# Tonic: Earn Screen Time — Earn apps, control your scroll

> Productivity app that rewards good habits with access to other apps. (iPhone/iPad app by Sets Studio LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonic-earn-screen-time/id6760635258 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Sets Studio LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885438054)
- Category: Productivity, Health & Fitness
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 26 App Store ratings · 18 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.4 · 33 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-06-29
- Data updated: 2026-08-19
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonic-earn-screen-time/id6760635258/reviews.md

## What is Tonic?

Your phone works in the wrong order.

Tonic isn't just another app blocker: your good habits unlock your apps, and the ones that only need boundaries get limits that fit. You bought the books. You downloaded Duolingo. You signed up for the meditation app. Tonic puts those things first, and lets your phone cooperate with the life you're already building.

HOW IT WORKS

Set any app as a reward for your good habits. Tonic tracks what would be too hard to log yourself: your progress in apps like Kindle or Duolingo, calories burned, whether you meditated this morning, even whether you've gotten outside. Require your habits each day, or bank productive minutes to spend later.

For apps that only need boundaries, Tonic adapts to the problem: screen time limits by hours or by visits, cooldowns between sessions, or moments of pause that escalate the more you reach for it.

You choose what locked looks like: a gentle nudge toward the good thing, a strict wall, or a pause that grows each time you haven't earned it.

WORKS WITH THE APPS YOU ALREADY LOVE

Reading, workouts, meditation, steps, sunlight, and sleep come straight from Apple Health and your Apple Watch, or from time spent in the productive apps you choose. No logging, no proof photos, no check-ins.

And the unlock is real: when your habit counts, the shield lifts on its own. You don't open Tonic to prove anything or unlock anything by hand. Finish your reading, and your apps are simply open when you reach for them.

WHAT YOU CAN SET UP

Every app is a different problem. Rules can look like:

"Don't let me into social media for longer than five minutes at a time until my watch has registered 20 minutes of sunlight."
"Make it harder each time I reach for Instagram if I've used it more than Duolingo today."
"After 5 visits on the weekend, make me pause when I reach for Slack or Teams."
"When I reach for social media in the morning, redirect my phone to my journaling app."
"Hard block mobile games until I've worked out three times in the last week, then give me an hour each earned day."

YOURS TO CONTROL

Tonic is self-directed and built for adults. You pick the apps, you set the rules, and you can change them whenever you want. No account. No parent. No lock you can't open.

Your habits stay on your device. Tonic never sees which apps you chose, and your rules never leave your phone.

Pick one app that gets in your way and one habit you keep meaning to do. Start there.

A tonic for your habits. Break the bad, build the good.

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

## Key features

- Habit-based app unlocking
- Customizable screen time limits
- Integration with Apple Health
- Flexible rule setting
- Productive minute banking
- Escalating pause feature

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tonic Unlimited | $29.99 | per year |
| Tonic Unlimited | $9.99 | per month |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 18)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonic-earn-screen-time/id6760635258/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Good with some issues

*2026-08-02, version 1.0.8*

In general, I think the concept of this app is really good, but some of the little things are making the experience of using it a little poor. For example:

- There is no way to change whether or not screen time carries over to the next day after passing through the introductory section
- Auto-correction of my "habit" titles are very frustrating to work with – when I write "writing," it's because I want to track my habit of "writing," not "journaling"
- Overall, there's a large lack of setting customisation

### 5/5 — Effectively promotes mindfulness

*2026-08-01, version 1.0.8*

This app has helped me catch myself when I’m procrastinating or just blooping and redirected me to things I always say I want to do but get distracted from instead.

### 5/5 — Great reset

*2026-07-31, version 1.0.8*

Two weeks in and this actually works. It's like a speed bump for those mindless moments when you're about to open the app you always open without thinking. My phone usage has dropped, and I've been swapping that time for reading and meditating instead.

### 5/5 — Actually works

*2026-07-29, version 1.0.8*

It is good

### 5/5 — So helpful

*2026-07-24, version 1.0.8*

This is such a great way to not get stuck on autopilot

### 5/5 — Finally, one that actually works!!!

*2026-07-23, version 1.0.8*

I don’t usually leave reviews for apps, but Tonic completely deserves it. I have legitimately tried every single habit-tracking app out there, and this is the only one that has actually helped me stay consistent and hold myself accountable! Sticking to my habits with this app has honestly made me feel so much better about myself. On top of that, the interface is fantastic and super enjoyable to use. I’m so excited to see how this app continues to evolve. Keep up the amazing work!

### 5/5 — Healthy habits

*2026-07-22, version 1.0.7*

A great way to build healthy habits. I appreciate the option to simply track or to gamify habits.

### 5/5 — Productivity Game Changer

*2026-07-21, version 1.0.7*

I have been using this app for a week and already seen my instagram screen time reduced by 60%. It seamlessly integrates into the experience and adds just a little friction which is enough to stop me from mindlessly scrolling. Highly recommend for anyone looking to reduce their screen time!

### 5/5 — An amazing fully customizable hold yourself accountable app!

*2026-07-17, version 1.0.7*

Tonic has been one of the most effective tools I’ve found for managing screen time and building better habits on my phone. It goes beyond basic limits by offering flexible options, whether you want structured restrictions, short session controls, or a reward-based system to stay on track.
What stands out is how customizable it is. You can tailor it to fit your routine, whether that means cutting down on specific apps, staying focused during work blocks, or creating healthier daily patterns. It feels more adaptive and practical than the default screen time tools, especially if you want something that actually helps you stay accountable.
If you’re trying to be more intentional with how you use your phone, this is a really solid option.

### 5/5 — Much needed app!

*2026-07-11, version 1.0.3*

In a time where our phone is constantly winning our attention, this app is a fantastic tool to keep priorities straight. As a therapist, I love seeing an app like this that challenges my brains reward system to work hard, then play hard.

## Frequently asked questions about Tonic

### What is Tonic?

Tonic is a productivity app designed to help you build good habits by making them unlock your other apps. It allows you to set limits on distracting applications and rewards productive behavior, helping you integrate your phone use with your desired lifestyle.

### How does Tonic work with my habits?

You can set any app as a reward for completing a habit. Tonic tracks your progress in other apps like Kindle or Duolingo, fitness activities from Apple Health, or even outdoor time. You can require habits daily or bank productive minutes to spend later.

### Can Tonic limit my social media usage?

Yes, Tonic can set screen time limits by hours or visits for apps that only need boundaries. It also offers cooldowns between sessions and escalating pauses the more you reach for a distracting app.

### Does Tonic integrate with Apple Health?

Yes, Tonic works with data from Apple Health and Apple Watch for activities like reading, workouts, meditation, steps, sunlight, and sleep. This means no manual logging or proof photos are required.

### Is Tonic free to use?

Tonic is free to download and use with its core features. It offers optional subscription plans, 'Tonic Unlimited', for $9.99/month or $29.99/year, both with a 7-day free trial.

### Does Tonic have ads?

No, Tonic does not contain advertisements. The app is free to use with its basic features, and offers optional paid subscriptions for advanced functionality.

### What devices does Tonic support?

Tonic is available for iPhone and iPad devices. It has an age rating of 4+.

### How often is Tonic updated?

Tonic was last updated on July 1, 2026, with version 1.0.1. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.0.9 — 2026-08-02

No check-ins, no proof photos: just earning and auto-unlocking your rewards. Change your exchange rate whenever you like and the minutes you already banked keep the value you earned them at. Your balance carries cleanly from day to day, and earning resets fresh every morning.

### 1.0.8 — 2026-07-23

No check-ins, no proof photos: just earning and auto-unlocking your rewards. Your rules now stay rock solid across even the biggest app collections, and your daily reset lands right on schedule in every timezone.

### 1.0.7 — 2026-07-16

No check-ins, no proof photos: just earning and auto-unlocking your rewards. This update makes your earned time even more dependable, with steadier unlocks and sharper limit tracking for both time-based and visit-based limits. Set a limit by visits per day and Tonic now recognizes the days you stay under it.

### 1.0.6 — 2026-07-15

No check-ins, no proof photos: just earning and auto-unlocking your rewards. This update makes your earned time rock solid: unlocked apps stay unlocked as you move through your day, and unlocking after a quick tap-through feels smoother than ever. On iPad, Tonic now helps you wake up Apple Health so your steps and workouts count from day one.

### 1.0.5 — 2026-07-14

No check-ins, no proof photos: just earning and auto-unlocking your rewards. When you reach for a distraction we now bounce you to your earn app faster and more dependably, and the app remembers exactly what works on your phone.

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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 2026-08-19.*