Friction: Stop Impulse Buying
Shopping Blocker, Save Money
About
This app creates barriers to prevent impulse purchases by locking down shopping apps. It requires a journal entry, commitment phrase, and cooldown timer before allowing access, helping users save money.
What's New in Friction
1.0.1
August 3, 2026
• Fixed: subscribing during the free trial now unlocks Pro immediately — the trial countdown no longer hides an active subscription • Settings now correctly shows your plan after purchase
MoreSubscriptions & In-App Purchases
Pro Monthly
Block spending apps without limits.
FAQ
How does Friction stop impulse buying?
Friction blocks access to selected shopping apps behind a journal entry, commitment phrase, and a cooldown timer. This process adds friction, making impulse purchases less likely by giving users time to reconsider.
What kind of apps can Friction block?
Friction can block shopping apps, food delivery apps, and buy now, pay later apps. Users select these trigger apps using Apple's Screen Time picker.
What are the subscription options for Friction?
Friction offers a 7-day free trial. After the trial, subscriptions are $6.99 per month or $39.99 per year. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends.
Is Friction safe to use with my financial apps?
Friction uses Apple's Screen Time technology, meaning it never sees which apps you block or when you open them. Apple keeps this data on your device. No account is required for basic functionality.
Can I unblock an app if I change my mind?
Yes, unblocking is possible but requires significant effort. You must name your trigger, journal a sentence about why, type an exact commitment phrase, and sit through a chosen cooldown timer (30 seconds to 5 minutes).
Does Friction work offline?
Yes, Friction works offline. If you choose to create an account for backup and multi-device sync, your data remains yours and can be exported or erased at any time.
How often is Friction updated?
The latest version, 1.0.1, was released on August 3, 2026, indicating recent development activity. Updates typically address bugs and introduce new features to enhance user experience.
What is the user sentiment for Friction?
Based on the available data, Friction has a perfect 5.0-star rating from one review, suggesting highly positive initial user sentiment.
