Lock Until Done vs. Earn Screen Time: Which Chore Rule Fits Your Kid?
Chore apps run on three different rules, and the rule matters more than the features. Here's how to tell whether you have a chore problem or a screen time problem.
By Sebastian Cacchione · Maker of taskr
- Published
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- 6 min read
Lock your kid's apps if a specific chore isn't getting done. Let them earn screen time if the real problem is how much they're on screens. The two get mixed up easily, because the apps look so alike in the App Store.
Apps that tie chores to screens look alike in the App Store, but they run on three different rules, and the rule matters more than the features. We make taskr, which uses the first rule below, so read this with that in mind. We've tried to be straight about where each rule falls short. There isn't good research comparing them, so this is a guide to the tradeoffs and not a verdict.
The three rules
| Rule | A normal day | Best for | The cost | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locked when late | Phone works normally until a chore's due time passes | One chore that keeps getting skipped | Doesn't reduce screen time on a good day | taskr |
| Locked until done | Apps are off until the day's chores are finished | Chores before any screens, every day | A daily gate, even when your kid is doing well | ChoreLocks, ChoreKey, Carrots&Cake, ScreenTreat |
| Earn screen time | Apps stay off until the kid spends earned minutes | Cutting total screen time | You price every job, and a kid with time saved can skip | Piggy, Earn Screen Time, Screeni |
Start with which fight you're having
Before comparing apps, finish this sentence: "The problem is that my kid..." If it ends with "never empties the dishwasher," you have a chore problem. If it ends with "is on their phone six hours a day," you have a screen time problem. They feel related, and they often happen together, but they need different tools.
A kid can do every chore and still be on screens all evening. A kid can have modest screen time and still leave the trash for you. An earn-screen-time app aims at the first; a chore deadline aims at the second.
Why rewards can miss the chore
A reward only works when the kid wants it right now. If your kid has 40 minutes banked, or they're happy reading a book tonight, a chore worth 20 more minutes isn't worth much to them, and it stays undone. You'll also spend time deciding what each job is worth. Is the dishwasher 15 minutes or 20? Does a half-made bed count for half?
A deadline doesn't depend on what your kid wants tonight. The chore is due, and if it's late, the apps you picked lock. There's nothing to price. That's why we built taskr this way.
Why a lock can be the wrong answer
A lock doesn't teach anything about managing time on a screen, and it does nothing on a day when the chores get done. If your worry is hours on TikTok, a late-only lock won't touch it. A kid who gets everything done by 5 can scroll until bedtime, so you'd still want Apple's Screen Time limits alongside it.
A lock also needs the setup to be solid. Several of these apps need or work best with Family Sharing and a child account, which takes a while if your kid's phone is on your Apple Account. And a locked-until-done rule, used daily, can make a reliable kid feel policed.
Quick answers by situation
- One chore keeps getting skipped, and the phone is otherwise fine: locked when late. See how taskr works.
- You want chores before any screens, every day: locked until done. Compare ChoreLocks, ScreenTreat and ChoreKey.
- You want fewer hours on screens: earn screen time. See the best earn screen time apps.
- You want both: a chore app for chores, and Apple's Screen Time for limits and bedtime.
- Not sure which: start with the lightest rule. It's easier to tighten than to walk back.
For every option in one place, see parental control apps that lock a phone until chores are done.
FAQ
Is it better to lock apps or let kids earn screen time?
It depends on the problem. If a chore isn't getting done, a lock tied to that chore is more direct, because a reward only works when the kid wants it. If the problem is too much screen time overall, earning makes more sense, because screens stop being the default.
What's the difference between locked until done and locked when late?
Locked until done starts every day locked, and the kid unlocks their apps by finishing chores. Locked when late starts every day unlocked, and apps only lock if a chore passes its due time. A kid who's on time never sees the second kind of lock.
Which works better for teenagers?
No one has good data on this, so go by your teen. A rule that only applies when a deadline is missed asks less of a teen who's mostly reliable, and it leaves the phone alone for school and friends the rest of the time. A daily locked-until-done rule is firmer, and more likely to feel like a daily fight.
Can I use a chore lock with Apple Screen Time?
Yes, for the apps built on it. Apple's limits and Downtime handle how much and when, and a chore lock handles whether the job got done. They run side by side, and you can use Screen Time for bedtime and a chore app for chores.
Will my kid see a lock as a punishment?
Some will. It helps when the rule is the same every day, it's agreed in advance, and your kid knows exactly how to get the apps back. With a late-only lock they can also avoid it entirely by doing the job on time.
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