Apps to Help You Reduce Your Screen Time

Technology has changed the way we live our lives so much. While it made most things (e.g. communication) easy and accessible, it also made other things (e.g. still communication, funnily enough) more difficult.

When you ride the train or bus, you probably see a lot of heads looking down on their phones. Maybe even around the dinner table, your family and friends just can’t keep their eyes away from their phones. And it’s high time we all take a step back, reduce our screen time, and return to real life.

Both iOS and Android have screen time-monitoring apps: Screen Time (built-in) and Digital Wellbeing (downloadable), respectively. But if you find these insufficient, here are some apps that may just be perfect for you.

When you just need to block everything everywhere

Via Freedom

If you’ve been feeling shackled by social media, endlessly scrolling and reducing your productivity time, you can achieve Freedom from the trappings of your screen with this app. Sync it on your phone and computer and block all those distracting websites.

Cost: Free, with offered in-app purchases

Download: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows

When you desperately need that phone-life balance

Via Space

Nowadays, work-life balance is already hard to achieve, and when you add phone time to that equation, it just gets even more complicated. Get some Space with this app to attain that phone-life balance you desperately need. Set goals fit for your habits and reward yourself with achievement badges when you reach your daily goals.

Cost: Free, with offered in-app purchases

Download: iOS, Android, Google Chrome

When you need to get off your phone to actually eat

Via Dinner Mode

It’s time for dinner, but your eyes are still on your screen. Put down your phone, get yourself into Dinner Mode, and enjoy the meal with your family and friends!

Cost: Free

Download: iOS

When you need that slap of reality to realize you have a digital addiction

Via RealizD

When you finally wake up and realize you need to address your digital addiction, go and download the RealizD app. You can monitor your device usage at all times and get stats and insights that would tell you what you need to do to curb that addiction.

Cost: Free, with offered in-app purchases

Download: iOS, Android

When you need to be accountable

If you think you’re in too deep on your screen, get a partner and become AntiSocial together. Your partner can monitor your device usage remotely and set up timers to let you know you’re going to get locked out of your device. At least, this way, there’s accountability, right?

Cost: Free

Download: Android (personal), Android (pair)

When you need to have some inspiring end goal (other than more productivity)

Via Forest

Stay focused by planting a tree and keeping it alive. If you close the app, your tree will die, and we don’t want that, do we? The Forest app is so perfect because not only does it make you actually put your phone down and increase productivity, but it also allows you plant actual trees in real life through their partner organization, Trees for the Future.

Cost: USD 1.99

Download: iOS, Android, Google Chrome

When you need to commit to that digital diet

Make your mornings smart when you only scroll for ten minutes before being required to take a longer break. You’ll have a daily limit, as well as calmer nights to lessen your endless scrolling before bed. It’s time to commit to that digital diet, so get ZenScreen.

Cost: Free, with offered in-app purchases

Download: iOS, Android, Google Chrome

When you need to take extreme measures

Via Off the Grid

If you really think you need to be forced off of your phone, then Off the Grid is perfect for you. It does what any other screen time-reducing app does—blocks distracting websites, monitors usage, and all that—but there’s an interesting caveat: for every instance you end your session early, you’ll be charged a dollar. If the threat of more bills doesn’t work, we don’t know what will.

Cost: Free, with offered in-app purchases

Download: Android

Which apps will you download in your phone? Let us know below!