Apps that let a friend lock your apps
Willpower apps let you turn them off. These don't. A friend (or a group) has to say yes before you get back into TikTok at midnight. Here's how each one works and what it costs.
On iPhone, the apps where a friend approves your unlocks are Para, Friend Controls, useLess, Snitch, LockPact and Screen Time Buddy; FriendLock works differently, trading a selfie with a friend for an hour of screen time. Para is free with every feature. Friend Controls is free for one app. useLess, Snitch and LockPact have free cores with paid extras, and Screen Time Buddy is a subscription. You can also do it with no app at all by having a friend set your Screen Time passcode.
At a glance
| App | Price | How a friend is involved | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Para | Free (optional support) | Approves or denies each request | iPhone |
| Friend Controls | Free for 1 app | Approves or denies requests | iPhone |
| useLess | Free core, Pro from $3.99/mo | Sees photo requests; decides on strict rules | iPhone |
| Snitch | Free + Premium | Group approves, or sees your self-unlock | iPhone |
| LockPact | Free core | Partner approves; told if you bypass | iPhone |
| Screen Time Buddy | Subscription (about $59.99/yr) | Friend approves extra time | iPhone, Android |
| FriendLock | Free + Pro | A selfie together earns an hour | iPhone |
| Screen Time passcode | Free, built in | Friend knows the passcode | iPhone |
Prices and ratings are from each app's US App Store listing or website, checked September 29, 2026. They change, so check the listing before you buy.
The apps, one by one
ParaOur app
- Price
- Free. Every feature, no ads. Optional Supporter plan ($1–$20/month) or one-time gift if you want to chip in.
- How it works
- Pick the apps you scroll too much, then block them right now, on a schedule, at a daily limit, or when you arrive at a place. Mindful mode adds a pause instead of a hard block. Then hand the key to a friend.
- How you get back in
- You ask your friend. The request says how long you want and why, and they approve or deny it in Para. Strict mode removes your own "end block" button, and Lock app deletion means deleting Para needs their OK too.
Good at
- A real person holds the key, so the override isn't one tap away
- Every feature is free, including friend approval, schedules and place-based blocks
- Blocks that start when you walk into a place (home, the office, bed)
- Deletion lock: getting around the block by deleting Para needs your friend
Watch out for
- iPhone only, and your friend needs Para (free) to approve requests
- Brand new, with only a handful of ratings so far
- Like every Screen Time app, a determined person can switch off its Screen Time access in iOS Settings
Best for: People who've already tried a willpower app and noticed they're the one turning it off.
Friend Controls
- Price
- Free for blocking one app. More apps need a purchase; the App Store lists weekly, monthly, yearly and lifetime options at several prices.
- How it works
- Set a daily limit per app. When your time runs out, the app locks.
- How you get back in
- Send a request. Your friends see it and approve or deny.
Good at
- The friend-approval idea, done simply
- The most ratings of the friend-lock apps
Watch out for
- Only one app on the free version
- Limits are time-based rather than schedules or places
Best for: One problem app and one friend willing to say no.
useLess
- Price
- The social features are free. useLess Pro (unlimited rules, Hardcore mode, stats) has monthly and yearly plans, from $3.99/month on the App Store. Inviting friends can earn free Pro.
- How it works
- Rules with daily limits and focus schedules. Requests for more time go to a shared feed.
- How you get back in
- Snap a photo explaining why and send it to your friends. On stricter rules they decide; Hardcore mode needs a friend's approval or a 24-hour wait.
Good at
- Fun, social design with photo requests and leaderboards
- Generous referral path to free Pro
Watch out for
- On default rules, friends see your request more than they decide it
- Hardcore mode is a Pro feature
Best for: Friend groups who'd enjoy a little public shaming.
Snitch
- Price
- Free, with Snitch Premium (individual, group and lifetime options on the App Store).
- How it works
- An accountability group shares a pot of time. Apps lock when your share is used up.
- How you get back in
- Ask the group to approve, or unlock yourself with a hold gesture that the group gets to see.
Good at
- Built for groups rather than pairs
- Self-unlock is possible but never private
Watch out for
- You can still unlock yourself; the cost is being seen
- Not to be confused with a different app called Screen Snitch
Best for: A group of friends quitting together.
LockPact
- Price
- Free core features. Optional one-time purchases, and one optional ad before a request is sent.
- How it works
- Pair with one partner using a code. Each of you locks apps on your own phone.
- How you get back in
- Only your partner can approve an unlock. LockPact says openly that bypassing is possible on iOS, and your partner is notified when you do.
Good at
- Mutual: you each hold the other's key
- Honest about what iOS can and can't enforce
Watch out for
- One partner only
- Both people need an iPhone
- Very new, with very few ratings
Best for: Couples or two friends keeping each other honest.
Screen Time Buddy
- Price
- Subscription after a 7-day free trial. The yearly plan is $59.99; the monthly price differs between its website and App Store listing.
- How it works
- App limits, a daily animal character based on your screen time, coins and leaderboards.
- How you get back in
- When you hit your limit, a friend has to approve more time.
Good at
- Playful design
- Works on iPhone and Android
Watch out for
- Paid after the trial
- Pricing is inconsistent across its own pages
Best for: People who want friend approval plus gamified stats and don't mind paying.
FriendLock
- Price
- Free, with FriendLock Pro at $1.99/month, $14.99/year or $49.99 forever.
- How it works
- You earn screen time by spending time with friends in person.
- How you get back in
- Each selfie with a friend banks one hour, which you can spend later without asking again.
Good at
- Positive: you earn time instead of begging for it
- Gets you off the phone and out with people
Watch out for
- Friends don't approve individual unlocks
- No update since January 2026
Best for: People who'd rather be rewarded for seeing friends than policed by them.
No app: a friend sets your Screen Time passcode
- Price
- Free, built into iOS.
- How it works
- Your friend types a four-digit Screen Time passcode you don't know, then you set limits or a schedule.
- How you get back in
- Anything past the limit needs the passcode, so you have to ask your friend in person or by text.
Good at
- Nothing to install
- System-level
Watch out for
- Your friend has to physically type the code on your phone
- If passcode recovery is set up with your Apple Account, you can reset it yourself
Best for: Trying the idea before installing anything.
Why a friend works when willpower apps don't
Every app on this page uses the same Apple Screen Time framework as Opal or ScreenZen, so the block itself is the same. The difference is who can end it. With a willpower app, the person who wants to scroll and the person who can turn off the block are the same person, at the same moment. Put the key in someone else's hands and ending the block early turns into a question you have to ask out loud.
What to look for
Three questions separate these apps. First, does your friend actually decide, or only find out? Second, can you get around it by deleting the app or ending the block yourself? Third, what does it cost once you're blocking more than one app?
FAQ
Is there an app that lets a friend control my screen time?
Which friend-lock app is free?
Does my friend need the app too?
Can I get around it by deleting the app?
Keep reading
Hand a friend the key.
Para is free, every feature. iPhone only. About a minute to set up.