The Doorpost › iPhone app blockers without a subscription
iPhone app blockers without a subscription
Two ways to block apps on iPhone without paying monthly: the free Screen Time limits built into iOS, and The Doorpost, which keeps chosen apps locked until you write out a Bible verse by hand and sells its full version as a one-time $19.99 purchase as well as by subscription. Most other blockers charge monthly for their full feature set.
Why most blockers charge monthly
Focus and screen time apps are usually subscription products because the companies behind them run servers, sync across devices, send reminders and keep adding features. That model needs recurring revenue, so the full version is rented rather than bought.
For a tool whose entire job is to keep three apps closed in the morning, a monthly bill can feel out of proportion. If you want to pay once and be done, your options narrow to what is built into iOS and to the few apps that sell a lifetime licence.
Free and one-time options
iOS Screen Time is free and already on your phone. Under Settings, set App Limits or Downtime for the apps you want closed. Its limit is the Ignore Limit button, which makes it a suggestion rather than a lock, though giving the Screen Time passcode to someone else helps.
Some general blockers offer a one-time purchase alongside their subscription; check the in-app purchase list on the App Store page before installing, since the lifetime option is not always advertised up front.
The Doorpost: one-time purchase, no account
The Doorpost is an app blocker for Christians. The apps you name stay locked each morning until you have written out a verse from your own physical Bible by hand; the verse is not shown on screen. Then the apps open for the day.
It is free to download. The full version is available three ways: $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year, or $19.99 once for lifetime access. There is no account to create, no ads, no tracking and no network requests, which is also why it does not need to charge you monthly to keep a server running.
What the Screen Time permission means
Any app that blocks other apps on iPhone uses Apple's Screen Time framework, and it will ask for that permission when you set it up. Granting it lets the app shield the apps you choose. It does not give the app access to your messages, photos or browsing.
With The Doorpost, that permission is the only thing the app touches outside itself. The App Store privacy label states that no data is collected, and you can confirm it by turning on Airplane Mode: the app keeps working.
Choosing by how you want to unlock
If a tap-to-ignore is fine and you just want a nudge, Screen Time limits are enough. If you want a pause before apps open, a general blocker with a one-time price may suit you.
If you want the unlock to mean something, and specifically to put Scripture in front of the feed, The Doorpost is the one built for it: the way out is a handwritten verse, not a button. It runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later and on Apple silicon Macs.
Questions people ask
Is there a free app blocker for iPhone?
Yes. iOS Screen Time is built in and free, with App Limits and Downtime under Settings. Its weakness is the Ignore Limit button. The Doorpost is also free to download, with a full version available as a one-time $19.99 purchase rather than only a subscription.
Does The Doorpost require a subscription?
No. The full version can be bought once for $19.99 with lifetime access. Monthly ($2.99) and yearly ($19.99) subscriptions are offered too, but you can avoid them entirely. No account is needed at any tier.
Can an app blocker on iPhone read my data?
Blockers use Apple's Screen Time permission, which lets them shield the apps you choose but does not expose your messages, photos or browsing. The Doorpost additionally collects no data at all, makes no network requests, and works with Airplane Mode on.
Why not just use Screen Time limits?
Try them first; they are free. Most people find the Ignore Limit button defeats them within a couple of weeks. A lock whose key is a written Bible verse cannot be dismissed with a tap, which is the difference The Doorpost is built around.
Last updated: September 2026