# Spool: Screen Time Control — App Blocker, Focus & Limit

> Screen time control app that requires justification before usage to break habit loops. (iPhone/iPad app by Prafull Sharma.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-screen-time-control/id6749428484 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Prafull Sharma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830399976)
- Category: Productivity, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 163 App Store ratings · 50 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 290 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-10-07
- Data updated: 2026-09-05
- Monetization: subscription
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-screen-time-control/id6749428484/reviews.md

## What is Spool?

Less scrolling, more living. Spool blocks doomscrolling, brainrot, and screen addiction at the source — by making you justify yourself before you scroll.

Most screen time blockers don't work because they treat phone addiction like a discipline problem. It's not. It's a habit loop your brain is stuck in — a dopamine cycle reinforced every time you reach for your phone without thinking.

Spool interrupts the cycle. Before any blocked app opens, you have to state your case to our AI. Use the same excuse too many times and Spool locks you out automatically. Built on cognitive behavioral techniques and behavioral research on attention and habit formation.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE SPOOL
- Understand your hidden triggers with daily AI insights
- Track your phone addiction patterns over time
- Discover when you reach for apps most (and why)
- Instant app and website blocking that actually works
- Schedule blocking windows for your weak hours
- Lock in during deep work with custom focus sessions
- Reflect on every excuse you've made and spot the loops
- CBT-inspired techniques to break the dopamine cycle
- Detox from doomscrolling, brainrot, and mindless scroll

WHO IT'S FOR
Spool is for anyone struggling with phone addiction, doomscrolling, or losing hours to TikTok, Instagram, Reels, YouTube Shorts, or X. Built for people who've tried Screen Time, willpower, and other app blockers — and want something that actually changes the habit, not just the limit.

WHAT MAKES SPOOL DIFFERENT
Other apps just block. Spool teaches you about yourself. Every excuse you make becomes data. Every reflection makes you more aware. Every blocked attempt strengthens the new habit.

Reclaim your focus. Build a more intentional relationship with your phone.

—————————————

Spool Full Access — Monthly
Length: 1 month, auto-renewing
Price: $7.99 USD / month

Spool Full Access — Yearly
Length: 1 year, auto-renewing
Price: $49.99 USD / year

Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your App Store account settings.

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

Privacy Policy: https://thespoolapp.com/#/privacy

## Key features

- Justify phone usage before scrolling
- AI-powered trigger insights
- Identify peak phone usage times
- Instant app and website blocking
- Reclaim focus and mental clarity

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access: Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Limited Time Offer | $34.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Full Access: Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Spool Features Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Full Access: Monthly | $7.99 | per month |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 50)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-screen-time-control/id6749428484/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Actually Helps Me Stay Focused

*2026-08-30*

Spool is honestly one of the best apps I’ve used for staying focused. It makes it super easy to block distracting apps when I need to study or get work done, and it actually helps me stay off my phone instead of constantly checking apps without realizing it. The app is simple, clean, and easy to use. If you struggle with distractions or procrastination, I definitely recommend giving Spool a try.

### 1/5 — Abzocke

*2026-08-22*

Erst beschäftigen sie dich eine Weile damit du dich comittet fühlst und dann musst für für die Basic Funktionen bezahlen. 
Oh wie toll ein „72% 
Rabatt“ von 40€ im Jahr auf 30€. Wer hat das den ausgerechnet

### 5/5 — AMAZING

*2026-08-13*

The app as the title says is amazing, it has all the features you’d want and truly helps with leaving your phone and not using it. I have used it for instagram and it has helped me focus during my studies. It’s great and I fully recommend it. Its very customizable and adapts to what your goal is.

**Developer response:** So glad to hear!!!! Thanks for giving us a shot and we appreciate your support. :)

### 5/5 — Helped doom scrolling

*2026-08-08*

Spool has been a solid tool to help reduce mindless scrolling I like that it lets you filter out reels and short term content so you not sucked into an endless feed

### 1/5 — Schlecht

*2026-08-02*

👎🏻

**Developer response:** Schade, dass Spool dir nicht gefallen hat. Wenn du uns kurz mitteilen möchtest, was nicht funktioniert hat oder was du dir anders gewünscht hättest, schreib uns gerne an team@thespoolapp.com. Wir helfen dir gerne weiter.

### 5/5 — Just what I was looking for

*2026-07-31*

This app worked exactly like I saw on Instagram, I was able to block reels from ig and my screentime literally went from 6 hours to 2 hours a day. I’m able to block as many apps as I need … I’ve really changed my relationship w my phone

### 5/5 — Never felt more alive

*2026-07-31*

I’ve been using this for a few weeks, and it’s made me much more aware of how often I reach for social media. The structure has helped me cut back on mindless scrolling

### 5/5 — Spool review

*2026-07-29*

Spool has been a game changer for me. I’ve gained so much time back and I am starting to get out of the habit of mindlessly opening my social medias throughout the day

### 5/5 — This app is so worth it!!!!!

*2026-07-29*

I have like the worst procrastination problem and I love just scrolling on my phone for hours but spool has def cut down my screen time and it’s made me so much more productive!! I really like that it’s timed and if you wanna scroll it’s a slight process to allow it (not impossible though and doesn’t take too much time) but it’s genuinely very worth it because it deters you!! 10/10 fr

### 1/5 — Waste of time and money save yourself the trouble

*2026-07-19*

Wasted my time, just for a hard paywall, app has same features as every other screen time app, plenty of better solutions both free and paid. 
Absolutely appalling app, I have tried several screentime apps and was drawn in by this apps supposed “unique solution” instead I noticed they have blatantly taken aspects from all the other apps. The onboarding was incredibly long, just repeating the same message again and again, it then showed a paywall with no way to bypass. When I clicked the x on the paywall, it then gives you an offer that has a discount that’s incorrect. This app purely tries to waste your time and make you feel invested so you buy. I would try any other screentime app, there are plenty of better ones both free and paid.

## Frequently asked questions about Spool

### What does Spool do?

Spool is a screen time control app designed to help you break free from compulsive phone usage. It prompts you to justify why you're reaching for your phone before you can scroll, disrupting habit loops and encouraging mindful usage.

### What are the key features of Spool?

Key features include requiring justification for phone usage, providing daily AI insights to understand hidden triggers, identifying when you reach for your phone the most, and offering instant blocking for apps and websites to help you reclaim focus.

### How much does Spool cost?

All features described for Spool require a subscription. The app operates on a subscription model for access to its full functionality.

### What is the main benefit of using Spool?

The primary benefit of using Spool is to help you regain control over your screen time by making you pause and reflect on your phone usage. This process can lead to improved focus, reduced distractions, and enhanced mental clarity.

### How does Spool help with screen time habits?

Spool addresses screen time not as a discipline issue, but as a habit loop. By forcing a moment of justification before scrolling, it weakens the craving at its source. Repeated use of the same excuse can lead to temporary lockouts, further reinforcing the habit-breaking process.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.25 — 2026-09-04

minor bug fixes

### 3.24 — 2026-09-03

Minor bug fixes.

### 3.23 — 2026-08-26

minor bug fixes & onboarding support

### 3.22 — 2026-08-25

Minor bug fixes and improvements.

### 3.21 — 2026-08-17

minor bug fixes + improvements

## Apps similar to Spool

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [SocialLite-Block Reels&Shorts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sociallite-block-reels-and-shorts/id6757661674) | 4.7 (6,045) | Free | Productivity |
| [Brainrot: Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainrot-screen-time-control/id6744338972) | 4.5 (20,771) | Free | Productivity |
| [Superhappy Screen Time Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/superhappy-screen-time-blocker/id6479611902) | 4.6 (280) | Free | Productivity |
| [No Scroll - Limit Screen Time](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/no-scroll-limit-screen-time/id6474079216) | 4.5 (678) | Free | Productivity |
| [Rewired: Screen Time Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rewired-screen-time-blocker/id6757408525) | 4.8 (1,349) | Free | Productivity |
| [LOCKR: Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lockr-screen-time-control/id6758957331) | 4.6 (327) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Prafull Sharma

- [Bunny: love notes for couples](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunny-love-notes-for-couples/id6756160637)

All apps by Prafull Sharma: https://appshunter.io/developer/1830399976

## Related topics

[spool](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/spool)

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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 2026-09-05.*