SDK, no third-party SDKs of any kind, no EarnLock server. StepBloc's App Privacy label lists Health, Fitness, Usage Data (Product Interaction, Other Usage Data), and Diagnostics (Crash Data) under Data Not Linked. Neither app tracks you across other apps. EarnLock is the stricter zero-collection design.

Start here

Try EarnLock.

Movement is the unlock. Apple Health is the proof. $19.99 lifetime — pay once, no subscriptions, no account.

Learn about EarnLock