Comparison
Lerf vs Brick
Both products exist because software blockers are too easy to switch off, so they move the block behind a physical object. The difference is philosophy. Brick makes ending hard — per Brick's own site, the device has to be physically present to re-enable your apps, so leaving it at home locks you out until you return. Lerf makes starting effortless — an adhesive tag lives where the habit happens, one tap begins a timed session, and the timer ends it. Strictness versus ritual.
| Lerf | Brick | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39 tag · app included | $59 device · app included |
| What you buy | Adhesive NFC tag that stays where you stick it | Magnetic NFC device you mount or carry |
| How a session ends | Timer ends it; Easy Mode allows a press-and-hold early end, Strict Mode doesn't | Tap the Brick again — it must be physically present to unblock |
| Platforms | iPhone | iPhone and Android |
| Subscription | None with the Tag · app alone $14.99/mo or $79.99/yr | None |
How Brick works
Brick pairs a small magnetic NFC device with a companion app. You sort apps into modes, tap your phone to the device to “brick” (block) them, and tap it again to unbrick. Because unblocking requires the physical device, distance becomes the commitment: leave the Brick at home and your blocked apps stay blocked wherever you are.
Choose Brick if…
You want the strictest widely available option — unlocking demands the physical object. You use Android, or you and your household mix platforms. You like a portable device you can deliberately leave behind. You value the longest track record in the physical-blocker category.
Choose Lerf if…
You want the tap ritual at a lower price, app included. Your failure mode is never starting a block — the tag lives at the exact spot the scrolling starts, so beginning a session costs one tap. You want sessions to end on a timer you chose rather than depend on an object's location. You prefer no stats and no streaks: Lerf keeps nothing to check by design. You'd rather stick a tag at each trigger spot (nightstand, desk, kitchen) than carry one device.
The honest take
If your problem is unlocking too easily, buy the stricter object: Brick earns its price. If your problem is autopilot — reaching for the phone at 11:40pm without ever deciding to — Lerf puts the start switch inside that moment for $20 less.
Common questions
Is Lerf a Brick alternative?
Yes. Both block distracting apps behind a physical NFC tap. Brick is a $59 portable device that must be present to unblock; Lerf is a $39 adhesive tag for iPhone whose sessions end on a timer.
Do I have to scan the Lerf Tag again to unlock my apps?
No. Lerf sessions end when the timer ends. In Easy Mode you can end early with a press-and-hold; in Strict Mode the session runs its full length. Nothing is held hostage by a missing object.
Does Lerf work on Android?
Not yet — Lerf is iPhone-only today. Brick supports both iPhone and Android.
Can I use more than one Lerf Tag?
Yes. Tags are adhesive and sold singly or in a 3-pack — the idea is one tag at each place the scrolling starts, like the nightstand, the desk, and the kitchen.
More on how tap-to-block works: NFC app blocking, explained.
Compare Lerf with: Opal · ScreenZen · Apple Screen Time
Lerf is an iPhone app blocker designed to help people stop compulsive scrolling and put their phone down. It blocks selected distracting apps during timed sessions and can start a blocking session through an optional physical NFC accessory called the Lerf Tag.
Sources
- Brick — official site (getbrick.app) — accessed August 2026
Lerf is not affiliated with or endorsed by Brick. Product information may change; see each company's official site for current details. Comparison written by the developer of Lerf; we've tried to keep it honest, including where the alternative wins. Details checked August 2026.