r/digitalminimalism • u/shiftreya Mod • May 14 '26
Screen Time Apps to explore!
You may suggest some screen limiting apps you use occasionally, whichever is upvoted the most will be added in the lists below!
Google Extension
- Ublock Origin Lite ( can be applied to websites )
Apps
- Stayfree
- Digital Detox
- ScreenZen
edit: this is the only space where your suggestions won't get removed. However, if it's AI generated paragraph we will remove it.
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u/kachiten Jul 04 '26
A few free and open source alternatives I use (Android):
Launcher: OLauncher
App Blocker and Time Tracking: Curbox
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u/thesimeplethree May 14 '26
Thoughtful — https://thoughtfulonline.com
Not just screen time limiting, but harnesses otherwise wasted time to help you get better at the stuff you care about in life.
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u/PreviousRevenue3354 Jul 14 '26
LingoLock
full disclosure its an app i'm currently working on but just put into the iOS app store.
With LingoLock you select apps you want to block, i.e instagram, tiktok, reddit, and then you generate language vocabulary words related to any topic you are interested in, ex. skateboarding. So whenever i want to scroll on tiktok, i have to first play a short 3 word quiz about skateboard vocabulary in spanish, matching the word to its translation, before I can access tiktok. And then i can also change the duration for how long it stays unlocked. So it kinda just puts a tollbooth on your screentime and forces you to practice a few new spanish words.
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u/Jazzlike_Cause3839 May 14 '26
are they good?
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u/shiftreya Mod May 14 '26
screenzen i'm not really sure, however i added it in because a lotttt of people mention it. the other 3 are the ones i used in my daily life and it helps me :]
Ublock Origin Lite - used it to black out my entire tiktok website + removed youtube shorts
Digital detox - haven't used it in a while but basically you can choose the amount of time you wanna detox and exclude the apps u use in your daily life, include the ones that you wanna detox from
Stayfree - this one is a gem!!! it can exclude certain app's screentime and block u from using the apps u choose as well :] you can also see ur screentime throughout the month/year1
u/Nickn753 Jun 01 '26
Screenzen is amazing! Me and a lot of people in my friendgroup have been using it for about a year now, and it is by far the best app i've used for this.
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u/ouidevelop May 14 '26
Rescue Time
(there is a free version, and it helps me see how much time I'm on the computer in different catagories)
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u/Jet-Blizzard May 15 '26
break free from doomscrolling and reclaim your life (the app). Also just called Quit Doomscrolling - Live IRL. It's an ai coaching app, but it's really meant to be deleted once you've actually developed successful habits after a while and tweaked your phone environment. You only need five minutes a day on it really, that's how much I use
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May 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/shiftreya Mod May 19 '26
Hi, unfortunately we do not allow promotional content. While this megathread is for users to suggest and explore time limiting apps, we only accept apps that are genuinely used and recommended by actual users. Thank you for understanding.
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May 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MentallyUnstable62 Jul 05 '26
Does it have to be a selfie? I feel like without the right precautions an app like this could be used for malicious intent, especially given the specification of it being an ai app. I would also appreciate what the 'ai' aspect includes? If possible id like to avoid ai as much as I can (especially if its generative or a chat bot), but I could also really use an app like this
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u/Spiritual-Data-1340 May 31 '26
Building something this weekend for people who open Instagram, close it, and somehow open it again 1 minute later 😅
If doomscrolling is a problem for you too, check it out:
It has helped me slow down a bit and reduce some of the anxiety that comes with constantly reaching for my phone. Still exploring where this goes, and I'd love some honest feedback 🙏
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u/Other_Dog8299 5d ago
Interesting. If you are looking for beta testers, I'd be happy to give it a try.
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u/squashed_tomato Jun 01 '26
Leechblock extension for Firefox. There is also a version for Chrome.
You can list which websites you want to block and either set to block them between certain times of the day or put a time limit on how long you can browse a website before it blocks it for the day. There are a few block sets that you can use so you can add different websites to different parameters depending on your needs.
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u/Emergency-Year-9618 Jul 02 '26
RECESS app for doomscrolling
Is a new method to limit app use that hasnt been done before. It's Android only though. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getrecess.app
Perfect for people who want to use apps in small chunks without full lockouts. Something that doesn't feel like your whole phone has been taken over by a third party.
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u/Ok-Magician-8052 Jul 08 '26
Made this extension to minimize my youtube shorts / facebook reels and ig usage - https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ofikkdmmfigedajpmhomnigmnbglpema?utm_source=item-share-cb
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u/VegemiteVibes24 Jul 23 '26
If you've been thinking about or looking at getting a Brick, you can do exactly the same thing with a bunch of cheap NFC stickers and the Foqus app.
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u/Get-Me-Hennimore Jul 24 '26
I released a minimalist (kind of) one called Get Off the Line.
The idea is that apps are blocked by default and you dial up with a ’90s modem to use them.
I previously used Opal and liked the approach of blocking by default and then unblocking for short periods (as opposed to daily quotas etc), but Opal’s too convoluted for my taste. It feels like subscription screen time apps try to prove their value by piling stuff on.
So this one is minimalist in the sense that it only does a few things, as simply as possible. And less minimalist in the sense that it involves a screeching modem 😅
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u/VeeClock 28d ago
Curbox
Curbox is an open-source Android app that curbs screen time and digital addiction. Block the apps, websites, and short-form feeds that hijack your attention and build real focus. Every line of code is open, so you can see exactly what it does. - https://curbox.app/
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u/lithiumpokes 28d ago
I use OneSec but it’s kind of challenging to use.
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u/Other_Dog8299 5d ago
What do you like about it and what isn't so good?
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u/lithiumpokes 5d ago
It’s just kind of hard to figure out how to set up, but once you figure it out it’s pretty helpful for stopping me from scrolling
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u/Consistent_Walrus_23 7d ago
I am developing **beigify** to make the algorithm behind doomscrolling less addictive, so all of us spend less time doomscrolling social media.
Check it out here: beigify.com
Today the algorithms in Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube systematically learn your preferences to show you content that keeps you as long as possible in the app. With beigify, we are resetting the algorithms over and over. They stop knowing what to show you and show you generic stuff instead.
beigify is quite different as a concept compared to other digital wellbeing apps out there because we think your willpower isn't the problem, the algorithms are.
I have been pilitng it with a few friends and we had a lot of success. It turns out, once the algorithm doesn't know you well, it shows you really weird stuff on the feed. That makes it easy to stop doomscrooling.
If you are interested, sign up for our beta!
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u/Straight_Molasses165 2d ago
freedom has been great for me! i've been using it on my laptop to block distracting websites and desktop apps. it allows you to put things in "locked mode," which makes it impossible to edit blocklists or devices during an active session.
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u/ToriRaynn 1d ago
There are a few block sets that you can use so you can add different websites to different parameters depending on your needs.
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u/Confident_Hold_7374 1d ago
My screen time app keeps a little book about my son instead of a usage graph. I made it myself (Keeplight, iOS) so grain of salt.
I kept turning my own limits off, so in this one the hours I picked (dinner, bedtime) just lock my apps, no ignore button. If I open instagram anyway it shows me his stuff instead. After each locked hour it asks if I want to save 15 sec of his voice, a line about what we did, a photo. Skippable, but I mostly do it. Few months in theres an actual book of evenings. Book and export stay free forever, the lock part is 7 day trial then 49.99/yr. If you just want blocking use screenzen, its free. Sharing mostly for the book part, havent seen it anywhere else.
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u/ouidevelop May 14 '26
Cold Turkey