Phone Addiction Device vs Lockbox: How to Choose the Right Approach
Deciding between selective app blocking and locking your phone away entirely? Here's how to choose based on your actual needs—not marketing.
Key takeaways
- Defined focus blocks where you genuinely don't need your phone.
- Sleep—if your problem is nighttime scrolling and you don't need the phone at night, a lockbox by your bed is simple
- If you find yourself constantly working around selective blocking.
- If you want the simplest possible solution.
- You need to be reachable for calls or texts.
The core difference: Selective friction vs total removal
This decision comes down to one question: do you need your phone available for anything while you're trying not to scroll?
A lockbox removes your phone entirely. You can't scroll, but you also can't receive calls, check maps, use two-factor authentication, or do anything else.
A selective device (like Apptoken, Brick, or Bloom) blocks specific apps while keeping your phone usable. You can still make calls and access essentials—you just can't open Instagram without doing something physical.
When a lockbox is the right choice
Lockboxes are simple and effective for specific use cases:
- Defined focus blocks where you genuinely don't need your phone. Studying for 2 hours, doing creative work, reading a book
- Sleep—if your problem is nighttime scrolling and you don't need the phone at night, a lockbox by your bed is simple
- If you find yourself constantly working around selective blocking. Some people are too good at finding loopholes; for them, removing the option entirely works better
- If you want the simplest possible solution. No app to set up, no account to create. Put phone in box, lock box, done
When selective blocking is the right choice
Most people's lives require some phone access throughout the day:
- You need to be reachable for calls or texts. Family, work, childcare—many people can't just disappear for hours
- You use your phone for work essentials. Slack, email, calendar, authentication apps
- You need maps, banking, or other utility apps. These aren't the problem; the feeds are
- Your problem is persistent throughout the day, not just during specific blocks. A lockbox for 2 hours doesn't help if you scroll for 4 hours outside that window
You can use both
These approaches aren't mutually exclusive. Some people use selective blocking during the day (keep essentials, block feeds) and a lockbox at night (total phone removal while sleeping).
The key is matching the tool to the context. What do you need during this time? What's the pattern you're trying to break?
Want lower iPhone Screen Time without willpower battles?
Apptoken adds a real-world pause before distracting apps—so you don’t have to win the same decision 50 times a day.
FAQ
Which is more effective overall?
Neither is universally better—it depends on your situation. A lockbox is more restrictive (you can't access the phone at all), but that restriction has costs. Selective blocking is more flexible but requires you to set it up correctly. The best choice is the one you'll actually use consistently.
What about emergencies with a lockbox?
Most timed lockboxes have an emergency unlock—you can get into them if you really need to, but it's inconvenient (some require breaking a plastic tab, waiting for a code, etc.). If you need truly instant emergency access, selective blocking is probably better for you.
Can I start with one and switch later?
Absolutely. Many people start with Screen Time limits, find they override them, try selective blocking, and some eventually use a lockbox for specific situations. It's a progression based on what you learn about your own patterns.
Keep reading
Looking for a physical screen time device? Here's how to choose—including what actually matters (bypass difficulty, cost model) and what doesn't (most "features").
A practical checklist for iPhone Screen Time addiction symptoms (without self-diagnosis). Learn what the signs mean and what to do next to reduce Screen Time.