# minimalist phone ® Block Apps — user reviews > 244 indexed App Store user reviews of minimalist phone ® Block Apps by Hachi Media OÜ, rated 4.50/5 from 481 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-phone-block-apps/id6742103871/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-phone-block-apps/id6742103871.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 385 · 4★ 35 · 3★ 17 · 2★ 17 · 1★ 27 ## Newest reviews (17 of 244) ### 3/5 — Couldn’t setup *2026-09-05, version 1.6.5* Honestly couldn’t test it oit. Got blocked at setting ip home screen, without ability to go forward. Spent 15 min, and just deleted the app. I wish it was easier to use. ### 2/5 — Difficult to use *2026-09-04, version 1.6.5* My setup looks nothing like the adds. The setup instructions are not much help. Useless app. ### 3/5 — Helpful, but not perfect *2026-08-29, version 1.5.0* The home screen shortcuts did not always work for me. While the app helped, I think I can accomplish almost the same effect by just using gray scale. ### 2/5 — Like the app. Liquid Glass makes it look ugly *2026-08-28, version 1.6.5* I like the potential that this app has. The ad caught my eye based on the minimalist design. However, I have already updated to iOS 26 and the liquid glass feature makes the design look ugly. I understand that the developers have no control over this. However, I wish they would provide an update to come up with a better looking UI that incorporates liquid glass as best they can. Because the app is really ugly using the iOS 18 model. Their UI designers should find a decent solution that adjusts to Liquid Glass. ### 2/5 — Blocking FaceTime calls- rule not working *2026-08-28* It’s blocking all my FaceTime calls with an error saying that only saved contacts are allowed due to Screen Time restrictions. However, it’s blocking calls even from saved contacts, effectively preventing me from using FaceTime at all. ### 5/5 — Game Changing *2026-08-27, version 1.5.0* My phone time went from almost 5 hours a day to less than 2!!! ### 5/5 — Pure calm *2026-08-27, version 1.5.0* It helps you since you set it up. The time limiting features lets you at the begging to note that the phone usage was triggered by boredom, by a very hidden anxiety to do things, to check twice or three times. Specially on Instagram where you can literally can get lost for hours. After following the plan I could noticed how my 6.5 hours tha phone reduced to barely a 1.5 hour. It works by restoring your self discipline ### 5/5 — Installed minimalist phone and it already feels like I have more energy *2026-08-27, version 1.6.5* Works ### 5/5 — The answer! *2026-08-23, version 1.5.0* I love this app! Finally a solution to help keep my app usage down to only what’s a priority. It helps me be more mindful. My favorite feature is the ability to completely block an app before bed and right after waking up. This has finally helped me reduce my anxiety and help me sleep. I used to have insomnia. ### 5/5 — Very helpful *2026-08-23, version 1.5.0* Once you spend time on the initial set up and then review it. I can see it increasing my productivity by 5 fold. ### 5/5 — Works! *2026-08-22, version 1.5.0* Have only been using for a week, but my social media time has gone from ~4-6 hours a day to under 1 hour. My total screen time is down 40%. The biggest help is setting it to block the apps for you during culprit scrolling hours. I set mine to block social media in the morning and night to keep me from doom scrolling in bed. It takes a little time to get it set up, but once it’s all said and done you’re left with a pretty and minimal phone interface. ### 5/5 — I hate that it works so well *2026-08-22, version 1.5.0* It works incredibly well. I’m too lazy to change anything or uninstall the app. I don’t find a way around it, I just accept my fate that I assigned myself to. I tried other ways to spend time on my phone, so I organized my emails instead of doomscrolling. What kind of person am I anymore? ### 5/5 — Something really worked *2026-08-21* I love the way minimalist play like a teacher 🤪 **Developer response:** Hi! Thank you very much for your support and your review! We highly appreciate it. Feel free to recommend minimalist phone to your friends and don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions. Best regards, minimalist phone - the app for focus and productivity ### 4/5 — Encouraging *2026-08-20* This app really helped me become conscious of how much time I was spending on apps. And break out of the doomscrolling cycle. Would recommend! I wish, however, that they had a freemium with lesser features **Developer response:** Hi! Thank you for your valuable feedback and review. We highly appreciate this. Your input is crucial as we gather insights for future developments and features. If you have any questions or further thoughts, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@care.minimalistphone.com. Your minimalist phone team! ### 5/5 — It’s helpful for sure *2026-08-20, version 1.5.0* I like that I can lock apps down for long periods of time without being able to unlock them. It’s rough but my screen time is down and that’s what matters ### 3/5 — Seems cool but needs work *2026-08-18, version 1.5.0* I wish the setup was easier. I can’t make it past the first step. The instructions aren’t clear and it won’t allow me to proceed. Can’t find instructions online either. Just not worth the effort for me. ### 5/5 — Dare I say life changing? *2026-08-18, version 1.5.0* So far, so good. My social media consumption and time spent doomscrolling has practically been eliminated. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Addiction *2026-09-03, version 1.6.5* Still i am able to break the barrier towards addiction ### 1/5 — Honestly just seems like you’re paying a lot of money for some widgets. *2026-09-03, version 1.6.5* I used to have this app on Android, and I paid for the full lifetime version. It worked great. When I moved over to iPhone, I was bummed they didn’t have this app. When I heard they did after 2 years, I jumped on it. However, after inquiring about whether I could transfer my lifetime membership from Android to Apple, I got no response, which speaks to their customer service being non-responsive at best and complacent at worst. As for the actual functionality of the app, YOU have to do all the things yourself. YOU basically turn your iPhone into a “Great Value” version of the Minimalist Phone app, and the app gives you a step-by-step guide on how to change all your phone settings to make it mimic the originally intended version of the app (hopefully you remember all the settings you changed!). I assume this is because Apple doesn’t play nice with this app. Alas. Anyways, what Minimalist Phone actually provides (that you might not have had before) are simple widgets that allow you to put your apps in list form (and not the default picture form). That’s it. You’re paying $20 a year on up for a list-widget. Everything else you can do yourself via changing settings on your phone, or using the ReFocus app. For all these reasons, I am not happy and regret paying an additional $20 for my first year despite having a lifetime subscription. ### 1/5 — So complicated *2026-08-18, version 1.5.0* Took me ages to set up and even now it’s still not properly done. Basically you just take your phone and change all the settings so it’s black and delete off the apps and I think you are about there. ### 1/5 — This is such a scam are you serious?? *2026-08-15, version 1.5.0* I always thought this was an entire new phone UI. It's... A widget. Just a widget. And that horrible bar at the bottom with apps is still there ### 1/5 — Glitch *2026-08-14, version 1.5.0* Can’t get past the share screen time page to even set up. ### 1/5 — Didn’t work *2026-08-12, version 1.5.0* Doesn’t do what it is advertised as doing. I bought it for its advertised ability to hide distracting apps behind a minimalistic front/home screen unless I overrode it when needed. Instead, I had to go into the app and set timers for when I couldn’t see the apps and it wouldn’t let me override that until I went into the app on my home screen and selected a length of time, which didn’t work several times and delayed me when trying to do critical work. That meant that the apps weren’t hidden to avoid temptation (as advertised) and the home screen didn’t look minimalistic (as in your name) and the override functionality (as advertised) failed. Please refund my money. ### 1/5 — How to disable *2026-08-06, version 1.5.0* Go to settings>apps>disable screen time. Now it's useless. Tried to reach out to the developer but they can't do anything about it. ### 1/5 — Not happy with the product. It didn’t work well for the iPhone. Uninstalled. *2026-08-05* The UI is completely different from what I expected. Found it difficult to install and use it. **Developer response:** Hi! Thank you for your valuable feedback and suggestions. Your input is crucial as we gather insights for future developments and features. While we understand that the initial setup is a bit more tedious due to iOS not support launchers, it is well worth it. What's more is that it is only a one-time thing which is going to help you save a significant amount of time once its there. If you have any questions or further thoughts, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@care.minimalistphone.com. Your minimalist phone team! ### 1/5 — Beware *2026-08-04, version 1.5.0* Love the idea of this app. Loved it enough to subscribe to a seven day 'free' trail, and was instantly charged $27.99. Not sure how we got here. Take care though. ### 1/5 — Not what it looks like *2026-08-01, version 1.5.0* First off the app and setup look nothing like what’s advertised in all their pics. Second, you have to go through a messy list of settings adjustments that are easily forgotten after doing it. Third, after deleting the app I had issues with getting settings back to what they should be and something continued to interfere with an app that required Bluetooth connection. After a full restore of a previous backup (thank goodness I had a recent one) everything is fixed. I don’t recommend this at all. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — So worth it *2026-09-07, version 1.7.3* Comes with this sick minimalistic look as well as blocking apps too, I really needed this thanks guys 🙌 ### 5/5 — I hate this app - Never deleting it *2026-09-06, version 1.6.5* 1 month in and my screen time report just came in at < 3 hrs (i still work from my phone) instead of the usual 8-12+. This app makes it so annoying to access the apps you blocked that eventually, you don’t bother. I used to override my settings for this, but the minimalist app also makes you rethink that. I hate it and I love it. ### 5/5 — Amazing app *2026-09-05, version 1.5.0* Definitely made me more productive and conscious about my time. ### 5/5 — Relief from doomscrolling!! *2026-09-05, version 1.5.0* This was the only app I have found that is really kept me from doom scrolling on social media and I’m really able to keep it to short intervals. It really helps by not allowing me to use it at night or first thing in the morning according to my settings. I’ve recommended it to all my friends and family. ### 5/5 — This app is good! *2026-09-03, version 1.6.5* Does what it’s designed to do. ### 5/5 — Game changer *2026-09-02, version 1.6.5* I’d been thinking about buying a Non-Smart phone to break my doom scroll habit….this has done it instead. £5 a month is a small price to pay for getting my time back. Love it!!! ### 5/5 — Screen time down 27% in a week! *2026-09-01, version 1.6.5* Frustrating at times because it’s trying to stop my quick fix of social media and entertainment apps but knowing that’s it’s for my own good and helping with the digital detox steps is making the frustration worth it. The app launch delay feature has really helped me switch away from apps that I don’t really have to use at that time but was just opening as a habit. Highly recommended app ### 5/5 — Conscious Scrolling *2026-08-29, version 1.5.0* I like that I consciously choose to browse. It doesn’t mean I don’t do it. It just means I do it consciously. Love the app. ### 5/5 — Just what I needed *2026-08-28, version 1.5.0* I noticed I was becoming more attached to my phone as a relief for stress but it kept my body in a pattern of reactivity. The app provides ways to turn a smart phone into something you don’t crave as much. It took me a few days of frustration and then I started realizing how much free time I have now that I’m off the phone more! I have awareness now of why I reach for the phone and it’s sobering to realize that often it’s for comfort. I am grateful for this app guiding me back to present living! ### 5/5 — It’s pretty cool *2026-08-28, version 1.5.0* It’s not like I’ve cut down a ton, but even 30 percent is incredible. I’ll keep working on it. --- *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 2026-09-13.*