# Tether: Focus & Accountability — App Blocker with Real Friction

> App blocker with friction to reduce screen time and improve focus. (iPhone/iPad app by Undrift LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tether-focus-and-accountability/id6754545887 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Undrift LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1848781331)
- Category: Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 43 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-05-05
- Data updated: 2026-09-03
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tether-focus-and-accountability/id6754545887/reviews.md

## What is Tether?

You open your phone for "just a second" and lose 45 minutes to scrolling. Tether is an app blocker built to break that loop with real friction. Block apps, websites, and categories, then choose how hard it should be to stop: tap out, scan an NFC tag, scan a QR code, or get approval from someone you trust.

Focus modes for real life

- Indefinite sessions when you just need to stay locked in
- Countdown sessions for deep work, study, and sprints
- Pomodoro sessions with built-in breaks
- Scheduled sessions for work hours, bedtimes, and daily routines

Why Tether works

- Create reusable blocklists for work, study, sleep, and weekends
- Use Allow Mode to block everything except what you need
- Turn on Strict Mode to prevent easy loopholes mid-session
- Keep emergency overrides for genuine exceptions
- See your session with Live Activity and Dynamic Island
- Sync across devices so your rules stay consistent

Tether is for people who want less screen time, stronger phone habits, and a system that's harder to cheat. Make distractions harder to reach, make quitting harder to justify, and make focus easier to keep.

Terms of Use: https://www.tetherto.me/terms
Privacy Policy: https://www.tetherto.me/privacy

## Key features

- App and website blocking
- Customizable session difficulty
- Focus modes (indefinite, countdown, Pomodoro)
- Scheduled sessions
- Reusable blocklists
- Strict Mode to prevent loopholes
- Live Activity and Dynamic Island integration

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tether Pro Free Trial | $6.99 | per month |
| Tether Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Tether Pro Monthly Member | $5.49 | per month |
| Tether Pro Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Tether Pro Yearly Member | $24.49 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tether Pro Lifetime Member | $79.99 | one-time |
| Tether Pro Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tether-focus-and-accountability/id6754545887/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Works great.

*2026-05-12*

Tether is much more effective at restricting app use compared to Apples built in screen time features. I’ve found it helps me focus more on my life.

### 5/5 — My first review

*2026-05-08*

Download this. It works

## Frequently asked questions about Tether

### What is Tether's main purpose?

Tether is designed to help users reduce screen time and build stronger phone habits by introducing friction to app usage. It allows for blocking apps and websites with customizable difficulty levels for ending sessions.

### How does Tether make it harder to quit a focus session?

Tether offers several methods to increase friction, including tapping out, scanning an NFC tag, scanning a QR code, or requiring approval from a trusted contact. Strict Mode can also be enabled to prevent easy loopholes.

### What types of focus sessions does Tether offer?

Tether provides various focus modes, such as indefinite sessions for uninterrupted focus, countdown sessions for deep work or study sprints, Pomodoro sessions with built-in breaks, and scheduled sessions for specific times like work hours or bedtimes.

### Can Tether be used for specific situations like work or study?

Yes, Tether allows users to create reusable blocklists tailored for different situations like work, study, sleep, and weekends. It also features an 'Allow Mode' to block everything except essential apps.

### Does Tether offer any features for monitoring focus sessions?

Tether provides visibility into your session through Live Activity and Dynamic Island integration, allowing you to see your session status without needing to open the app.

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

Tether Pro offers monthly and yearly subscription plans. Options include 'Tether Pro Monthly Member' for $5.49/P1M, 'Tether Pro Monthly' for $6.99/P1M, 'Tether Pro Yearly Member' for $24.49/P1Y, and 'Tether Pro Yearly' for $34.99/P1Y.

### What devices is Tether compatible with?

Based on the provided data, Tether is currently supported on iPhones. It is not specified if it is available on Android devices or other platforms.

### How often is Tether updated?

Tether was last updated on June 7, 2026, with the latest version being 2.1.16. This indicates a recent update, suggesting active development and maintenance.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0.0 — 2026-08-19

Tether 3.0 introduces a simpler way to focus.

New
- One Block brings your session and blocklist together in a streamlined three-tab experience.
- Clearer, faster setup for what to block and for shared Knots.

Improved
- More reliable Knot start and stop delivery and notifications.
- Faster, more consistent cross-device syncing.

### 2.1.22 — 2026-08-10

This release makes shared focus sessions and device sync faster and more reliable.

Fixed
- Faster updates when a partner starts or changes a shared session.
- More reliable device names and cross-device sync.
- Onboarding now picks up where you left off.
- Smoother support conversations inside the app.
- General reliability and interface improvements.

### 2.1.21 — 2026-07-31

This release makes accountability and support faster and more reliable.

New
- Get help from Tether Support inside the app, with live replies and conversation updates.
- Clearer, more urgent guidance when device permissions still need attention.
- Improved announcements and shared focus experiences.

Fixed
- Faster realtime message and support updates.
- More reliable notifications, device sync, and shared-session diagnostics.
- General reliability and interface improvements.

### 2.1.18 — 2026-07-23

This update adds gentler ways to pause and a cleaner Knot layout.

New
- Intentional access: take a short, mindful pause before opening a blocked app, so getting through is a choice instead of a reflex.
- Shield reminders now rotate encouragement, show how many times you've paused an app today, and add a gentle nudge if you come straight back.

Improved
- A Knot's linked session and shield now live in one clear Details card instead of a carousel — easier to see at a glance.

Fixed
- Session and shield edits no longer get reverted by stale server data.
- More reliable cross-device syncing.

### 2.1.17 — 2026-07-14

This update makes Knots easier to grow and sharing sessions more reliable.

New
- Invite people to a Knot before you're tethered — the invitation sends automatically once you connect.
- Preview a Knot's blocklist before accepting an invitation.
- Reply with a message when you approve or deny an unblock request.
- Choose whether shared Knot sessions show a Live Activity on your lock screen.

Improved
- Sign in with Apple's Hide My Email now gets you a friendly username instead of random letters.
- Changed your mind? Deleted accounts can now be reactivated within 30 days by signing back in.
- Faster, more reliable knot invitations and shared session updates.

Fixed
- Emergency unblocks now sync correctly when you go offline mid-session.
- More reliable push notifications across devices.

---

*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 2026-09-03.*