PushUp Lock: screen time you have to earn

Every app blocker on the store has the same fatal flaw: when you want your dopamine back, the override is a single tap. You tap it every time. I know, because I did.

PushUp Lock works on a simple exchange rate. You pick the apps that eat your time — TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, whatever your poison is — and the only way to unlock them is to do push-ups, squats, or sit-ups in front of your phone's camera. Hit your rep goal, earn a timed window of access. 20 push-ups buys you 15 minutes of scrolling, and you set the rate yourself.

On-device rep counting

The front camera counts your reps in real time using on-device AI pose detection. No video is recorded, nothing leaves the phone, and it works without internet. This was non-negotiable for me — pointing a camera at yourself doing exercise requires trust, so the architecture has to earn it: counting happens locally, and workout data syncs through end-to-end encrypted cloud if you want history across devices.

The blocking itself uses Apple's built-in Screen Time controls. No VPN tricks, no MDM workarounds, nothing that breaks with the next iOS update.

Why exercise as the key

Willpower-based blocking negotiates with the part of your brain that's craving. A rep goal doesn't negotiate — you either did the push-ups or you didn't. The nice side effect: the friction isn't just friction. After a few weeks the app has tricked you into a workout habit, which is more than most fitness apps manage.

There's also an AI workout coach in Pro for people who want structure, plus streaks and rep history so you can watch your numbers climb.

It's free on the App Store. Your future self, the one with slightly better arms, says thanks.