Spark vs Brick

Yes, several, and they involve real trade-offs. Spark's app is free with no subscription and the key is a one-time purchase in rupees — but the app locks nothing until a key is paired, the key ships within India only, and it has not shipped yet. Foqos is a free open-source iPhone app that works with any commodity NFC tag. Neither has Brick's track record.

The principle is the same — the unlock depends on a physical object. The mechanics differ: Brick is a tap on an NFC device. The NFC Spark is also a tap; the Bluetooth Spark unlocks when you hold your phone against it for about 15 seconds. Neither Spark key is a cryptographic check: the Bluetooth key broadcasts a fixed identity that can be recorded and replayed, and the NFC key is a standard tag that can be copied.

With Spark, yes, once a Spark has been paired: Lock now in the app, or a schedule, starts a session with the key nowhere near, even offline. Before pairing — which needs a sign-in and an internet connection — the app will not lock at all. With Brick you can start a session by holding the on-screen button for five seconds, but you need the physical device to end it.

If you have already watched yourself dismiss a Screen Time limit enough times to stop trusting your own promises, a physical key is the category of thing that helps, and $59 once is not much against the time it recovers. If you have not tried the free built-in tools yet, try those first.

Yes, two ways. Brick ships worldwide from its own site, in US dollars; its FAQ lists local fulfilment from the US, UK, Australia, the Netherlands and Canada, not India, and says that where duties are not charged at checkout they may be due on delivery. And on 13 Sep 2026 an Indian retailer, The Mainstreet Marketplace, listed the Brick at ₹7,999 with a delivery timeline of "Ships In 28 Days". We have not checked whether Brick's own 30-day money-back guarantee covers an order placed there. Spark's key is sold in rupees, quoted ex-GST, and ships within India — but it has not shipped yet.