# shells screen time controls — Master your screen time, fully

> Master your screen time, fully (iPhone/iPad app by Andi Yao.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-screen-time-controls/id6760968999 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Andi Yao](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887084939)
- Category: Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 99 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-05-21
- Data updated: 2026-10-25

## What is shells screen time controls?

Take some of your hours back. Shells shows you where your phone time really goes, then helps you use it a little less. It gives you the whole range, from a gentle nudge to a short pause to a firm block, so you can start gentle and only go firmer for the apps that keep pulling you in.

LIGHT: GENTLE NUDGES, NOTHING BLOCKED
• Soft Nudges: a Volume Warning at 90% of your daily goal, Usage Milestones as your day adds up, a Daily Check-in Reminder for your streak, and Reach Alerts when you keep reaching for a paused or blocked app.

MEDIUM: A SHORT PAUSE BEFORE AN APP OPENS
• Mindful Pauses (iOS 26 or later): a Shortcuts automation brings up a calm 15 second breath when you open a chosen app, then you pick how long you'd like it for. Its notifications still come through.
• Mindful Pauses + No Notifications: the Screen Time version. The app stays behind a shield between pauses, which can also keep its notifications out of the way.
• Exercise Unlock: a few squats or a plank first, counted on your iPhone by the camera.
• Steps Unlock: a short walk first.
• Quick Session: an optional 20 second pass for a quick reply.

STRICT: APPS STAY CLOSED WHEN YOU NEED THEM TO
• Morning Block: keep your phone down first thing, apart from the essentials you pick.
• App Limits: a daily allowance. Once it's used up, the app stays blocked until tomorrow, with 5 minutes of Emergency access if you really need it.
• Scheduled Blocks: close apps at set times, like 9 to 5 on weekdays.
• Location Blocks: block apps at the places you choose, or allow them only there.
• NFC Locks: apps stay locked until you tap your own NFC sticker.

AND A FEW EXTRAS
• Holiday Mode: pause or relax any control while you're away. Everything switches back on by itself after the last day you pick.
• Focus Sessions: block apps for a set time, with a Lock Screen countdown.
• Calm browsing: open Instagram, YouTube, X, TikTok, Facebook and Reddit inside Shells with the parts you choose hidden, like the feed, Reels or Shorts.
• Widgets: time left today, trends, the apps you choose, and one-tap Focus Sessions.

SEE YOUR DAY CLEARLY
• Three rings for productivity, screen time and a daily health score.
• An hour by hour chart, pickups, a 30-day heatmap and a closer look at any app.
• If you like, a timeline of the places where you use your phone most.

YOUR DATA
Your screen time, places and location history stay on your iPhone. What goes online: your optional Sign in with Apple account, referrals and feedback (Supabase), Pro status (RevenueCat), and product analytics with a device ID and your account ID (Statsig), never your screen time or location. Turn on iCloud backup and your settings, check-in notes, places and recent location history go to your own iCloud. We never sell your data.

SHELLS AND PRO
Each app you pause, each limit or block, each NFC Lock group and each Calm browsing site uses a Shell. Everyone starts with 1, and inviting friends earns up to 2 more. A free account adds basic Insights. Shells Pro gives you unlimited Shells, so every control runs at once, plus every Insights card. Widgets and Holiday Mode are free, and every control works on the free plan using your Shells.

Pro comes as Monthly, Annual or Lifetime (one-time purchase). Annual and Lifetime have launch pricing, and new Monthly and Annual subscribers get a 1-month free trial (eligibility applies), until 31 December 2026 unless changed or extended. Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends; manage them in your App Store account settings.

WHAT YOU NEED
iOS 18 or later, Screen Time access and notifications (the Screen Time pause opens from a notification). Mindful Pauses via Shortcuts need iOS 26 or later. Location, Motion, Camera and NFC are optional.

Privacy Policy: https://consciousscreentime.netlify.app/privacy.html
Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Is shells screen time controls safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess shells screen time controls.

## Is shells screen time controls legit?

shells screen time controls has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for shells screen time controls is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.


## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4 — 2026-10-21

Conscious is now called Shells. Same app, and everything you set up stays just as it was.

• New Mindful Pauses (iOS 26 or later): a Shortcuts automation brings up your pause the moment you open a chosen app, and its notifications still come through. The Screen Time pause is now called Mindful Pauses + No Notifications.
• Routine Blocks are now called Scheduled Blocks.
• Holiday Mode can now pause or relax any control, including Exercise Unlock, Steps Unlock, Morning Block and NFC Locks. Pick your last day, and everything comes back on by itself at midnight.
• NFC Locks now use one Shell per group, however many apps it holds.
• Volume Warning and Reach Alerts (once Pickup Alerts) have been reworked: a heads-up at 90% of your daily goal, and a gentle note when you keep reaching for a paused or blocked app.
• New widgets: Usage Trends, One App and Four Apps.
• A new Before bed card in Pro Insights shows the apps you reach for before sleep.
• Places & Location History in Settings lets you forget a place or erase your history, and every delete now asks first.
• A used-up App Limit now stays blocked until midnight.
• You stay signed in when you're offline.
• Bug fixes and smoother performance.

### 1.3 — 2026-10-01

Conscious 1.3 is here.

• The shield now shows how many times you've opened an app today, so you can spot your patterns as they happen.
• Fairer streaks. A day under your goal counts once the day is done, and check-ins still count right away.
• Cleaner, calmer buttons across the app.
• A simpler way to go Pro. Everything is on one screen now, and you can pick Monthly, Annual, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. Annual and Lifetime have launch pricing until 31 December 2026.
• Bug fixes and smoother performance.

### 1.2 — 2026-07-08

New:

- Holiday Mode (Pro): relax your controls while away, then have them switch back on automatically at an end date you set.
- Morning Block: keep your phone down first thing, block everything or just the apps you choose during a morning window.
- Refer a friend: share your code, both of you get a free Shell (up to 3 friends).
- Day Breakdown and Explore an App: new Insights views showing your week hour by hour and deep dives on any app.
- A new card shows the order your controls kick in and which ones are active right now.

Improved:

Removing an active app limit now asks you to pause and confirm first.
- Setting up a Location Block walks you through it step by step.
- Onboarding is faster with work hours and sleep window on one screen.
- Daily screen time totals now match iPhone Settings.
- Fixed an iCloud backup bug and a stale notification bug.
- General speed and reliability improvements.

### 1.1 — 2026-06-14

• Location Blocks: automatically block distracting apps at places like work, the gym, or your bedroom.
• Streaks: keep a daily streak going every time you hit your goal.
• Bypass - Live Activity: a Lock Screen countdown when you take extra time past a block.
• iCloud backup: your goals and settings now follow you to a new device.
Plus redesigned Today and Insights screens, clearer Controls, a smoother onboarding flow, faster launch, and stability fixes.

### 1.0 — 2026-05-21

No release notes.

## Apps similar to shells screen time controls

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [ScreenBrake: Pause & Focus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screenbrake-pause-and-focus/id6764368228) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Keelder: Screen Time Limit](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keelder-screen-time-limit/id6775031321) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Offscroll: Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/offscroll-screen-time-control/id6785019375) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Tempo: Screen Time Guard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-screen-time-guard/id6774021443) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Productivity |
| [JustWait - Before You Scroll](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/justwait-before-you-scroll/id6758308501) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Spinbrek: Cute App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spinbrek-cute-app-blocker/id6781065557) | 4.3 (3) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Andi Yao

- [SayLens: Language Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saylens-language-camera/id6821531032)

All apps by Andi Yao: https://appshunter.io/developer/1887084939

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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 2026-10-25.*