# Gentle Screen Time — Less Screen Time. No Fights. > Family screen time management app that paces app usage with timed sessions and rest periods. (iPhone/iPad app by Joseph Casey.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gentle-screen-time/id6755485089 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Joseph Casey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1697783959) - Category: Productivity, Utilities - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.0 · 7 MB - Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, Russian, European Spanish - Released: 2026-02-09 - Data updated: 2026-08-05 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gentle-screen-time/id6755485089/reviews.md ## What is Gentle Screen Time? Most screen time apps work by capping you. They set hard limits, block apps for the rest of the day, and leave you locked out the moment you hit a number. Gentle works differently. There are no usage limits and no permanent blocks. You move through a rhythm of sessions and rests, and your total screen time drops, often dramatically, without anything being capped or taken away for good. Here's how it works. You start a session and have full, unlimited access to everything on your phone. When the session ends, a short rest begins, a brief pause where your controlled apps become unavailable for a few minutes. When the rest ends, your apps return, ready for your next session. No daily cutoffs. No "you're out of time." Just a gentle in-and-out rhythm that adds up to far less screen time. Gentle is for people who've tried strict limits and bounced off them. If hitting a wall every day has never worked, a gentle rhythm of sessions and rests might. Use everything you love, in a calmer cadence. Lower your screen time. No limits, no daily cutoffs, just a gentler rhythm. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.gentlescreentime.app/privacy ## Key features - Timed app sessions with beginnings and ends - Automatic app locking after sessions - Intentional app opening friction - Remote family management - Customizable session and rest lengths - No content monitoring or surveillance ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly Family Plan | $4.99 | per month | | Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year | | Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month | | Yearly Family Subscription | $99.99 | per year | ## Frequently asked questions about Gentle Screen Time ### What is Sundial Family? Sundial Family is a productivity app designed to help families manage screen time by implementing timed sessions for apps. It aims to break autopilot usage and encourage intentional engagement with digital content. ### How does Sundial Family work? You select apps to manage, and when your child opens them, a timed session begins. Once the session ends, the app locks, followed by a rest period. To start a new session, a deliberate action is required, breaking reflexive usage. ### Does Sundial Family monitor my child's activity? No, Sundial Family does not monitor content, browsing history, keywords, or messages. Its focus is solely on managing the rhythm and duration of app usage, not on surveillance. ### Can I set up Sundial Family for myself? Yes, you can set up sessions for yourself as well. The app encourages modeling healthy phone habits for children by demonstrating responsible technology use. ### What are the subscription options for Sundial Family? Sundial Family offers a Monthly Subscription for $3.99, a Yearly Subscription for $29.99, and a Yearly Family Subscription for $99.99, which includes a 7-day free trial. ### Is Sundial Family available on all devices? Sundial Family is supported on iPhone and iPad devices, as indicated by its compatibility with Apple's ecosystem. ### How often is Sundial Family updated? The app was last updated on May 20, 2026, with version 2.04. This indicates a relatively recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support. ### What is the age rating for Sundial Family? Sundial Family has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for families with young children and older users alike. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.04 — 2026-07-31 We've added a lifetime option, so you can unlock Gentle with a single payment — no subscription, nothing to renew. This update also includes bug fixes and refinements for a smoother experience. ### 3.03 — 2026-07-10 We've made the Live Activity timer more dependable, so limits begin and end right when they should. We also improved family pairing to keep parent and child devices reliably in sync. ### 3.02 — 2026-06-12 We've refined the setup experience so getting started with Gentle flows more naturally, and polished a few details in the family view along the way. ### 3.01 — 2026-06-07 Meet Gentle — a fresh new look and name for the same calm approach to screen time, built around a soft rhythm of sessions and rests rather than hard limits. This update also includes performance improvements and bug fixes for a smoother experience. ### 2.04 — 2026-05-20 Smoother onboarding and clearer family details so setup is faster and your family is easier to manage. ## Apps similar to Gentle Screen Time | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Doomscroll Totem](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doomscroll-totem/id6756709833) | — | Free | Productivity | | [ReadBlock: Read to Unlock Apps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readblock-read-to-unlock-apps/id6756010634) | — | Free | Productivity | | [App Blocker for Dopamine Detox](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-blocker-for-dopamine-detox/id6749894548) | — | Free | Productivity | | [SelfBlock: Screen Time Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/selfblock-screen-time-blocker/id6757798472) | — | Free | Productivity | | [ScrollLess: App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrollless-app-blocker/id6757498554) | — | Free | Productivity | | [Limit screen time, apps locker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/limit-screen-time-apps-locker/id6761118244) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Productivity | ## More apps by Joseph Casey - [BotgroveBay](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/botgrovebay/id6451367734) - [Sundial Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sundial-browser/id6747538509) - [Better Reps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/better-reps/id6749870012) - [Anti Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anti-browser/id6755543515) - [Pounce Play: Cat Enrichment](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pounce-play-cat-enrichment/id6783077389) All apps by Joseph Casey: https://appshunter.io/developer/1697783959 --- *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.*