From WIRED · Justin Pot · · 1m 50s
Free apps block phone distractions better than paid Brick
You don't need to spend fifty-nine dollars on a distraction-blocking device. Free apps and a dollar NFC chip do the same job.
In brief
You don't need to spend fifty-nine dollars on a distraction-blocking device. Free apps and a dollar NFC chip do the same job. Free distraction-blocking apps using NFC chips or QR codes offer the same functionality as the fifty-nine dollar Brick device without the cost. Originally reported by WIRED.
Brick costs fifty-nine dollars
Brick is a fifty-nine dollar device that blocks distractions by stopping you from opening apps you've chosen to avoid, like Instagram. You tap your phone against it to start blocking.
Brick is just an NFC chip
Brick is basically an NFC chip, the same technology in credit cards and passports. You can buy a blank NFC chip for a dollar, and free apps use them to block distractions.
Foqos is free for iPhone
Foqos is a free, open source app for iOS by Canadian developer Ali Waseem. It blocks distractions using NFC tags, QR codes, daily schedules, or barcodes on items around your house.
Foqos prevents deletion workarounds
Foqos can block you from managing apps while a profile is running, so you cannot delete the app to escape a block you set. You can allow a limited number of breaks if you want.
Switchly is best for Android
Switchly, by Vienna-based developer Saltyy, is a feature-complete free app for Android. It blocks apps and URLs using NFC chips, QR codes, or schedules, and can block specific features inside apps.
Switchly's experimental feature works well
Switchly can block particular features inside certain apps, like Instagram Reels, rather than blocking the entire app. The feature is labeled experimental but worked well in testing.
Free tier offers plenty for most users
Switchly's free tier offers plenty of features for most people. Android's open nature means how well it works depends partly on your phone model, but the developer acknowledges this limitation.
The main idea
Free distraction-blocking apps using NFC chips or QR codes offer the same functionality as the fifty-nine dollar Brick device without the cost.
