Money Saving Mom®

Have you ever picked up your phone to check one thing, only to look up 30 minutes later and wonder where the time went?

Between social media, email, news, games, and endless notifications, our phones make it incredibly easy to get distracted. And, while you can set app limits or tell yourself, I’m just going to put my phone away, sometimes those strategies aren’t enough.

That’s part of the reason a little device called Brick has gotten so much attention lately. Brick gives you a physical way to block distracting apps on your phone. And many people are huge fans of it!

There’s just one catch: It currently costs $59. If you’re intrigued by the concept but aren’t ready to spend nearly $60, there are some inexpensive, and even free ways to create a similar setup.

What is Brick?

Brick is a small physical device that pairs with the Brick app on your smartphone. You decide which apps and websites you want to block, and then tap your phone against the Brick to activate your chosen mode. When you’re ready to regain access, you physically return to the Brick and tap your phone again.

You can create different modes for different situations. For example, you might have a Work mode that blocks social media but leaves email and other work apps available. Or you could create a Family Time mode that removes most distractions while leaving your camera, phone, and other essentials accessible.

Brick also lets you schedule modes to automatically activate and deactivate at certain times. The important part isn’t necessarily the technology. It’s the physical barrier.

If your Brick is sitting in your office while you’re downstairs with your family, you can’t mindlessly override your limit from the couch. You’d have to make the conscious decision to get up, walk to the Brick, and unlock your apps.

One person from my Instagram community explained why this works so well for her:

“I have a hard time ‘just putting my phone away,’ so I’ve learned for me I need [Brick] to help me.”

Another said she keeps her Brick in her office, which means she has to physically walk upstairs or across the hall to regain access to distracting apps. That little bit of extra effort is often enough to make her move on to whatever she was supposed to be doing instead.

And that’s really the appeal.

Why Not Just Use Screen Time?

Of course, your phone already has tools designed to limit screen time. The problem is you might be the person who set the limit, and also the person who knows exactly how to override it!

It’s easy to tap “ignore” or change your settings when you’re really tempted to scroll. Brick’s physical device adds another layer of friction between the impulse and the action.

Brick even offers Strict Mode to make it more difficult to work around the restrictions, plus five Emergency Unbricks in case you lose access to your physical Brick and immediately need to unlock your apps.

One follower told me she uses it to avoid doomscrolling when her kids get home, and said:

“I can bypass the time controls in my phone, but I can’t with the Brick unless I physically get up and find it.”

Another mom appreciated that she could still use her phone for work while blocking the apps and notifications that tend to distract her. That’s an important distinction: Bricking your phone doesn’t necessarily mean making your entire smartphone unusable.

You can choose which tools you still need. But do you really need to spend $59 to accomplish this?

Not necessarily.

How to Brick Your Phone For Less

The concept behind Brick is relatively simple: Make distracting apps harder to access.

Here are several ways to recreate that friction without paying full price.

1. Try Foqos and an NFC tag

If you’re an iPhone user, one of the closest inexpensive alternatives I’ve found is Foqos. Foqos is a free, open-source iPhone app that uses Apple’s Screen Time tools to block distracting apps and websites. You can start or stop a focus session with an NFC tag, QR code, barcode, timer, or other options.

That’s where things get interesting from a money-saving perspective.

You don’t need a $59 proprietary device. You can use an inexpensive compatible NFC tag and place it somewhere inconvenient like on your refrigerator, in your office, or across the house.

Want to scroll Instagram? You’ll have to get up and walk over to your tag first. The Foqos app itself is currently free, although its App Store listing notes that it offers in-app purchases.

2. Repurpose Something You Already Own

Before you even order NFC tags, look around your house. Some cards you already own may contain NFC technology that can work with apps that allow you to register your own NFC tag.

For example, people have reported using old hotel key cards or other NFC-enabled cards as their physical “Brick.” Compatibility can vary, so don’t assume every card will work.

If you already have a Yoto Make Your Own card, that’s another option worth trying. One Yoto user shared that they paired a spare Make Your Own card with Foqos and kept it on the refrigerator. Other users reported successfully doing the same thing.

In other words, your DIY Brick might already be sitting in your junk drawer!

Tip: I wouldn’t experiment with an active credit or debit card for this. Stick with an unused card or an inexpensive NFC tag that you don’t need for anything important.

3. Use a QR Code Instead

Don’t have an NFC tag? You may not need one at all. Foqos can also use a QR code or barcode to control a focus session.

You could print your code and put it somewhere that requires you to intentionally get up and retrieve it. For example, tape it inside a kitchen cabinet, put it on your refrigerator, or leave it in your home office.

The goal is to make unlocking your apps inconvenient enough that you have time to ask yourself, Do I actually want to do this?

That extra 30 seconds may be surprisingly effective.

4. Try a Free Android Alternative

Foqos is currently designed for iPhone, but Android users have options, too. One example is TapBlok, a free, open-source Android app that works with compatible NFC tags or QR codes.

You select the apps you want to block, then create or register your physical tag, start your session, and then put the tag somewhere else. You need the tag again to exit the blocking session.

As with any third-party app that requests permissions related to your apps or screen time, read the permissions and privacy information before installing it.

5. Put Your Phone in a Timed Lockbox

Maybe you don’t need access to your phone at all. One Instagram follower shared a decidedly low-tech solution: Her friend puts the phone inside a timer safe for 30 minutes or so. Once it’s locked, the safe won’t open until the timer expires.

This could be especially helpful during dinner, family time, Bible study, homework time, or before bed. The downside is obvious: You won’t have easy access to your phone if someone calls or you suddenly need your maps, camera, authenticator app, or another essential tool.

But if you already own a timer lockbox, or can find an inexpensive one, it’s one way to create a very literal physical barrier.

6. Make Screen Time Harder to Override

The cheapest option is still the one already built into your phone. Instead of relying on a limit you can easily dismiss, consider adding an accountability layer. For example, you could have your spouse or another trusted person create and retain your Screen Time passcode so you can’t immediately override your own restrictions.

It’s not exactly the same as Brick, but the principle is similar: Remove the easy escape hatch.

You can also experiment with your phone’s Focus settings, Do Not Disturb, scheduled downtime, notification settings, grayscale mode, or simply deleting the apps that waste the most time.

Before spending money, give the free tools on your phone a fair shot.

The Trick Isn’t the Brick, It’s Creating a Barrier

I think this is the biggest takeaway from all the feedback I received. You don’t necessarily need a particular gadget to use your phone less. You need to figure out what makes you stop and think before opening a distracting app.

For some people, a Screen Time notification is enough. For others, it’s way too easy to tap past it.

And, for some people, physically walking across the house to unlock Instagram creates exactly the amount of friction they need.

That’s also why I’d hesitate to say spending $59 on a Brick is automatically a waste of money. Sometimes paying for a polished solution you’ll actually use is better than cobbling together a free system you abandon after three days.

But, if you’re interested in the idea and aren’t sure whether it will work for you, try the cheap version first.

Download a free blocker, grab an NFC tag you already own, print a QR code, or experiment with your phone’s built-in controls. Put your “unlock key” somewhere inconvenient and try it for a week.

If you suddenly find yourself spending less time scrolling and more time doing the things you actually wanted to do, you’ll know the concept works for you, whether your Brick costs $59 or practically nothing.

More Links You’ll Love:

• How I Finally Found Time to Read Again and How You Can Too
• 50+ Frugal Screen-Free Activities for Kids
• 6 Strategies to Kickstart Your Morning Success (for FREE!)
• Steal My Work-From-Home Toolkit (That Helped Me Build a 7-Figure Business)
• Unplugged: My 2025 Word of the Year
• How Our Screen Detox Led to a Calmer, Happier Home and a Screen-Free Summer
• A Look at How and Why We Don’t Use Screens When Traveling
• The Hard Truths We’ve Learned from a Month of Using the Opal App

Have you tried any of these ways to Brick your phone on the cheap? Share your advice in the comments below!