# Instead - Things To Do — Beat the urge to scroll

> Menu of real-life activities to replace phone scrolling. (iPhone/iPad app by Sarthak Jain.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instead-things-to-do/id6774246848 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Sarthak Jain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1868060371)
- Category: Lifestyle, Health & Fitness
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 2.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.4 · 65 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-06-10
- Data updated: 2026-09-07
- Monetization: subscription
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instead-things-to-do/id6774246848/reviews.md

## What is Instead?

Instead is a menu of things you'd rather do than scroll.

You never decide to lose an hour to your phone — it just happens. Instead fixes the
moment right before that. When the urge to scroll hits, it hands you one small,
real-life thing to do instead, sized to the time and energy you actually have.

Think of it like a restaurant menu for your free minutes:

• Starters (1–5 min) — easy wins: step outside, splash cold water, three slow breaths
• Mains (10–30 min) — the good stuff: a real walk, ten pages of a book, make the call
• Desserts — quick joy, not junk: one loud song, pet an animal, watch the sky

Instead requires a paid subscription to unlock its content. New users get a 3-day free trial, after which the subscription auto-renews unless cancelled.

WHY IT WORKS
When the urge to scroll hits, you don't make good decisions. So you decide now,
while you're calm. You build your own menu in about two minutes, and Instead serves
it back to you exactly when you need it — no willpower required.

HOW IT WORKS
• Tell Instead your mood and how much time you have - it filters the menu to what
  fits this exact moment
• Tap "Surprise me" and let it choose for you
• Finish it, build a streak, and watch your screen-free habit grow
• Add, edit, and personalize your own activities anytime
• See your weekly stats and history

INSTEAD IS FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO
• Cut your screen time and stop doomscrolling
• Break a phone or social-media habit - without an app blocker nagging you
• Try a gentler digital detox or dopamine detox
• Be more present, mindful, and intentional with your downtime
• Find quick things to do instead of reaching for your phone

Instead isn't another screen-time blocker or app limit that just tells you "no." It
gives you a better "yes" - a personal, curated list of analog, offline, real-life
things that leave you feeling better than a feed ever could.

Instead offers an auto-renewable subscription: monthly and yearly
Includes a 3-day free trial for new subscribers.
Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription auto-renews unless cancelled before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple account settings.

Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- Personalized activity suggestions
- Time-based activity filtering
- Mood-based activity filtering
- Customizable activity menu
- Streak tracking
- Weekly statistics

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instead Premium Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Instead Premium Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instead-things-to-do/id6774246848/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Misguided

*2026-06-30*

I saw an add for this app on youtube, downloaded the whole thing and set it up, and then the final step was setting up to pay for it☹️ i did not expect an added cost to this app and it was a waste of time.

**Developer response:** Hey clairefriend, we appreciate your concern and would like to inform you that there is a free 3-day trial before any payment goes through. You can opt out from payment anytime before the end of the 3rd day. We are not trying to misguide anyone as this information is clearly mentioned inside the app before the payment setup, and we even send a reminder notification on the 2nd day.

Thank you for the feedback.

## Frequently asked questions about Instead

### What is Instead?

Instead is a lifestyle app that provides a menu of real-life activities to help users reduce screen time and break phone habits. It suggests small, engaging tasks based on mood and available time.

### How does Instead work?

Users tell Instead their mood and available time, and it filters a menu of activities to fit that moment. Users can also tap 'Surprise me' for a random suggestion.

### What are the subscription options for Instead?

Instead offers a monthly subscription for $6.99 and a yearly subscription for $39.99. Both plans include a 7-day free trial for new subscribers.

### Can I cancel my Instead subscription?

Yes, you can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your Apple account settings. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled before the end of the current period.

### Does Instead have ads?

No, Instead does not contain advertisements. It is a subscription-based application focused on providing an ad-free experience.

### What devices does Instead support?

Instead is currently supported on iPhone devices.

### What is the age rating for Instead?

Instead has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### How often is Instead updated?

The latest version of Instead is 1.0.3, and it was last updated on July 22, 2026. Updates typically occur to improve features and fix bugs.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.0.3 — 2026-07-22

Updated app onboarding and bug fixes

### 1.0.2 — 2026-06-24

Rebranded the app - changing the name, subtitle and logo slightly.

### 1.0.1 — 2026-06-13

Bug fixes and user session analytics for improving user experience.

### 1.0.0 — 2026-06-10

No release notes.

## More apps by Sarthak Jain

- [Conquest Leveling](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/conquest-leveling/id6757644068)
- [PistonPath: Learn Cars Daily](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pistonpath-learn-cars-daily/id6760578100)

All apps by Sarthak Jain: https://appshunter.io/developer/1868060371

## Related topics

[things breaking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/things-breaking)

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*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 2026-09-07.*