# CloseReels: Reduce Scrolling — user reviews > 29 indexed App Store user reviews of CloseReels by Ho Yin NG, rated 4.59/5 from 139 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/closereels-reduce-scrolling/id6739947824/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/closereels-reduce-scrolling/id6739947824.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 114 · 4★ 11 · 3★ 5 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 9 ## What do users think of CloseReels? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🚀 Helps track scrolling habits - 👍 Effective at reducing screen time - 💡 Great idea and concept **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and unstable - 💰 Expensive paid features - 🔒 Locked out of apps after free trial **Commonly reported bugs** - UI elements not scaling correctly for iPhone SE - App freezing and crashing issues - Inconsistent unlock time limits **Most requested features** - Configuration section to customize settings - Ability to turn off notifications - More transparent unlock system ## Newest reviews (9 of 29) ### 3/5 — Not quite *2025-11-12, version 1.8.4* Idk if the one I was typing posted. It doesn’t understand background use vs active use. Otherwise it’s what I need. I don’t want to lock out apps, I just want it to pop up and point out that it’s been twenty straight minutes scrolling shorts on YouTube. It does that, but I use YouTube for background sound, and even with the screen turned off, it still muted and gave an alert. ### 2/5 — Lovely app, too expensive and now limited *2025-05-31, version 1.8.4* I loved the app specially because I could use some features for free, and since it’s too expensive for me here where I live, I can’t really buy the full version, and now you guys basically made it a paid app! It works fine, it’s a lovely app and really useful, but it would be easier if you made de app paid right away. ### 2/5 — Hahaha only work paying it lol *2025-05-02, version 1.7.7* So expensive for an app that only use time in screen ### 4/5 — Love it *2025-04-27, version 1.7.4* I wish there were more options without being premium, but still love it!! I'm not sure but i think we have 100 chances to open the limited apps, if we still have to use them, you have to pay money. I wish the price was lower that i could afford buying it, but still happy what i'm using!! Thank you for helping me stop doomscrolling. ### 2/5 — glitch *2025-04-25, version 1.7.4* app looked promising but it literally wouldn’t let me leave the screen with the closereels pro, pretty much forcing me to purchase it ### 3/5 — Good but why do I have to pay to get more unlocks *2025-04-24, version 1.7.3* It really does help me stop doom scrolling but why the heck do I have to pay to get more unlocks. It shouldn’t be a premium feature. Or at least tell me everytime I unlock my reels how many “unlocks”I have left. Now I have to delete the app so I can use my Instagram. I have stuff I need to check sometimes ### 1/5 — Broken for iPhone SE (2022) *2025-04-14, version 1.6.6* I’m sorry to give this poor review, I really like the concept and I’d love to use it. Unfortunately, they did not scale the UI elements correctly at all for the iPhone SE 3rd Generation, which is at this point still a decently recent phone! The text in the opening sequence is cut off, and after the first page, the button to continue is straight up off screen. No amount of tapping or scrolling or restarting could fix this, it is 100% broken for this screen size. I sincerely hope they fix this soon, I’d really love to give it a go. ### 5/5 — Really gd *2025-04-10, version 1.6.6* I tried many app block but no app can do better than this ### 5/5 — Good, Easy to use *2025-02-14, version 1.0* This app really help me stop scrolling. Can’t believe I scrolled 3 hours a day before. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Time wasting *2025-10-25, version 1.8.4* You stole my time. I answered many guestions and gave my time. Finally you want to money. İf the app will not used without money, you should say that before. But thank you. I removed your app and instagram ### 1/5 — Kostet Geld *2025-07-27, version 1.8.4* Glaubt mir, ihr kriegt das auch gratis hin. ### 1/5 — Not worth it *2025-06-13, version 1.8.4* I thought this app would help me with my screen time, it did at first until I ran out of interruptions. The app then forced me to either pay for the subscription or “delete the app”. Honestly at that point I will figure out the self control on my own since the company wants to be so greedy by getting money out of me for apps that are free. Loved the idea at first but it’s obvious the company is only in it for profit not to actually help your screen time. I will be listening when it says delete the app. Thanks! ### 1/5 — Buggy and expensive *2025-05-06, version 1.7.8* This app was originally great! My free trail went amazing and it was really starting to help me. I bought the upgraded version and paid for my month. Although the app started shutting down shortly after telling me I needed to delete the app and upgrade to pro. I feel so ripped off!! It was like I paid for nothing ### 1/5 — No free option *2025-04-27, version 1.7.4* There’s no other option other than to pay, even though it literally says there’s supposed to be one? ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2025-04-25, version 1.7.4* Couldn’t even get to begin because the annoying notification of the pro version didn’t stop coming out. ### 1/5 — money *2025-04-25, version 1.7.4* can't use the app without paying money. ### 1/5 — It’ll just lock you out after a while and force you to pay to access Instagram *2025-04-25, version 1.7.4* I really like the idea, it would lock you out after 10 minutes and kind of “reset” you. But then I got a notification saying “no free unlocks left upgrade today blah blah blah”. I deleted the app immediately because that is wildly idiotic. In what world would I willingly limit my access to a FREE app by making it paid?? What am I even paying for? I already got what I wanted from this app and it was to limit my screen time / break it up. Also I wish there was a way to turn off the notifications saying “you’re doing well…” because frankly it find them unsettling! But, that’s no big deal. Imagine you pay somebody to open a door for you, but when you don’t pay, you’re locked out of your house. I can just open the door myself for free and as much as I want! ### 1/5 — The Problem *2025-04-23, version 1.7.2* The concept of this app seems to be good, but before you can start you have to choose if you want the Pro version, if you click away there is a field where no matter if you press yes or no you get back to the selection of the Pro version and therefore cannot use the free version which is a pity ### 1/5 — Really cool idea *2025-04-16, version 1.6.8* It’s a really cool premise, but it’s super buggy and sends you notifications all the time for a random period of time, and the time you set to allow and the time you set to differ is practically random. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Cured my addiction *2026-01-03, version 1.8.4* This is the best app yet if you doom scroll like me Won’t let me in the apps even if i beg The premium is probably better but the free one is also spot on .whoever developed this is a life saver ### 5/5 — Effektiv *2025-05-24, version 1.8.3* Grade in der Selbständigkeit sehr hilfreich um sich selbst zu schützen... Es gibt einige Dinge die nocht so perfekt funktionieren aber das erwarte ich noch nicht von eine jungen App. Das was die App kann, ist das Geld nicht wert, das was mir die App bringt aber schon. Im Endeffekt war diese App was ich gebraucht habe und ich bin zufrieden damit. Es hilft doch tatsächlich spürbar... ### 5/5 — Unbelievably Good *2025-05-12, version 1.8.0* wish I had discovered this app earlier. One big issue I face while scrolling is losing track of how much I've scrolled and forgetting everything I just scroll through. Since using this app, I've become more aware of my scrolling habits. ### 5/5 — Cant change my selected apps??? *2025-05-06, version 1.7.8* Love this app. Working really well. But theres this app i want to change from being selected. But its not letting me access the change apps bar. Its like frozen and blurred grey. I dont know if this is because im using the free version or what, but imma try in the morning. Anyways, love this app, my addiction is wanting to use social media, but CloseReels isn’t allowing me. Recommending to all my friends. 5 stars ### 5/5 — Self realizing *2025-04-29, version 1.7.4* I couldn’t believe the amount of times I got myself mindlessly opening those evil apps, and having a semi-dead autopilot hour of my life given back to me by CloseReels. God bless you ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-04-26, version 1.7.4* Great app and idea maybe just make a configuration section so you can configure the settings ### 5/5 — X *2025-04-22, version 1.7.1* Great until you have to pay to unlock, but is actually not an annoying but helpful tool to reduce screen time ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-04-18, version 1.6.9* I love this app so much, it helps me put my phone down and do other things ### 5/5 — Perfect *2025-04-16, version 1.6.8* It stopped me from doomscrolling for a week ### 5/5 — Horrible name *2025-04-15, version 1.6.7* Fire app, works like a charm. Just change the name. No one wants an app called sigma grind on their phone. And if someone catches me getting a notification from sigma grind 😭🙏 --- *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 2026-08-05.*