# Zario: Screen Time & Focus AI — Stop scroll, refocus & unpluq

> AI-powered focus app for managing screen time and reducing distractions. (iPhone/iPad app by Zario AG.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zario-screen-time-and-focus-ai/id1611031269 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Zario AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1611031271)
- Category: Productivity, Health & Fitness
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.58/5 from 53 App Store ratings · 23 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 179 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2022-03-18
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zario-screen-time-and-focus-ai/id1611031269/reviews.md

## What is Zario?

Stop scrolling and take back control with Zario—your fun, AI-powered focus app that helps you stay productive without blocking everything.

**18 YEARS OF Scrolling**

That’s how much time an average 30-year-old is expected to spend looking down on their screen. With Zario, you can get over 5 of those years back.

Zario isn’t just another app blocker—it’s your personal focus tool that can literally control access to your distracting apps. Whether you’re breaking free from distractions, boosting productivity, or simply trying to reclaim your time, Zario helps you achieve it all without being overly serious or intrusive.

WHAT SETS ZARIO APART:

- Smart Coaching: Negotiate with Zario AI for extra screen time. The first-ever AI that grants or denies access to distracting apps.
- Better Use of Your Time: Instead of blocking everything, Zario helps you make every moment meaningful by automating screen time management.
- Tough Love When Needed: Personalized pause screens and lighthearted roasts make you rethink mindless scrolling with humor.

REAL RESULTS, BACKED BY SCIENCE:

Zario isn’t just effective—it’s scientifically proven. A groundbreaking study by Maastricht University found that 88.87% of at-risk users significantly reduced their phone usage after just one week with Zario. These aren’t just claims—they’re results supported by cutting-edge research.

See the study here https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/6fjs3https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/6fjs3 

WHAT USERS ARE SAYING:
- “It’s like a personal trainer for my social media habits!” — Mark S.
- “Finally, a productivity app that doesn’t take itself too seriously!” — Carmen M.
- “So honored that my book, Indistractable, inspired this! Keep up the great work.” — Nir Eyal

SUBSCRIPTION & PRIVACY:
After your free trial, subscriptions are billed through your iTunes account.

Your privacy matters. Your data stays on your device - protected by Apple.

View our policy here: https://www.meetzario.com/privacy 

Need help? Reach out at info@meetzario.com.

Start your journey with Zario today—focus has never been this fun.

## Key features

- AI-powered screen time negotiation
- Automated screen time management
- Personalized pause screens
- Humorous feedback for mindless scrolling
- Scientifically proven usage reduction

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Zario Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $12.99 | per month |
| Zario Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $17.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $17.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| Zario Pro | $12.99 | per month |
| Zario Pro | $12.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Accountability Fee Low | $1.99 | one-time |
| Zario Pro Lifetime | $299.99 | one-time |
| Zario Pro Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 23)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zario-screen-time-and-focus-ai/id1611031269/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Inappropriate messages

*2026-03-09, version 4.6.2*

This is a really useful app for limiting screen time but I’m having to delete as the messages it displays when you’ve used up time are extremely inappropriate today’s one was about gang rape. I’m gobsmacked!

### 1/5 — Ai chat doesn’t work

*2025-12-12, version 4.6.2*

If you are motivated to pay for this app for the Ai features, save your money, it doesn’t work, not even a little bit

### 5/5 — Game Changer App!

*2025-09-18, version 4.6.2*

Seriously, if you have big goals that you are serious about accomplishing, get this app. You won’t regret it. Worth every penny with the amount of time you save. “Strict Mode” is crucial and a great tool!

### 1/5 — Great app with sexiest and racist prompts to not use your apps

*2025-06-03, version 4.6.2*

This app helped me reduce my screen time, but I was getting tired of their “facts” on the screen that made jokes about people enjoying gang r*pe, racist jokes about Chinese accents that sound like sex, jokes about domestic violence and killing exes with a bus, and honestly, a lot more. I reached out to their customer service line which apparently goes right to the ceo, and was apologetic and said they’d do an update, but that was a while ago and I got hit with the gang r*pe promote multiple times in a row. As a victim of relationship abuse myself, this doesn’t make me want to use this app that’s supposed to support my habits while using my experiences as jokes to get me to break that habit. Seems a bit counter productive and… tone deaf to the people they’re supposed to support.

### 5/5 — Life Changing

*2025-01-27, version 4.5.14*

If you need to stop wasting your time and direct your energy to something meaningful, then this is the app for you.

### 5/5 — This app is amazing!!!

*2025-01-23, version 4.5.14*

Got the pro version and it is great to see the vast amount of options it has compared to the standard offerings from Apple. I also love the “strict mode” having the user pay to get into apps. 

Like most people I have had some times in my life that I would do anything just to have my phone be a phone and to have this functionality to completely block everything out and hit the user with a pay wall is perfect for me. Already feeling more productive every day with Zario! 

Thank you Zario Team - David K

### 1/5 — Asks for a review before first use

*2025-01-22, version 4.5.14*

=> deserves zero star.

### 1/5 — Useless

*2024-10-28*

Very limited functionality.

**Developer response:** Hi Marcsheep, thank you for your feedback! Do you mean the functionality of the free version? I am Ondrej, the CEO of Zario! We take user feedback really seriously and would love to personally invite you to our beta tester group and give you access to Zario Pro for free. If you are interested, please reach out to me at ondrej@meetzario.com

### 5/5 — Great App

*2024-10-24, version 4.4.6*

This app is honestly such a great idea, so many people I know including me are stuck to our phones while we have so many other things we can do that actually benefit us in a healthy way, let’s break the phone addiction and get outside take our kids to the park get some sun and reconnect with nature. Thanks to Zario for making an app to help humanity for the better.

### 5/5 — Zairo

*2024-08-24*

Is good

**Developer response:** Thank you!

## Frequently asked questions about Zario

### What does Zario do?

Zario is an AI-powered focus app designed to help users reduce distractions and improve productivity. It intelligently manages access to distracting applications, offering personalized coaching and humorous feedback to encourage better screen time habits without outright blocking everything.

### How does Zario's AI coaching work?

The AI in Zario allows users to negotiate for extra screen time. It can grant or deny access to distracting apps based on your usage patterns and goals, acting as a smart coach to help you stay on track with your productivity.

### Is Zario a free app?

Zario offers a free trial period. After the trial, subscriptions are billed through your iTunes account. The app is free to download and use with in-app purchases for its premium features.

### What makes Zario different from other app blockers?

Unlike traditional app blockers that simply prevent access, Zario uses AI to intelligently manage your screen time. It offers personalized coaching, humorous 'roasts' for mindless scrolling, and aims to make your time more meaningful rather than just blocking apps.

### Is Zario effective in reducing phone usage?

Yes, Zario's effectiveness is backed by scientific research. A study by Maastricht University found that a significant majority of at-risk users substantially reduced their phone usage within a week of using Zario.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.6.2 — 2025-03-26

Welcome to Version 4.6.2!
This version we launched a new dashboard with more insights on screen time 
Also, get roasted with funny shields for everyone!

### 4.6.1 — 2025-02-24

Welcome to Version 4.6.1!
We're excited to show you our new Dashboard with better screen time reports 
Now track your weekly progress and share the new funny app Doors!

### 4.5.16 — 2025-01-30

Welcome to version 4.5.16! 
We have important bug fixes to make

### 4.5.15 — 2025-01-28

Welcome to version 4.5.15!
Now we bring back Zario AI to the tab bar, making it easier to talk and get insights about your screen time behavior
Also, focus schedules are now also available on the tab bar and Zario AI even funnier with personalized shields

### 4.5.14 — 2025-01-20

Welcome to 4.5.14!
On this version we made some changes 
to the Onboarding making it even better for our new users!

## Apps similar to Zario

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Opal: Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230) | 4.8 (74,945) | Free | Productivity |
| [ScreenZen- Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screenzen-screen-time-control/id1541027222) | 4.9 (41,056) | Free | Productivity |
| [Jomo - Screen Time Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jomo-screen-time-blocker/id1609960918) | 4.8 (2,052) | Free | Productivity |
| [one sec \| screen time + focus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/one-sec-screen-time-plus-focus/id1532875441) | 4.8 (22,871) | Free | Productivity |
| [Freedom: Screen Time Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-screen-time-control/id1269788228) | 4.3 (214) | Free | Productivity |
| [Focus Keeper - Pomodoro Timer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-keeper-pomodoro-timer/id867374917) | 4.8 (31,332) | Free | Productivity |

## Related topics

[zario ag](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zario-ag)

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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 2026-06-10.*