ORIGINAL REDDIT POST

What phone app blocker actually helps you focus without becoming a pain to use?

I'm looking for an iPhone app that can stop me from automatically opening distracting apps while I'm working. I've looked at Opal, Jomo, ScreenZen, one sec, and a few others, but it's hard to tell which reviews are genuine. Some apps seem too easy to bypass,…

Original postr/productivity

I'm looking for an iPhone app that can stop me from automatically opening distracting apps while I'm working. I've looked at Opal, Jomo, ScreenZen, one sec, and a few others, but it's hard to tell which reviews are genuine. Some apps seem too easy to bypass, while others lock down so much that I suspect I'd disable them after a few days. Ideally, I want something that can block selected apps during work hours but still let me access them when I genuinely need to. I'd also rather avoid another expensive subscription unless the app makes a noticeable difference. Has anyone used one of these consistently for a few months? Which one did you keep, and what became annoying over time? I'm especially interested in hearing from people who tried several before settling on one.

Collected discussion

16 comments

u/No_Cauliflower306

Foqos. A free Brick type program.

u/Prestigious_Track_22OP

Thank you for your reply! Why did you go with opal in particular, and are there any aspects of Opal you would prefer to be different?

u/Prestigious_Track_22OP

Are you presently using any? If so, could you please explain why you are using that specific one?

u/Prestigious_Track_22OP

Why did you go with freedom in particular and do you wish anything was different about freedom?

u/Prestigious_Track_22OP

Have you tested other applications, and are there any aspects of Foqos you would like to see changed?

u/Raiden34GC

ive been using Opal for the past months, good results so far (i was around 6-7hours when i installed it) trying to get closer to 3hrs/day

u/BraveSirrrRobin

Yep this is free and works great

u/Effective_Lie6670

A blocker that adds a short delay before opening the app may work better than a total lockout. It interrupts the habit without becoming too restrictive.

u/FeministAsHeck

I’ve been using Freedom for nearly a decade and I stand by it!

u/Defiant-Broccoli-101

ScreenZen

u/dungeonmoriarty

This (and particularly the comments) sounds like an attempt at ‘underground’ market research.

u/viniciuzdev

screem time iphone

u/goldio_games

Ive been using Achieve! and really like it. You earn your screen time by getting your shit done. So i start with 0 time and then as i knock things off on my to do list i gradually earn time. Really helps me keep my time in balance