# Hurdle - Screen Time You Earn — Block apps with real tasks > Earn screen time by completing tasks before unlocking distracting apps. (iPhone/iPad app by Tyler Edwards.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hurdle-screen-time-you-earn/id6786851073 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Tyler Edwards](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786851075) - Category: Productivity - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 8 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-07-28 - Data updated: 2026-08-21 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hurdle-screen-time-you-earn/id6786851073/reviews.md ## What is Hurdle? Too often, I catch myself reaching for my phone the second I get bored. Standing in line at the store, waiting at the dentist’s office, even spending time with friends or family. Zero effort. One flick of the thumb and I can play a game, browse social media, and tune out the real world around me. The habit has become so automatic that I barely notice myself doing it anymore. “Why are you on your phone?” my wife will ask when it’s just the two of us. “I’m not,” I’ll say defensively, sometimes before I even realize that I pulled it out. Then I wonder why I felt the need to defend myself in the first place. I built Hurdle to interrupt that habit and create a healthier feedback loop by putting a little meaningful effort between the impulse and the reward. Hurdle requires you to do something meaningful before your distracting apps become available. You choose the hurdle. It might be finishing a to-do list, reaching a fitness goal, taking a short walk, or spending two minutes breathing. Effort comes first. Then the reward. A HEALTHIER LOOP WITH YOUR PHONE Distracting apps make it incredibly easy to go from impulse to reward. Open, scroll, repeat. There is nothing in between to make you stop and think about whether you actually want to be on your phone. Hurdle adds a small amount of effort before the reward. Before you can open the apps you selected, you have to do something real first. The goal is not to give up the apps you enjoy. It is to stop opening them without thinking and start using them within limits that work for you. HOW IT WORKS • You pick a task that you must complete before your apps unlock • Hurdle tracks your progress toward that goal • Once you complete it, your apps unlock for the amount of time you choose • When that time is up, your apps return behind a hurdle • Complete the task again or choose a new one Hurdle uses Apple’s Screen Time controls to shield only the apps you select. TASKS THAT FIT YOUR LIFE • Health goals: Reach a goal for steps, exercise minutes, or active calories. Your progress is read from the Health app with your permission. • Guided workouts: Complete a 10-minute workout with no equipment required. Finished workouts can be saved to the Health app. • Checklists: Make a list of what you need to get done, then finish it before you scroll. • NFC tags: Put any compatible NFC tag somewhere that makes you get up and move. Stick it on the fridge, leave it in another room, or put it by the door. Scan it when you want to unlock your apps. • Partner codes: Let someone you trust create a code that only they know. Your apps remain blocked until they enter it on your phone. • Mindful activities: Slow down with breathing exercises, cool-down timers, math puzzles, and more. Choose your apps. Choose your hurdle. Earn your screen time. ## Key features - Complete tasks before unlocking apps - Customizable hurdles (fitness, checklists, NFC, partner codes) - Integrates with Apple's Screen Time - Track progress towards goals - Mindful activities like breathing exercises - Set screen time limits after completing tasks ## Frequently asked questions about Hurdle ### How does Hurdle help me manage my screen time? Hurdle requires you to complete a chosen task, like a fitness goal or a checklist, before your selected distracting apps become available. This creates a deliberate pause, helping to break automatic phone usage habits. ### What types of tasks can I set as hurdles in Hurdle? You can set various tasks, including reaching fitness goals (steps, exercise minutes) via Health app integration, completing guided workouts, finishing to-do checklists, scanning NFC tags, or entering partner codes. Mindful activities like breathing exercises are also available. ### Does Hurdle work with Apple's Screen Time? Yes, Hurdle utilizes Apple's Screen Time controls to manage access to the specific apps you choose to shield. ### What devices does Hurdle support? Hurdle is available on iPhone and Apple Watch, allowing for flexible management of your screen time across devices. ### How often is Hurdle updated? Hurdle was last updated on July 28, 2026, with version 1.2.0. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support. ### What is the age rating for Hurdle? Hurdle has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users looking to improve their digital habits. ### Does Hurdle have ads? No, Hurdle does not contain advertisements, providing an uninterrupted user experience focused on productivity. ### What is the user sentiment for Hurdle based on ratings? Hurdle has received a perfect 5.0-star rating from its users, indicating a highly positive reception and satisfaction with its functionality. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 1.2.0 — 2026-07-28 No release notes. --- *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 2026-08-21.*