# Sanctum: Screen Time Control — Focus, App Blocker, Sleep

> Unbreakable screen time blocker with scheduled limits and reflective early exit. (iPhone/iPad app by Clovinyx.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sanctum-screen-time-control/id6796927209 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Clovinyx](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896467775)
- Category: Productivity, Health & Fitness
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.4 · 130 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-08-07
- Data updated: 2026-09-30
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sanctum-screen-time-control/id6796927209/reviews.md

## What is Sanctum?

Two months. That's what four hours of screen time a day costs you every year. Sanctum takes it back. Start a session and your phone locks. No pause. No snooze. No "five more minutes." There is no button that lets you back in.

Most app blockers leave an easy back door. A skip. An "extra time" unlock. So the scroll always wins, because it always can, in one tap. Sanctum has no free exit. Leaving early takes a short mindful practice first. Weakness is never one tap away.

WHY THE COMMITMENT MATTERS

Willpower fails when you need it most. Cutting screen time is a decision your phone makes you re-take every minute. Sanctum moves the choice to before the session, then holds the line.

HOW IT WORKS

Choose a duration. Press start. Sanctum will block apps system-wide until the timer runs out. Leaving early means completing a short reflection first, and by then the urge has usually passed. No categories, no decisions once you begin. Need one app for a few minutes? Take a break: it opens, the timer runs, and the app blocker comes back on its own. It is the simplest way to block apps you will ever use.

BLOCK APPS ON AUTOPILOT

Beyond one-off sessions, Sanctum can block apps and cut screen time on its own:

- Schedules. Block apps automatically on the days and hours you choose. Work mornings, study blocks, sleep.
- Daily App Limits. Set app limits that cap screen time on the apps you pick. Shared budget or one each. When the time runs out, they close until midnight.

SOCIAL MEDIA SCREEN TIME, HANDLED

Social media is engineered to beat your willpower. Block social media for a session, put social media behind daily app limits, and your screen time falls without a fight.

BUILD BETTER PHONE HABITS

Every session and every urge resisted scores five traits: Stillness, Discipline, Restraint, Grounding and Breath. Watch them rise as your screen time falls.

WHEN AN URGE HITS

Reach for a blocked app and Sanctum meets you with a moment, not a wall: a short practice. Sit in stillness, breathe it out, walk it off, or write the urge down and watch it burn. By the time it is done the pull is usually gone, and the stress with it.

YOU'RE NEVER TRAPPED

Calls, the camera and the essential system apps iOS protects keep working, so you can reach someone anytime. Sanctum adds friction to a habit, never a lock on your life.

BEAUTIFUL LIVING THEMES

Sanctum is built to be experienced. New immersive scenes every week, each one transporting you into a living natural world, with a large ambient clock that helps calm the mind. During a screen time session your phone becomes a beautiful desk clock, not a thing to escape.

WHO IT'S FOR

- Anyone whose focus is stolen by social media and doomscrolling
- ADHD and executive-function struggles, where "just put it down" never works
- Anyone whose screen time keeps climbing no matter which app blocker they try

PRIVATE BY DESIGN

Offline-first. No account, no sign-up, no cloud. Sanctum is built on Apple's own Screen Time framework, and your screen time data never leaves your device.

FEATURES
- Uncompromising system-wide screen time blocker. No pause, no snooze, no one-tap exit
- Block apps for a session, on a schedule, or behind daily app limits
- Hard Mode: the strictest app blocker setting, no breaks until the timer ends
- Timed breaks: one app opens for a few minutes, then the block returns by itself
- Block social media on the days and hours you set
- Cap screen time per app with shared or individual app limits
- Streaks, medals and five traits that track your progress
- Live Activity: your countdown and your break, right on your Lock Screen

Sanctum is the screen time app for people done negotiating. Block apps, set daily app limits, tame social media, and watch your screen time finally drop.

Not just an app blocker. Your sanctuary from your screen.

Learn more at https://sanctum.clovinyx.io

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

## Key features

- Unbreakable session lock
- Scheduled blocking
- Daily app limits
- Reflective early exit practice
- Immersive themes
- Zero configuration

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sanctum Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Sanctum Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Sanctum Pro Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sanctum Pro Lifetime | $179.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sanctum-screen-time-control/id6796927209/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Finally there’s an app that helped me stop doom scrolling and be more productive in life!!!

*2026-08-09*

My screen time was 6h20m a day. It’s down to about 2h40m now, and most of that is maps and music.
I work hybrid, so my phone sits right next to my laptop all day. Instagram and TikTok used to win that fight every single time. What made this one stick is that there’s no way out mid-session. No pause, no snooze, no “five more minutes.” You set the timer and that’s the deal. If you genuinely need out early, you have to sit through a short exercise first, and by the time that’s done, the urge has passed and I just put the phone down.
The schedules do most of the work now. 9 to 12 is blocked on office days, so I finish real work before lunch. 7 to 9 is blocked at home, so evenings go to my family instead of a feed. Reels and X have a daily cap, so they shut themselves off.
During emergencies, the important apps for communication still works!
It also doesn’t guilt you with minutes. It tracks stillness, restraint, discipline, grounding and breath. Watching restraint climb felt like actual progress.
More exercise screens would be nice to see in future enhancements. But for a doom scroller like me, this one works great.

### 5/5 — Best focus & screen time app for real. Themes 😍

*2026-08-09*

I've deleted about five focus apps before this one, because every single one had a skip button. I'd tap it and be back on Reels in a second. Sanctum has no skip. Pick a duration, press start, and that's it. No pause, no snooze.

I still get the urge. That part hasn't gone away, and I still reach for the phone without thinking. But instead of the app opening, Sanctum shows a block screen that makes you stop and do one short thing first. Most times, by the end of it, I don't want to open the app anymore.

The part I didn't expect to like is that Sanctum doesn't count minutes. It tracks five things: stillness, restraint, discipline, grounding and breath. So instead of feeling bad about my screen time, I can see restraint going up, because I wanted the phone and didn't grab it. That framing worked on me.

The themes are beautiful too. They move, and the whole app changes colour with them, so the phone just sits there looking like a nice clock.

I'd like more block screens, and the lifetime price feels steep. Everything else is solid. Three weeks with Sanctum and still using it.

### 5/5 — Finally, an app that actually helps me focus

*2026-08-08*

I’ve been using this app to cut down on my screen time, and honestly, it has made a bigger difference than I expected. My biggest problem wasn’t really knowing that I was spending too much time on my phone — it was actually stopping myself once I started scrolling.

What I like about this app is that it takes that decision out of my hands. I can block the apps and websites that usually distract me for a set amount of time, especially when I’m working. Once the focus session starts, all those unnecessary distractions are simply unavailable, which makes it much easier to stay focused on what I actually need to get done.

The best part is that I don’t have to constantly fight the temptation to check Instagram, YouTube, or other distracting apps. After a few minutes, I just get into the work instead of thinking about what I might be missing on my phone.

It’s simple, practical, and actually helps build better habits. If you’re someone who keeps picking up your phone while working and then wondering where the last hour went, I’d definitely recommend giving this app a try. It has genuinely helped me get more focused work done and spend less time mindlessly staring at my screen.

## Frequently asked questions about Sanctum

### Does Sanctum have ads?

No, Sanctum is ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted focus experience.

### What are the subscription options for Sanctum Pro?

Sanctum Pro offers weekly ($4.99/P7D), monthly ($9.99/P1M), and yearly ($59.99/P1Y) subscription plans for enhanced features.

### What is the age rating for Sanctum?

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

### On which devices can I use Sanctum?

Sanctum is available on iPhone and iPad devices.

### How often is Sanctum updated?

Sanctum was last updated on August 7, 2026, with version 0.1.0, indicating recent development activity.

### What happens if I need to exit a Sanctum session early?

If you need to exit a session early, Sanctum requires you to complete a short reflection practice. This adds friction to prevent impulsive exits and helps the urge pass.

### Does Sanctum allow lists or categories for blocking?

No, Sanctum focuses on simplicity with zero configuration. It does not offer categories or allowlists, ensuring no decisions are needed once a session begins.

### What user sentiment is available for Sanctum?

Sanctum has a perfect rating of 5.0 stars from 1 rating, suggesting highly positive initial user feedback.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 0.1.7 — 2026-09-24

Sanctum is the screen time blocker with no way out. Lock your phone, block apps and social media, and build better phone habits.

What's new in this version:

A CALMER SANCTUM
- Dozens of refinements and fixes, so every moment away from your screen feels a little calmer.
- Thank you for choosing to focus with us.

### 0.1.6 — 2026-09-22

Sanctum is the screen time blocker with no way out. Lock your phone, block apps and social media, and build better phone habits.

What's new in this version:

TAKE A BREAK, THEN THE BLOCK COMES BACK
- Need one app for a few minutes? Tap Take a break on the block screen, do a short practice, and that one app opens. When the time is up, the block returns on its own. Nothing else unlocks.
- Choose how long the break runs, from 1 to 15 minutes.

HARD MODE
- Challenge yourself with Hard Mode: no breaks until the timer ends. The block screen says so, so you never wonder.

PICK YOUR APPS ONCE
- One app list everywhere. Add apps to a schedule, a daily limit, your distractions or your always-allowed list from the same place, and see what is already picked.

NEVER LEFT GUESSING
- If Screen Time access is switched off, Sanctum tells you plainly instead of pretending to block. Turn it back on and every rule picks up where it left off.

ALSO
- Your first medal card now shows your scene, your medal and your stats in one place.
- The block screen's buttons are readable on every scene.
- Plus dozens of refinements and fixes.

### 0.1.5 — 2026-09-03

Introducing Practice Rooms: Build better habits through short practices.
Free One App: Release a single app from a block. Everything else stays locked.
Guided First Run: Learn Shields, blocks and limits in five taps.
Plus smoother scenes and dozens of fixes.

### 0.1.4 — 2026-08-30

Enjoy breathtaking new Themes and Scenes every week
Hard Mode — no breaks, challenge yourself to focus better away from screen
A brand-new welcome, start ritual, and finish card
Get a heads-up before a limit or schedule kicks in
Dozens of refinements under the hood

### 0.1.3 — 2026-08-18

Redesigned app
Enjoy breathtaking HD videos during your sessions
Schedules, App blocks, new Shield page
Major bug fixes and performance improvements

## Apps similar to Sanctum

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Snoozezilla](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snoozezilla/id6782599935) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Productivity |
| [Activity Tracker: Assistance](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activity-tracker-assistance/id6504491731) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Brio: Focus & App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brio-focus-and-app-blocker/id6762135094) | 5.0 (6) | Free | Productivity |
| [BreakOff: App Blocker & Focus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/breakoff-app-blocker-and-focus/id6751491331) | 5.0 (7) | Free | Productivity |
| [FaithLock: Pray First](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/faithlock-pray-first/id6786329834) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Downtime: Focus App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downtime-focus-app-blocker/id6760601177) | 4.5 (2) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Clovinyx

- [TermBridge – Remote Terminal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/termbridge-remote-terminal/id6773551424)

All apps by Clovinyx: https://appshunter.io/developer/1896467775

---

*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 2026-09-30.*