# Celery: Focus is a Team Sport — be present with your friends > Group accountability app to limit distracting app usage with friends. (iPhone/iPad app by Valerie Chen.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celery-focus-is-a-team-sport/id6747823463 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Valerie Chen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823017609) - Category: Productivity, Social Networking - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 13 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 26 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2025-11-23 - Data updated: 2026-06-04 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celery-focus-is-a-team-sport/id6747823463/reviews.md ## What is Celery? Willpower is overrated. Your friends are not. The people who know you best are the ones who can actually change your habits. Build a pod with your friends, lock down your most distracting apps, and share a daily time budget. Every unlock costs the whole group—so you'll think twice before opening TikTok. *** How It Works *** A pod is the group of people you want to be your accountability buddies. Think: your roommates, your partner, your close friends. Whether just you and 1 other person or up to 10 people max, it's a group who've got each other's backs. 1. Create or join a pod 2. Pick the apps it controls—Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc. or any combination 3. Set a shared daily time limit for the group That's it. Those apps are now locked for everyone in the pod. *** Claiming Time *** When you need access, you claim time from the pod. → Choose how many minutes you need → Write a short justification note so your friends know what's up → Snap a selfie to keep it real → Your apps unlock and the timer starts When your timer runs out, those apps lock again—automatically. Only one person per pod can have access at a time. And every minute you use comes out of the shared daily pool. When it's gone, it's gone until tomorrow. *** Multiple Pods, Multiple Circles *** You can be in several pods at once, each with different people and different apps. → Your study pod going phones down in the library and actually getting through the work together → Your partner pod for keeping evenings free from ending with both of you on your phones → Your roommate pod where someone always calls you out (lovingly) for opening YouTube again Each pod has its own app list, its own time budget, and its own daily reset. *** See Everything That Happens *** Your pod has a shared feed where you can see what everyone is up to — react to your friends' claims, drop a comment, and keep the accountability going. *** Why Celery Works *** → Real stakes — you're in it together, not just on your own → Real accountability — from people who actually care about you, not an app timer → Real people — not an algorithm, your actual friends → Real results — less mindless scrolling, more of everything else ======================================= Less doomscrolling. More laughing, cooking, reading, walking, and actually living. Download Celery for free. Choose your people. Hold each other to it. ## Key features - Create or join accountability pods with friends - Lock distracting apps like TikTok and Instagram - Set shared daily time budgets for app access - Claim minutes from the pod for app usage - Share progress and react to friends' claims - Manage multiple pods with different groups and apps ## Recent user reviews (10 of 10) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celery-focus-is-a-team-sport/id6747823463/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Finally seen the light *2026-03-28* The only screen time app that has ever actually helped me, and I’ve tried them all. Just get it ### 5/5 — really helps *2026-03-14* Celery is the only app that’s actually helped me cut down my screen time! I have a pod with my college friends and having “take” time from them has really helped me curb my Instagram & Tik Tok usage ### 5/5 — actually reduced my doomscrolling!! *2026-03-13* I’ve tried using Screen Time before to manage doomscrolling but I would always end up clicking “ignore” to give myself a few extra minutes. Celery was the first app I used that actually helped me cut down on social media use since the only way to unlock an app is to request time from your pod (it’s also fun to see what your friends are up to when they request, kind of like Snapchat) ### 5/5 — Great app ! *2026-03-13* the pod/group really creates accountability and effective to prevent me from doom scrolling ### 5/5 — Finally something that actually curbed my screen time *2026-03-13* Celery has honestly helped me cut down my screen time way more than I expected. The biggest thing is that your friends can see how much you’re using your phone, which makes it way harder to ignore your limits. That little bit of accountability actually works. I’ve tried Opal and Screen Time before but this feels more motivating and real. It’s simple, but it does the job. ### 5/5 — Refocuses my life *2026-03-13* Great little app that allows me to be more social with less media ### 5/5 — The Best Screen-time Management App *2026-03-12* This is the most effective screen time management app I’ve ever used and I really like how it adds a social element of being able to see your friends and text each other in the group! ### 5/5 — Actually does the job *2026-03-10* The fact that I have to go into a group and take time from my friends actually does make me rethink whether I need to use insta or TikTok. Great app! ### 5/5 — Realistic Solution *2026-03-10* Being able to check out time is so much more realistic than large chunks of blocking your phone with something like Brick. The social aspect and taking a photo keeps me off my phone more than anything. ### 5/5 — I am becoming a person again *2026-03-10* Celery has changed the game for me. I used to spend hours a day on social media, and now with the accountability from my pod I spend less than 10 minutes a day. GAME CHANGER. I am telling all my friends/family/coworkers literally everyone I know download it. ## Frequently asked questions about Celery ### What is Celery? Celery is a productivity app designed to help you and your friends reduce distracting app usage. It uses a group accountability model where shared time budgets are set for specific apps. ### How does Celery work with friends? You create or join a 'pod' with up to 10 friends. Together, you select distracting apps and set a daily time budget. When one person needs to use a locked app, they claim minutes from the shared pool, which impacts everyone. ### Can I use Celery on multiple devices? Celery is available on iPhone and iPad, allowing you to manage your focus across these Apple devices. ### Is Celery free to use? Yes, Celery is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees required to use its core features. ### What is the age rating for Celery? Celery has an age rating of 12+, making it suitable for teenagers and adults looking to improve their digital habits. ### How often is Celery updated? The app was last updated on March 19, 2026, indicating active development and support from the developer. ### Does Celery have ads? No, Celery does not contain advertisements. The app is ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted focus experience. ### What makes Celery different from other focus apps? Celery emphasizes real social stakes and accountability from people who care about you, rather than relying solely on individual willpower or app timers. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.2.3 — 2026-04-01 → community leaderboard → improved personal screen time stats → bug fixes ### 1.2.2 — 2026-03-19 → community leaderboard → improved personal screen time stats ### 1.2.1 — 2026-03-12 → Minor bug fixes → Celery is now available in new geographies! ### 1.2.0 — 2026-03-05 → better UI for viewing comments, reactions → fixed bug where app blocks stop working ### 1.1 — 2025-11-26 Bug fixes: pod invites, push notifications ## Apps similar to Celery | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Node Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/node-browser/id6741699545) | 5.0 (6) | Free | Productivity | | [Teleprompter App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/teleprompter-app/id6743309542) | 4.8 (273) | Free | Productivity | | [Splash Host](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/splash-host/id1088971298) | 3.3 (29) | Free | Productivity | | [Dex - Rolodex and Personal CRM](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dex-rolodex-and-personal-crm/id1472132715) | 4.4 (235) | Free | Productivity | | [Pharos Print](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pharos-print/id918145672) | 1.4 (180) | Free | Productivity | | [Focusspace: Limit Screen Time](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusspace-limit-screen-time/id6737806874) | 4.7 (13) | Free | Productivity | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-04.*