HomeBlogTapBlok vs Spark: the free Android route, and where it stops
TapBlok vs Spark: the free Android route, and where it stops
TapBlok is free, open source and turns any NFC tag into an app lock on Android. What you give up by not paying, and when that matters.
ComparisonPublished 7 min read
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Disclosure: we make Spark. TapBlok's details were read from tapblok.com and its GitHub repository on 23 September 2026.
What TapBlok is
An Android app that starts and ends blocking sessions when you scan an NFC tag or a QR code. It is free with no in-app purchases, stores everything locally with no account and no server, and is distributed as an APK through GitHub releases rather than the Play Store. Smart Breaks allow up to five short pauses per session, and a Strict Mode requires the scan to happen with TapBlok open.
The honest difference
| TapBlok | Spark | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source (Apache 2.0) | From ₹999 + GST, one-time; app free |
| Platform | Android 7+ only | Android 12+ and iOS 17+ |
| The object | Any NFC tag or printed QR code you supply | A finished key, Bluetooth or NFC |
| Emergency exit | A hold of 30 seconds to 15 minutes, configurable, or disabled | Five unlocks for the life of the account; Strict mode removes them |
| Install | APK from GitHub releases | App stores at launch; not listed yet |
| Support | GitHub issues | A person answers |
When TapBlok is the right answer
- You are on Android, you are comfortable installing an APK, and you want to spend nothing.
- You want the code to be inspectable. Ours is not open source; theirs is.
- You want everything local — no account, no server, no analytics.
When paying is worth it
- A configurable emergency override is the thing that fails at 11 p.m. If it can be set to 30 seconds, it will be. Our Strict mode takes the hatch away rather than shortening it.
- You have an iPhone as well, or instead. TapBlok is Android only.
- You want a key that already exists as an object, rather than sourcing NTAG tags and writing a token to them.
Common questions
Is TapBlok on the Play Store?
No. It is distributed as an APK through GitHub releases, which means you enable installation from unknown sources and update it yourself.
Can TapBlok block system apps?
No. It keeps a safety list that excludes the dialer, messaging, camera, launcher and settings, which is sensible — those are the apps you must never lock yourself out of.
Sources
- TapBlok — Free, no in-app purchases, Android 7+, NFC or QR, emergency override is a 30-second to 15-minute hold
- TapBlok on GitHub — Apache 2.0, APK distributed through releases
The rest of the argument
Each post stands alone. If you would rather have instructions than opinions, the guides are the maintained layer.
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Once your Spark is paired, locking is one tap and works with Bluetooth off. Unlocking means walking to the key and holding your phone against it — which is the whole difference between deciding to stop and having to stand up. The app is free; the key is the one-time buy.