Learn 5 words. Earn your scroll.

Your phone won't let you scroll until you learn something

Vocab Lock blocks your social media apps until you complete a short daily vocabulary session. Pick a language, learn 5 words, pass the quiz.

Download on the App Store

Available on iOS · Free to start

How it works

Three steps to turning screen time into learning time

01

Choose your apps

Select which social media apps to lock — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more

02

Learn 5 words

Complete a quick AI-powered vocabulary session in your chosen language

03

Unlock & scroll

Pass the quiz and your apps unlock for the day. You earned it.

Everything you need to actually learn

Built for people who want to learn a language but keep opening Instagram instead

Screen Time Lock

Uses Apple's Screen Time API to actually block your apps. Not just a reminder — a real lock.

AI-Powered Words

Vocabulary generated by AI, personalized to your level. Definitions, pronunciations, and example sentences.

Spaced Repetition

Words you struggle with come back more often. Words you know fade away. Science-backed learning.

Daily Streaks

Build streaks to stay consistent. Use streak freezes when life gets in the way.

15+ Languages

Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, and many more.

100% Private

All data stored locally on your device. No accounts, no tracking, no servers storing your info.

The numbers speak

15+
Languages available
5 min
Average daily session
3
Quiz modes to master

"I've learned more Spanish in 2 weeks with Vocab Lock than I did in a semester of Duolingo. The app blocking actually works."

Sarah K.
College Student

"Finally an app that makes me earn my doom scrolling. I actually look forward to my vocab session now."

Marcus T.
Software Developer

"30-day streak and counting. I'm actually learning Japanese vocabulary and spending less time on TikTok. Win-win."

Emma L.
High School Senior

Simple pricing

Start free. Upgrade when you're ready to go all in.

Free
$0
 
  • 1 language
  • 5 words per day
  • Lock up to 3 apps
  • Daily streaks
  • 1 streak freeze per week
Get Started
Pro Monthly
$9.99/mo
 
  • All 15+ languages
  • Unlimited words per day
  • Lock unlimited apps
  • Daily streaks
  • 3 streak freezes per week
  • No ads
  • Word export
Subscribe

All subscriptions are billed through the App Store. Cancel anytime.

Frequently asked questions

Vocab Lock uses Apple's Screen Time API (FamilyControls framework) to create real app restrictions on your device. When you select apps to lock, they become inaccessible until you complete your daily vocabulary session. This isn't just a notification — your apps are actually blocked at the system level.

Yes. All your learning data, progress, and settings are stored locally on your device. We don't have accounts, servers, or databases storing your information. The only external service used is OpenAI's API for generating vocabulary — and no personal data is included in those requests.

Absolutely. You pick exactly which apps to lock from a list of installed apps on your device. Lock Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, YouTube, Reddit — whatever distracts you most. Free users can lock up to 3 apps, Pro users can lock unlimited apps.

Your selected apps stay locked until you complete your daily session and pass the quiz. The session only takes about 5 minutes, so it's designed to be quick enough that you'll do it rather than skip it. If you miss a day, your streak resets (unless you use a streak freeze).

Since subscriptions are managed through Apple, go to Settings > your Apple ID > Subscriptions > Vocab Lock > Cancel. You'll retain Pro access until the end of your current billing period.

The app blocking works offline since it uses Apple's on-device Screen Time framework. However, generating new vocabulary words requires an internet connection since they're created by AI. Previously learned words are cached locally for offline review.

Ready to trade scrolling for learning?

5 words a day. That's all it takes.

Download on the App Store