TaskLock vs Apple Screen Time

In short: choose TaskLock if Screen Time’s limits keep getting ignored and you want apps to unlock when a task is done. Choose Screen Time alone if you only need daily time caps or a bedtime schedule and do not want another app. TaskLock runs on the same Screen Time framework, so the blocking is equally reliable; the difference is what ends the block.

Feature by feature

How the lock ends

TaskLockUnlocks when you check off the task, finish the habit or the event ends. A countdown and a daily change limit make early unlocks deliberate.
Apple Screen TimeUnlocks when the daily limit or Downtime ends; without a passcode, limits can be ignored.

To-do list, habits and calendar

TaskLockYes. All built in, one screen.
Apple Screen TimeNo.

Apple Watch

TaskLockYes. Complete on the watch, unlock on iPhone.
Apple Screen TimeNo. Settings shared on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

No account needed

TaskLockYes. No login, no email.
Apple Screen TimeYes.

Works offline

TaskLockYes. Including locking.
Apple Screen TimeYes. Enforced on the device.

Free version

TaskLockYes. With limits; Premium removes them.
Apple Screen TimeYes. Built in, iOS 12 and later.

Website blocking

TaskLockYes. In Safari.
Apple Screen TimeYes. Web Content restrictions.

Platforms

TaskLockiPhone (iOS 17 or later) and Apple Watch (watchOS 10 or later).
Apple Screen TimeiPhone, iPad, Mac.

Which one is right for you

Choose TaskLock if…

  • You set your own limits and already know the passcode.
  • You want the lock tied to homework, chores or a habit.
  • You want a to-do list and calendar in the same place.
  • You use an Apple Watch and want to unlock from your wrist.

Choose Apple Screen Time if…

  • You want simple daily time caps per app.
  • You need parental controls across a family.
  • You need the same limits on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
  • You do not want to install anything.

What they have in common

Both are free, both block apps, app categories and websites, and both are enforced on the device by iOS. TaskLock does not replace Screen Time; it uses it.

Common questions

Why do I keep ignoring my Screen Time limits?

Because self-set limits are advisory. Without a Screen Time passcode, a limit shows a reminder you can skip; with a passcode you set yourself, you know the code. In TaskLock, apps stay locked until a task is checked off, and early unlocks go through a countdown and a daily limit.

Does TaskLock replace Screen Time?

No, it builds on it. TaskLock uses Apple’s Screen Time framework to block apps, which is why iOS asks for Screen Time permission. You can keep your existing App Limits and Downtime; TaskLock adds task, habit and event locks on top.

Can I combine a Screen Time passcode with TaskLock?

Yes, and it is the strictest setup. Let someone else set the Screen Time passcode and turn off app deletion under Content & Privacy Restrictions. Then set TaskLock’s daily change limit to 0 and its confirmation countdown to 30 seconds.

Try TaskLock free

Finish tasks, unlock apps. No account, works offline.

Download on the App Store

Last checked: October 7, 2026. Sources for Apple Screen Time: Apple: Get started with Screen Time on iPhone, Apple: Use a Screen Time passcode. TaskLock details come from the app itself. If something here is out of date, email info@tasklockapp.com. Other comparisons: vs Opal, vs one sec, vs ScreenZen, vs Forest.