# Takeback: Hardcore Screen Time — Quit Doomscrolling with Sarge

> Hardcore app blocker with a drill sergeant to enforce screen time limits. (iPhone/iPad app by Gatarn Games Ltd..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/takeback-hardcore-screen-time/id6775691812 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Gatarn Games Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/820626380)
- Category: Productivity, Health & Fitness
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 74 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-06-12
- Data updated: 2026-10-03
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/takeback-hardcore-screen-time/id6775691812/reviews.md

## What is Takeback?

Every screen time app has an ignore button. That is why they stop working.

Takeback does not. Open the app you swore you were done with and Sarge is there first. He is a drill sergeant, and he wants to hear your reasoning.

Make your case. He decides. He is not easy.

SARGE, YOUR DRILL SERGEANT
He knows how long you have already scrolled today and answers accordingly. Ask for twenty minutes at midnight and see how that goes. Ask for five to reply to a message and he will probably wave you through. He negotiates. He counts. He remembers.

YOU CAN'T FOOL HIM
Try to talk your way past him and he will ask you to prove it. Say you are at the gym and he wants a photo from the gym. Pictures of pictures do not work on him.

THE PROGRAM
Four phases, and Sarge gets stricter in each one: Neutral, Firm, Strict, then full Drill. Your daily limit starts halfway between your old habit and your goal, and drops until it hits your goal. After that, the lock-in is for life.

EARN YOUR TIME
Want more minutes? Earn them. Go for a walk, work out, touch real grass, or hold a 45-minute focus block. He checks the proof: your steps, a fresh photo, or 45 minutes without unlocking. Up to 60 earned minutes a day.

HE WANTS YOU ASLEEP
Set your wind-down time. After it, Sarge gets much tougher and pushes you toward sleep.

WHAT YOU GET BACK
Evenings that end in sleep, not a 2am feed.
An attention span you can feel coming back.
Hours a week that used to vanish with nothing to show for them.
A phone you finally trust yourself with.

HOW IT GOES
Day 1, you pick the apps. Sarge locks them and sets your first limit.
Day 4, he gets firm and your limit drops again.
Day 11, your limit is your goal.
By the end, you have hours back and you are spending them on something.

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

## Key features

- Drill sergeant accountability
- Negotiated app access
- Progressive 60-day bootcamp
- Customizable difficulty (Chill/Savage)
- Habit retraining
- Time and attention recovery

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Takeback Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Takeback Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Takeback Annual | $24.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/takeback-hardcore-screen-time/id6775691812/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Helpful

*2026-08-18*

Actually helps me use my phone less

### 5/5 — It actually works

*2026-08-03*

My screen time went down so much and I’m much happier

### 5/5 — It really works

*2026-06-12*

I’m on social media a lot less and I love it. Sometimes it’s annoying when it blocks me opening TikTok to dm, but it’s super worth having overall . And the Takeback Coach is cute. Love it 😌

## Frequently asked questions about Takeback

### What is Takeback's short name?

Takeback's short common name is Takeback. This is derived from its full title, 'Takeback: Doomscroll Bootcamp'.

### How does Takeback help users stop doomscrolling?

Takeback uses a drill sergeant persona named Sarge who negotiates access to apps and enforces daily limits. It also features a 60-day bootcamp that progressively tightens limits to retrain user habits.

### What are the subscription options for Takeback?

Takeback offers monthly and annual subscription plans. The available annual plans are priced at $24.99/year and $29.99/year, with a monthly option at $19.99/month.

### Can I try Takeback before subscribing?

Yes, Takeback offers a free trial period of 3 days for new users to experience its features before committing to a subscription.

### What devices does Takeback support?

Takeback is currently supported on iPhone devices. It is rated for ages 4 and up.

### How often is Takeback updated?

The latest version of Takeback is 1.0.8, which was last updated on September 18, 2026. This indicates a relatively frequent update schedule.

### What is the user sentiment for Takeback?

Based on the available data, Takeback has a very high rating of 5.0 stars from 2 ratings, suggesting positive user sentiment among its early adopters.

### Does Takeback have ads?

No, Takeback does not contain advertisements. This allows for an uninterrupted user experience focused on productivity and habit building.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.0.9 — 2026-10-01

Sarge takes over.

- Sarge's program: four phases, and he gets stricter in each one while your limit drops to your goal. It replaces the Chill and Savage switch.
- Earn your time: walk, work out, touch grass or hold a focus block for extra minutes
- Wind-down: set your bedtime and Sarge pushes you toward sleep after it
- A new setup: Sarge walks you through it himself, and you can argue with him before you commit
- Sarge's chat voice, rebuilt: short, dry and straight to the point
- Bug fixes and improvements

### 1.0.8 — 2026-09-18

Sarge everywhere.

- New splash and intro screens: Sarge greets you from the first tap
- Refreshed app icon
- Shorter, clearer onboarding
- Plan page fixes: the offer link no longer overlaps the button
- Under-the-hood improvements

### 1.0.7 — 2026-09-09

Meet Sarge. Your screen time now has a drill sergeant: he blocks your apps, you argue your way back in, and he checks receipts.

- New Home with Sarge front and center and one button: Talk to Sarge
- The 60-Day Bootcamp tab replaces Progress
- A special offer for people who mean it
- New app icon

### 1.0.6 — 2026-08-11

You now get a proper walkthrough on first launch, so you know what Time
Guard does before he starts telling you no.

Rebuilt the whole setup flow with clearer wording, real screens instead
of guesswork, and a plan that shows you where this actually goes.

Plus the usual fixes.

### 1.0.5 — 2026-06-24

Takeback 1.0.3

Now runs on iPhones back to iOS 17, so a lot more of you can finally install it.

Your coach now uses your step goal as leverage when you beg for more scroll time.
Plus a blunter, one-line block screen and a cleaner coach chat.

Lock your apps. Argue your case. Take the time back.

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| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Stoic: Beat the Algorithm](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stoic-beat-the-algorithm/id6783109073) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [LOCKEDIN: Focus & Fitness](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lockedin-focus-and-fitness/id6757321153) | 5.0 (6) | Free | Productivity |
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| [Earned - Screen Time](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earned-screen-time/id6781796831) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Detox: Screen Time App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detox-screen-time-app-blocker/id6761635511) | — | Free | Productivity |

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All apps by Gatarn Games Ltd.: https://appshunter.io/developer/820626380

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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 2026-10-03.*