moss vs Autonomous Key
A cheap NFC key that works the other way round: apps stay locked until you tap.
Checked 11 November 2026 against Autonomous's own pages. We make moss, so we have linked every source below.
What Autonomous Key is
The Autonomous Key comes from Autonomous, the office furniture company, and it inverts the usual design. Your chosen apps are locked all the time. Tapping the key opens a window of up to 60 minutes, after which they lock again. There is no emergency unlock and no subscription. Autonomous lists it at $9 in one of its own articles and at higher prices on other pages, so check the current price. It supports iPhone (iOS 15 or later) and Android (8 or later).
What moss is
moss is an iPhone app that comes with a small physical stone. You choose the apps that distract you, tap your phone on the stone, and those apps stay locked until you tap the stone again. People who live together can link their phones to share schedules and put their phones down at the same time, while each person keeps control of their own phone. Locking is free in the app, the stone is a one-time purchase, and the household features are a paid add-on.
Side by side
| Feature | moss | Autonomous Key |
|---|---|---|
| Price | US$49 stone, free app | $9 in Autonomous's own comparison article. Other pages show more |
| Subscription | None to lock your own phone. Household features are a paid add-on | None |
| Works on | iPhone only, iOS 17 or later | iPhone (iOS 15+) and Android (8+) |
| How you lock | Tap the stone, or start from the app, a Shortcut, the lock screen or the Action Button. Schedules by day of week | Always locked. It relocks after each window |
| How you unlock | Tap the stone, in the app | Tap the key for up to 60 minutes of access |
| If you need back in | 3 emergency unlocks a month, refilled automatically | None |
| Locking together as a household | Yes, as a paid add-on. Shared schedules, sessions others join in one tap, a view of whose phone is down, a streak. Nobody controls anyone else | None |
| Whose key opens your phone | Only your household's own stone, card and sprigs unlock your phones | Your key |
Where Autonomous Key is better
- Very cheap.
- Locked by default suits people who want access to be the exception.
- Works on Android.
Where moss is better
- You decide when a lock starts and ends.
- Emergency unlocks.
- Households lock together.
- Schedules and up to 10 modes.
Who should pick which
Pick Autonomous Key if
You want your distracting apps closed all day, opened only on purpose.
Pick moss if
You want certain hours protected and normal use the rest of the time.
Sources
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
moss is a stone that locks the apps you choose.
Tap to lock, tap to unlock. One price, and locking needs no subscription.
