# ScrollTax: Earn Screen Time — Stop Doomscrolling. Lock Apps. > Earn screen time by completing real-world tasks; otherwise, apps remain locked. (iPhone/iPad app by Marasy Phi.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrolltax-earn-screen-time/id6759911385 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Marasy Phi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1732358181) - Category: Productivity, Lifestyle - Price: Free - Rating: 4.80/5 from 4 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.0 · 13 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-03-26 - Data updated: 2026-08-11 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrolltax-earn-screen-time/id6759911385/reviews.md ## What is ScrollTax? What if doomscrolling had a price? ScrollTax locks your most addictive apps. Earn them back by reading, focusing, doing chores, walking, or going outside. The system enforces it. Every 5 minutes of screen time costs 1 tax point. Hit zero and your apps re-lock automatically. Go over budget and the overage becomes debt — it carries into tomorrow, so you start the next day already in the red until you work it off. Your phone, on a budget. HOW IT WORKS Pick your apps. Select any apps to put on a budget using the iOS Screen Time picker. Social media, games, news, browsers — they're locked by default. Earn tax points. · Reading — 10 min = 1 point. No cap. · Focus (Pomodoro) — 15 min = 1 point. No cap. · Chores — 10 min = 1 point. No cap. · Steps — 2,000 steps = 1 point. Syncs with Apple Health. · Sunlight — 15 min outside = 1 point. Requires Apple Watch. Spend your budget. 1 point = 5 minutes of screen time. Tracked automatically in the background. Hit zero and your apps re-lock on their own. You also get 30 free grace minutes every day. Go into debt. Spend more than you earn? The overage carries to tomorrow. You'll start the next day already in the red — the only way out is earning your way back. THE LOCK IS REAL ScrollTax uses Apple's own Screen Time enforcement. There's no dismiss button, no three-tap override. If you want Instagram, you have to earn it. Yes, that means walking 2,000 steps. YOUR DATA STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE ScrollTax never sees which apps you open or what you view. No account. No cloud. No ads. · Lock any app via iOS Screen Time · All five earn sources: reading, focus, chores, steps, sunlight · 30 grace minutes per day · 1 emergency unlock per day (5 minutes) · Debt carryover — overage rolls to tomorrow · Live Activities — earn timer on your Lock Screen · Hard mode — disable the emergency unlock ScrollTax. Your phone, on a budget. Legal: EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://scrolltax.hipporasy.dev/privacy Terms: https://scrolltax.hipporasy.dev/terms ## Key features - Lock addictive apps - Earn screen time via reading, focus, chores, steps, sunlight - Debt carryover for overspending - 30 daily grace minutes - Emergency unlock feature - Live Activities on Lock Screen ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrolltax-earn-screen-time/id6759911385/reviews.md ### 4/5 — So far good! And free! *2026-05-23* I like it so far! Only thing is, I don’t use Apple Watch and I want to track my workout time, Sun, and meditation but I can’t without a watch? I just want to add the time or have a counter like the chore tracker. But mostly this is one of the only free app blockers! So thank you! **Developer response:** Hi Brooke, an Apple Watch isn’t required to do that! You should be able to do it manually via the Health app. And for workouts, you should be able to use the Fitness app as a tracker. E.g. For Sunlight, go to Health App search for Time In Daylight press + ## Frequently asked questions about ScrollTax ### How does ScrollTax work to limit screen time? ScrollTax locks your selected apps, requiring you to earn 'tax points' through activities like reading, focusing, or exercise to regain access. Each point grants 5 minutes of screen time. ### What happens if I go over my screen time budget with ScrollTax? If you spend more screen time than you earn, the overage becomes debt that carries over to the next day. You'll start the following day already in the red until you earn enough to clear it. ### Can I unlock apps immediately if I need to with ScrollTax? Yes, ScrollTax offers one emergency unlock per day, providing 5 minutes of screen time. There is also a 'hard mode' option to disable this emergency unlock for stricter control. ### Does ScrollTax have ads? No, ScrollTax is ad-free. The app emphasizes user privacy by stating that your data stays on your device and it does not contain advertisements. ### What earning methods does ScrollTax offer? ScrollTax offers five ways to earn screen time: reading (10 min = 1 point), focus sessions (15 min = 1 point), chores (10 min = 1 point), steps (2,000 steps = 1 point), and sunlight/outdoor time (15 min = 1 point). ### Is ScrollTax available on all devices? Based on the provided data, ScrollTax is currently supported on iPhone. It utilizes iOS Screen Time enforcement for its locking mechanism. ### How often is ScrollTax updated? The latest version of ScrollTax is 1.0.14, and it was last updated on June 22, 2026. This indicates a relatively recent update for the application. ### What is the user rating for ScrollTax? ScrollTax has a high user rating of 4.7 stars, based on 3 ratings. This suggests a positive reception from its user base. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.0.15 — 2026-08-11 + Introduce Widget + Improve performance ### 1.0.14 — 2026-06-22 + Improve onboarding screen + Optimize performance ### 1.0.13 — 2026-06-13 - Optimise performance - Restructure Emergency workflow ### 1.0.12 — 2026-05-26 + Improve performance + Add tutorial screen for non-apple watch users ### 1.0.11 — 2026-05-14 + Lower deployment target to 18 + Improve performance + Update emergency unlock ## More apps by Marasy Phi - [EduTail: AI Tales & Stories](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/edutail-ai-tales-and-stories/id6478249621) - [MateUp: Surprise Beer Runs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mateup-surprise-beer-runs/id6478249718) - [Moodivation: Mood Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moodivation-mood-tracker/id6503701693) - [Quokka – Tiny smile ritual](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quokka-tiny-smile-ritual/id6738320982) - [Friendship Tracker - Pals](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friendship-tracker-pals/id6748558616) - [Text Dungeon: Roguelite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-dungeon-roguelite/id6759691960) All apps by Marasy Phi: https://appshunter.io/developer/1732358181 --- *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 2026-08-11.*