🪄 Break the spell of addictive smart phone technology. 🪄
- A list of various mobile applications and system features for breaking the spell of addictive smart phone technology, and features for protecting the users health.
- The author has a bias towards open source software, however all apps are evaulated based on their features.
- Privacy violating applications are not welcome.
- "Free and open-source software (FOSS) is software that is available under a license that grants the right to use, modify, and distribute the software, modified or not, to everyone free of charge."
- Grayscale Your Screen While Making Exceptions
- Automatically enter the "Do Not Disturb" mode
- Make Apps Disappear
- Break "Infinite Scrolling"
- Opt-out Ability
- Free!
- Network: NO 🔥
- ADB: Yes as expected for grayscale.
- Farhans grayscale application detection is currently better.
- Recommended ⭐
- Notifications Filter
- Infinite Scrolling Blocker
- Screen Grayscale
- Usage Check
- Free!
- Network Required: NO 🔥
- ADB: Yes as expected for grayscale.
- Best open source grayscaling of applications.
- Recommended ⭐
- Apps are grouped to categories (a category can contain one or multiple App).
- You can chose per category at which times it should be allowed. This allows preventing playing games too late.
- Additionally, you can configure time limit rules. These rules limit the total usage duration at one day or over multiple days (e.g. a weekend). It is possible to combine both, e.g. 2 hours per week end day, but in total only 3 hours.
- Moreover, there is the possibility to set an extra time. This allows using something longer than regulary once. This can be used as bonus. There is additionally the option to disable all time limits temporarily (e.g. for the whole day or an hour).
- Free!
- Network Required: NO 🔥
- Unfortunately this app lacks any splash feature to make the user reconsider using the app like ScreenZen.
- App Limits: Mindful isn't just about blocking apps—it's about mindful usage. Set daily usage limits, and if you stick to them, you'll be rewarded with streaks! It's a fun way to stay accountable and reduce mindless scrolling.
- Block Reels and Shorts: Eliminate distractions by blocking short-form content on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Snapchat. Mindful helps you avoid the endless loop of Reels, Shorts, and similar distractions, so you can focus on what matters.
- Detailed Analytics and Focus Timeline: Mindful provides insightful reports on your screen time and focus sessions, helping you track progress and make better digital choices. Review your focus history with the Focus Timeline.
- Bedtime Mode for Better Sleep: Ensure restful nights with Bedtime Mode, which pauses distracting apps and activates Do Not Disturb.
- Web Safety and Blocking: Mindful lets you block adult content and create custom blocklists for distracting websites. With a single tap, you can block internet access for specific apps too.
- Invincible Mode for Discipline: Invincible Mode prevents changes to app timers and settings, ensuring you stick to your goals without any distractions or interruptions.
- Smart Alerts and Emergency Breaks: Stay on track with timely reminders for focus sessions and screen time limits. If you need a break, the Emergency Pause feature temporarily lifts restrictions, resuming them automatically after a set time.
- Ad-Free and Privacy-Focused: Mindful offers an ad-free, privacy-first experience, operating entirely offline so your data stays secure on your device.
- Free!
- Network Required: NO 🔥
- Unfortunately this app lacks any splash feature to make the user reconsider using the app like ScreenZen.
- No grayscale option like Farhan or DigitalDetox.
- Notifies you after 20 minutes to give your eyes a break.
- Starts countdown automatically when the screen is turned on.
- Configure the notification behavior the way you like.
- Start and stop the service manually.
- Confirm break in notification.
- AD free.
- Free!
- Network Required: NO 🔥
- Best application of its type.
- Recommended ⭐
- Get a daily view of your digital habits:
- How frequently you use different apps
- How many notifications you receive
- How often you check your phone or unlock your device
- Daily app timers let you set limits for how much you use apps.
- Bedtime mode reminds you to switch off at night, setting a schedule to fade your screen to Grayscale while Do Not Disturb silences notifications for a good night’s sleep.
- Focus mode lets you pause distracting apps with a single tap so you can better focus your time. You can also set a schedule to turn on Focus mode automatically and reduce distractions while you’re at work, school, or home.
- Free!
- Network Required: Unknown
- Not supported on many devices and custom roms i.e. GrapheneOS
- Almost anything is possible using Tasker.
- It is possible to set grayscale based on what application is open, time of day, etc. i.e. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40461985
- Also possible to set custom app timers.
- Free!
- Network Required: No. 🔥
- ADB: Yes - for grayscale.
- You will need to piece things together to make this work, however it can be entirely custom to you.
- Tasker has security implications.
- Delay before opening
- Interrupt scrolling
- Set app goal and block
- Configurable schedule
- Alert messages
- Distracting app screen time
- Strict block
- Settings lock
- Breathing exercises
- Streaks
- Free!
- Network Required: No. 🔥
- ADB: Yes - for grayscale.
- Recommended ⭐
- Automated second thought
- Block social media apps that distract you the most
- You can block websites as well
- Limited to one application for free users.
- Network Required: No. 🔥
- ScreenZen has more features and almost full capabilities for free users.
- Launcher replacement
- Block websites
- Mindful delay when opening an app
- App blocker
- In-app time reminder
- Monochrome mode for selected apps (requires activation on PC or Mac)
- Free!
- Network Required: Unknown.
- ADB: Yes - for grayscale.
- Settings > Display > Night Light > Click setting to adjust intensity.
- Bind holding down both volume buttons at the same time to toggle grayscale on/off.
- To do this, go in Settings, then
Accessibility > Color and motion > Color correction, and set it to grayscale. - While still in the
Color correctionsubmenu, clickColor correction shortcut, set it toHold both volume keys, and toggle it on.
- Enable Developer settings in Android (click build number 5 times).
- Enable Monochrome Mode within Developer settings.
- Author does not use an iPhone, but contributions are welcome.