Looking for a Screen Timely Alternative? Here's How LockIn Compares
Screen Timely and LockIn solve the same problem with a similar approach. Here is an honest comparison of what each one actually does.
What both products do
Screen Timely and LockIn both solve the same core problem: Apple's Screen Time is a powerful restriction system, but it's only as strong as the passcode protecting it — and if you set that passcode yourself, you can disable everything whenever you want.
Both products address this by helping you set a Screen Time passcode you won't know, so your restrictions actually hold.
Where they differ
Setup experience LockIn guides you through a step-by-step setup wizard that walks you through each Screen Time setting in order — with exact menu paths, explanations of why each step matters, and a final checklist before the lock starts. Screen Timely's setup is less guided; it assumes more prior knowledge of Screen Time.
Passcode delivery Both products use audio to deliver your passcode. LockIn's audio sequence includes deliberate obfuscation — mixing real digits with decoy digits and delete commands — so you enter the correct code but can't reconstruct which digits it was afterward. Screen Timely's approach is more straightforward.
Pricing LockIn offers monthly ($14.99), 6-month ($59), yearly ($89), and lifetime ($129) plans. Screen Timely uses a different pricing structure. LockIn includes a 3-day free trial on subscription plans; no credit card required to start setup.
Loophole coverage Both products close the "Forgot Passcode" recovery loophole during setup. LockIn's guided setup also specifically covers the iOS 26 private browsing gap (Supervised Mode), alternative browser deletion, in-app browser risks from social apps, and the EU App Marketplaces bypass — steps that aren't always covered elsewhere.
Which one to choose
If you've tried Screen Timely and it didn't work for you, the issue probably wasn't the passcode delivery mechanism — it was something in your setup that left a gap open. LockIn's guided setup is specifically designed to close those gaps step by step before the lock starts, with explanations at each point so you understand what you're doing and why.
If you're deciding between the two for the first time: both are legitimate products solving a real problem. LockIn's free trial lets you walk through the full setup before committing to a subscription.