Then there’s Forest, for Android or iOS, which I’ve found to be useful whenever I’ve wanted to try to encourage myself to spend less time on my phone. The longer you ignore your handset, the bigger your virtual forest grows, and the app developers invest in real tree planting to further incentivize you. The main focus timer can be used without paying, while upgrades like customizations and allowed lists will set you back at least $6 a month.
ScreenZen, available for Android or iOS, is comprehensive and completely free (though you can donate to the developer if you find it helpful, which I’d recommend). You can set up a variety of barriers between you and your distracting apps, depending on your preference, including customized pauses (with motivational messages) and math challenges. Conventional app and timer blocks are also included.
ScreenZen encourages you to be more deliberate about opening apps.Courtesy of David Nield
One of the most thorough options here is Roots, though it’s available only on iOS. You’re able to schedule phone-free periods, block specific apps, and set up phone detox challenges that you can take on with friends and family. Like Oh My Hours, the app is also really good at giving you a breakdown of how much time you’ve saved by staying out of certain apps. Basic blocks and limits are free, with more advanced customizations available for $10 a month.
Also worth considering is Brick, which combines the free Android or iOS app with a small physical device that’ll set you back $59. The Brick itself is an NFC transmitter (it works like tap-to-pay), and when you want some distraction-free time, just press your phone against it to block (or unblock) specific apps. The controls are all managed in the Brick app. It’s incredibly simple, and that’s what makes it effective.
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