In this article on Naijaknowhow, I’ll be writing about some of the best focus apps to keep you off your phone. In today’s world, thanks to technology, we can easily connect with friends all around the world and get news updates instantly. But, this constant connection has some downsides too.
One big problem is that it’s hard to focus on one task because we are so involved with our smartphones. Many people feel anxious about their emails and can’t stop checking social media every half an hour. This leads to smartphone addiction, hence the reason for focus apps to keep you off your phone.
Nowadays, because of waterproof phones, some people even bring their phones into the shower. This shows that some individuals can’t be without their phones and want to use them all the time. Luckily, there are focus apps designed to help us overcome these problems.
List of the Best Focus Apps for Android and iOS
These apps help us concentrate on our work by limiting our digital distractions. They also help us build better habits by preventing us from constantly checking our phones. If you’re interested, here are some of the best focus apps you can try out.
1. Forest
Forest is one of the best focus apps designed to control how much you use your phone and help you take breaks. Forest helps you stay away from apps with notifications and rewards you by planting trees. You choose a time, like 20 minutes, and put your phone aside.
While you’re away, a virtual plant grows in the app. If you want to use your phone before the time is up, there’s a consequence. If you try to use a different app without permission, Forest sends you a message to remind you to stay focused. If you don’t listen, your virtual plant dies. This is effective because people don’t want their plants to die.
The app’s look is clean and simple, making it easy to use. You can also use Forest on different devices and even on smartwatches because it keeps all your information synced. You can download it for free, but it offers in-app purchases.
Pros:
- Motivates focus with virtual tree planting
- Simple, clean interface
- Cross-device syncing
- Free to download
Cons:
- Limited break time customization
- Relies on user discipline
- In-app purchases for advanced features
- Gamified concept may not suit all users
2. Flipd
If you spend too much time on social media and the internet, Flipd is a helpful app you can use. This app lets you set a timer to limit how long you use different apps. Once the timer runs out, you can’t use those apps for 24 hours.
You can also make groups and see how well you’re doing compared to your friends. When your friends are using the app too, it’s easier to stop using social media. Flipd helps you make agreements with your friends to use your phone less. You log in with your social media account, add your friends, and do this together as a group.
The app is free for Android and iOS users, but there are in-app purchases to make. In the free version, you can only set a timer for up to 30 minutes. If you pay, you can learn more about how to use your phone.
Pros:
- Timer-based app usage control
- Encourages collaboration with friends
- Group accountability for reducing screen time
- Social media login for easy setup
Cons:
- In-app purchases for extended features
- Free version limits timer duration to 30 minutes
- Requires social media account for login
- 24-hour restriction after timer expires
3. Stay Focused
Stay Focused is an app that helps you stay on track by controlling your phone use. It can lock certain apps so you don’t use them impulsively. It’s more advanced than other apps because it even has a strict mode to stop you from uninstalling it.
This mode makes you control your impulses and not use your phone at all, which is good, but you should think about the effects before using it. With super-strict mode, you can’t use the locked apps at all until a timer ends. It also stops notifications from those apps, which you’ll only get the next day.
The app also shows you how much you use your apps each day and week. This helps you see your habits and figure out how to be more productive. The app is free but offers in-app purchases. The free version only lets you use the app for 60 minutes.
Pros:
- Effective app blocking
- Commitment-enhancing strict mode
- Usage tracking for self-awareness
- Detailed app usage statistics
Cons:
- Super strict mode may be too restrictive
- Notifications delay
- Limited free version (60-minute limit)
- In-app purchases for full features
Download Link: Android
4. HelpMeFocus
HelpMeFocus is a helpful app that can stop you from using certain apps on your phone. It does more than just that – you can make a plan called a “profile.” With this profile, you can choose the days and times when the app will work and stop other apps and notifications.
Once the set time is over, the profile turns off by itself. This way, things happen automatically, and you can concentrate on important stuff. If you want to quickly stop an app, there’s a button that can do that right away.
And if you find it hard to resist checking your notifications, there’s a very strict mode built in. This mode makes sure you can’t remove HelpMeFocus or change the profile when it’s active. So, it helps you stay on track even if you really want to use other apps.
Pros:
- Automated schedules for app restrictions
- Quick-stop button for instant focus
- Strict mode for added discipline
- Blocks distracting notifications
- Profiles auto-deactivate after set time
Cons:
- Limited urgent access during restrictions
- Strict mode might be too restrictive
- In-app purchases
Download Link: Android
5. SPACE
SPACE is a different kind of app that thinks just blocking apps won’t really help, or when you can’t stop checking your phone for new messages. It’s like when you had to study and mom stops you from playing, and suddenly looking outside the window became more interesting than studying.
What the app does is let you decide how long you can use your phone and how many times you can turn it on. Once you set this up and turn it on, the app counts everything quietly. If you use up all your allowed unlocks, it will tell you that you can’t unlock your phone anymore.
You can also see how you’re doing compared to your friends for up to 60 days. SPACE is free on iOS, and there in-app purchases you can make if you want.
Pros:
- Encourages self-discipline
- Customizable usage limits
- Insights into usage patterns
- Social motivation
Cons:
- Requires user commitment
- Limited free features
- In-app purchases
- Effectiveness varies
Download Link: iOS
6. Freedom
Freedom is a tool that helps you control what you can access on your browser, especially on iPhones and iPads. It can stop you from going to many websites. The app is free, but with in-app purchases you can even stop yourself from using certain apps.
This tool is easy to use and looks simple. To start using it, you pick a time and choose which websites you don’t want to go to. You can also make your own list of things to block. If you want to, you can use a mode that makes it really hard to stop the tool once you start it.
Pros:
- Effective website and app blocking
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Customizable blocking lists
- Time-based usage control
- Option for a robust mode for added self-control
Cons:
- Limited features in free version
- In-app purchases for advanced functionality
- May require discipline to stick to blocked sites
Download Link: iOS
7. RealizD
RealizD is an app designed to help you reduce your dependence on electronic devices and become more efficient. The main goal of the app is to show you how much time you spend on your gadgets and assist you in managing it better. It allows you to set timers for individual apps, providing regular statistics on when you use your device the most.
Additionally, RealizD can track how often you pick up your gadget throughout the day and send alerts to remind you to take breaks. With RealizD, you have the flexibility to create schedules for specific app usage, and these schedules can sync across all your devices, allowing you to control them simultaneously.
The app also enables you to set goals for reducing usage on certain apps, and once you achieve these goals, RealizD rewards you for your efforts. It’s a tool that aims to bring awareness to your device usage and help you establish healthier habits with your gadgets.
Pros:
- Usage Awareness
- Customizable Timers
- Break Reminders
- Cross-Device Sync
- Goal Setting & Rewards
Cons:
- Intrusive Alerts
- Limited Platform Support
- Accuracy Issues
- In-app purchases
Download Link: iOS
8. AntiSocial
AntiSocial is a helpful app that makes you more productive by controlling how much time you spend on your phone. It shows you the percentage of your day spent on your device and compares your usage with other users. You get detailed stats on each app, revealing the hours you waste.
With AntiSocial, you can take control by marking distracting apps and having the app turn them off. You can set time limits for specific apps, and if you try to exceed them, the app won’t let you. The app sends reminders to take breaks and even keeps a history of when you intentionally used certain apps.
Best of all, it works in the background without any ads. Overall, AntiSocial helps you understand and manage your phone usage, allowing you to focus better and be more mindful of your screen time.
Pros:
- Tracks usage percentage and compares with others
- Marks and disables distracting apps
- Sets time limits for specific applications
- Sends reminders for breaks
- Works in the background without ads
Cons:
- Accuracy varies among users
- Success relies on user discipline
- History tracking could be intrusive
- Needs internet connectivity
Download Link: Android
Conclusion
These are some of the best focus apps to keep you off your phone. They will help you use your phone less. These apps either remind you to stay away from your phone using notifications and stats, or they block and control your access to certain apps.
