The Best NFC Phone Blockers in 2026: Brick, Bloom, Unpluq and DisConnect Compared
By Max Ward, co-founder of DisConnect · · Updated
What is an NFC phone blocker?
It's a physical tag, usually a card, puck or keychain, paired with an app. Tap your phone to the tag and the apps you chose lock. Tap again to unlock. No battery, no Bluetooth. The tag works because you can't fake it: to get Instagram back, you need the object in your hand.
Software blockers rely on friction you can wait out. Physical blockers rely on distance. Distance wins more often, which is why this category has exploded.
The four worth looking at
| Blocker | Form | Price (USD) | Subscription? | What's different |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DisConnect Card | Wallet card | $39 once | Optional Membership for rewards | Suggests three things within 10 minutes of you. Tap in at venues for points |
| Brick | Plastic puck | $59 once | No | Designed to stay at home. 5 emergency unlocks |
| Bloom Card | Stainless steel card | $39 once | No | As seen on Shark Tank. Was sold out when we checked |
| Unpluq | Keychain tag | Tag $26.50 + plan | Yes, required | Tag only works on a paid plan |
Prices from each company's website, September 2026.
Honourable mention: Halo by ScreenZen ($49) is a Bluetooth pebble that blocks apps when your phone is within about 50 feet of it. It's not NFC, and you can defeat it by walking away.
How to choose
If you want the strictest lock
Brick. Leave it at home and your apps stay locked until you get back.
If you want no subscription at all
Brick, Bloom or the DisConnect Card. All three work forever after one payment.
If you want the lock to lead somewhere
The DisConnect Card. It's the only blocker that treats the locked phone as the start of the night rather than the end of it. When you've been scrolling a while, the app shows you what's happening within walking distance. When you get there, the card is your check-in, and members earn points toward free rounds, cover and early entry.
Do NFC blockers work on iPhone?
Yes. All of these use Apple's Screen Time permissions to do the actual blocking, and any iPhone from the last several years can read NFC. On Android you need a phone with NFC turned on, which is most of them.
The trade-off nobody mentions
Every blocker in this list is good at taking something away. Only one gives you something back. Blocking the feed at 8pm doesn't make the boredom go away; it just makes it louder. That's why most people drift back. More on that here.
Put it down. Go here. Get the DisConnect Card. $39, comes with 30 days of Membership.
Sources
Questions people ask
What is an NFC phone blocker?
A physical tag, like a card, puck or keychain, paired with an app. Tapping your phone to it locks the apps you chose; tapping again unlocks them. It needs no battery or charging.
What is the best NFC phone blocker?
Brick is the strictest if it stays at home. The Bloom Card and DisConnect Card are both $39 one time. DisConnect is the only one that also suggests things to do nearby and rewards you for checking in at partner venues.
Do NFC app blockers need a subscription?
Brick, Bloom and the DisConnect Card do not. Unpluq's tag requires a paid plan. DisConnect Membership is optional and adds rewards.
Do NFC blockers work on iPhone?
Yes. They use Apple's Screen Time permissions to block apps, and modern iPhones can read NFC tags.
