The Best Screen Time Blockers for iPhone
iOS restricts what third-party apps can do, which shapes every option on this list. Here is what genuinely works, and what the platform prevents.
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The short answer
Start with the free tier of one sec or ScreenZen. Both add friction where it matters and cost nothing to test, which makes them the right first move before paying for anything. Move to Opal or Freedom if you need enforcement rather than a nudge, and to Freedom specifically if the same rules need to hold on a laptop too, since a block covering only the phone tends to relocate the habit rather than end it. Set your expectations first, though. iOS does not let one app block another outright, so everything here works through Apple's Screen Time framework or by adding a delay, and nothing on iPhone is as absolute as Cold Turkey is on a Mac. Apple's own Screen Time is free and already installed, so rule it out before you pay: the case for a third-party app is friction harder to dismiss than tapping Ignore Limit. Anyone promising an unbreakable iPhone block is overselling it.
One thing to understand before choosing: iOS does not let apps block other apps the way desktop software can. Every option here works through Apple's Screen Time framework or by adding friction, which is why nothing on iPhone is as absolute as Cold Turkey is on a Mac. Anyone promising an unbreakable iPhone block is overselling it.
How they differ
| Feature | One Sec | Opal | ScreenZen | Freedom | Jomo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | An app that interrupts the launch with a pause | An app that blocks apps on a schedule or on demand | An app that adds friction before an app opens | A cross-platform blocker covering phone and desktop together | An app that blocks apps on a schedule |
| Platforms | iOS, Android | iOS | iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Chrome | iOS, Android |
| How hard to undo | Soft by design. It delays you, it never prevents you | Firm: designed to be enforced for the duration of a session | Soft. It delays you rather than blocking you outright | Firm. A locked session is difficult to end early, but it is a single app you control. | Not yet profiled on this site |
| Cost model | Free essentials, with a one-off purchase covering all your devices | Free trial, with a paid subscription | Free, donation-supported | Free tier, with a Premium subscription and a one-off lifetime option | Free tier, with a paid upgrade |
5 worth considering
VisitOne Sec
Breathe before you scroll
Forces a pause before opening distracting apps.
Read our One Sec review →
VisitOpal
Screen time coach powered by AI
AI-powered focus coach that learns your habits and blocks distractions at the system level.
Read our Opal review →
VisitScreenZen
Pause before you open apps
Adds an intentional delay before opening distracting apps, just enough friction to break the habit.
Read our ScreenZen review →
VisitFreedom
Block distractions across all devices
The most comprehensive cross-device blocker available.
Read our Freedom review →
VisitJomo
Blocking built around the joy of missing out
App and site blocking with intention prompts before you open something distracting.
Common questions
Why can't an iPhone blocker be truly strict?
Apple does not give third-party apps the power to prevent other apps from launching outright. They work within Screen Time or by interposing a delay, both of which the user can ultimately get around. The honest framing is friction, not prevention.
Is Apple's built-in Screen Time enough?
For many people, yes, and it is free and already installed. Third-party apps are worth paying for when you need friction that is harder to dismiss than tapping "Ignore Limit", or when you want the same rules on other devices.