Best Phone-Blocking Gadgets of 2026: Brick, kSafe and More
Updated 2026-11-10 · By the Touch Grass editors
Brick (about $59) is the best phone-blocking gadget for most people: tap your phone on the puck to lock the apps you choose, and tap again to unlock. The Unpluq Tag (about $27) is the cheapest, but needs a Premium app subscription. The kSafe (about $59) locks the whole phone in a timed box. The Yondr Home Tray (about $249) is best for family dinners.
Phone-blocking gadgets add a physical step between you and the scroll. Some lock specific apps until you tap a puck or tag. Others lock the whole phone in a box. All of them work on the same idea: if opening Instagram means getting up and crossing the room, you often won't bother.
Here are the four we'd pick in 2026, from a $27 keyring tag to a $249 family tray. Check the retailer for today's price.
| Gadget | Price | How it blocks | Subscription | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brick | About $59 | NFC puck locks chosen apps | None | Most people |
| Unpluq Tag | About $27 | NFC tag unlocks chosen apps | Unpluq Premium required | Trying it cheaply |
| kSafe | About $59 (XL $69) | Timer-locked box, up to 10 days | None | Hard limits |
| Yondr Home Tray | About $249 | Signal-blocking tray, optional key lock | None | Family dinners and homework time |
Best overall: Brick
Brick is the best phone-blocking gadget for most people because it's simple, has no subscription and is hard to cheat.
It's a small magnetic puck with no battery. In the Brick app you choose which apps to block, then tap your phone on the puck to lock them. To unlock, you have to tap the puck again, so leaving it at home or across the room does the work. Strict Mode stops you from deleting the app to get around it. You can set schedules and up to 10 modes, and one Brick works with any number of phones. NBC News Select's reviewers noted you also get five emergency unlocks in the app.
- Price: about $59, no subscription, 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Works with: recent iPhones and Android 12+.
- Not for you if: you need the blocked apps on short notice, for work or otherwise.
Best budget pick: Unpluq Tag
The Unpluq Tag is the cheapest way to try physical app blocking, as long as you're fine with an app subscription.
It's a small NFC tag that unlocks the apps you choose in the Unpluq app. Put it on your keyring or in a drawer, and the extra step breaks the autopilot reach for your phone. Unpluq's product page says the tag works through the app with a Premium subscription, which is sold separately. A family bundle runs about $79.95.
- Price: about $27, plus Unpluq Premium. Check the app for the current subscription price.
- Works with: iPhone 8 or later (iOS 16+) and NFC Android phones.
- Not for you if: you want to avoid another monthly charge. Brick costs more up front but has no subscription.
Best for hard limits: kSafe Time-Locking Container
The kSafe is the best pick if app blockers are too easy to talk yourself out of, because it locks the entire phone away until a timer runs out.
Put your phone inside, set the timer on the lid, and the box stays locked until the countdown ends. Timers go up to 10 days. Some bases have a charging port so the phone can charge while it's locked up. It also works for snacks, game controllers or the TV remote. It was formerly sold as Kitchen Safe.
- Price: Mini and Medium about $59, XL about $69.
- Not for you if: you need your phone for calls during the lock. Everything is locked, including the phone app.
Best for families: Yondr Home Tray
The Yondr Home Tray is the best choice for getting everyone's phone off the table at dinner or during homework.
It comes from Yondr, the company that runs phone-free programs in schools. The tray has a Faraday lining that blocks cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS when it's closed, so phones in it can't buzz. It holds about six phones and has an optional key lock. Running a charging cable through the hatch turns off the blocking.
- Price: about $249, sold only on Yondr's site.
- Size: 10.5 × 10.5 × 4 in.
- Not for you if: you live alone or want to block specific apps. A Brick does that for much less.
Do phone-blocking gadgets actually work?
They work best as friction, which means they make the habit slower to act on, and they don't do much if you don't want them to.
Every one of these can be undone. You can walk to the Brick or wait out the kSafe. What they do well is interrupt the automatic reach, which is often all you need. NBC News Select's testers found Brick's barrier stronger than iPhone Screen Time's "ignore limit" button, and also said muscle memory kept sending them to blocked apps at first. Pick one, give it a couple of weeks, and adjust which apps you block.
Should you get a blocker or a dumb phone?
Start with a blocker if you need your smartphone for work, banking or travel, and consider a dumb phone if you keep unblocking.
A blocker keeps your number, maps and two-factor codes where they are. A dumb phone like the Light Phone III removes the apps entirely. Read Brick vs Unpluq vs kSafe for a closer comparison, or the best dumb phones of 2026 if you're ready to go further.
Can phone blockers help kids and teens?
Yes, and they are easiest to use as a house rule that applies to everyone.
A Yondr tray at dinner or a kSafe during homework holds parents' phones too, so nobody is singled out. One Brick works with any number of phones, so a household can share it. Our family phone rules template can help you set the ground rules together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best phone-blocking gadget?
Brick, for most people. It costs about $59, has no subscription, and locks the apps you choose until you tap your phone on the puck again.
Does Brick need a subscription?
No. Brick is a one-time purchase of about $59 with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Does the Unpluq Tag need a subscription?
Yes. Unpluq says the tag works through the Unpluq app with a Premium subscription, sold separately from the roughly $27 tag.
Can I still make calls while my phone is bricked?
With Brick and Unpluq you choose which apps to block, so you can leave calls and texts unblocked. With a kSafe or a closed Yondr tray, the whole phone is unavailable.
Can a kSafe charge my phone?
Some kSafe bases have a charging port so the phone can charge while it is locked inside. Check the base before you buy.
Does the Yondr Home Tray block calls?
Yes. When closed, its lining blocks cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Running a charging cable through the hatch turns the blocking off.
Sources
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