Comparison

Not Now vs Intervals

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Not Now

This app introduces intentional delays before opening social media, encouraging users to reconsider their scrolling habits. It offers customizable challenges and visual statistics to help break autopilot phone usage and foster a healthier relationship with devices.

Highlights
  • Intentional delays before app opening
  • Customizable delay types (curtain, mirror, black screen)
  • Interactive challenges (typing, rotation, math)
  • Track reconsidered app opens
  • Calculate weekly time saved
  • Privacy-focused, on-device processing
Features
Read full description

Not Now adds a mindful pause before opening social media apps - no blocking, just intentional delays that make you reconsider whether you really want to scroll right now. Does this sound familiar? You unlock your phone to check the time, and suddenly you're 30 minutes deep into Instagram. You didn't plan it. You didn't want it. It just… happened. Here's the solution: Not Now breaks the autopilot loop that makes you open social media without thinking. Instead of blocking apps completely (which never works long-term), we add a creative delay that gives your brain a moment to ask: "Did I really want to open this?" HOW IT WORKS: Choose your challenge. Every time you try to open a configured app (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, X), you'll face one of these mindful delays: DELAYS: • Animated Curtain: Watch a calming curtain animation (5-40 seconds you choose) • Camera Mirror: See yourself in your front camera—yes, really look at yourself before scrolling • Black Screen: Stare at a countdown timer on a black screen (5-40 seconds) CHALLENGES: • Type Challenge: Type a random 12-character string correctly • Rotation Challenge: Physically rotate your phone 3-6 times • Math Problem: Solve a math equation (Easy, Medium, or Hard difficulty) Sounds annoying? That's the point. Social media apps are designed to be effortless. We add just enough friction to break the unconscious habit. THE SCIENCE: Your brain loves easy dopamine. Every time you open Instagram without thinking, you're strengthening that neural pathway. Not Now disrupts this pattern by making the action less automatic and more intentional. This isn't willpower—it's smart design. REAL RESULTS: • Track how many times you reconsidered opening an app • See your weekly time saved (we calculate 3 minutes saved per prevention) • Daily attempt counters show your patterns • Visual statistics help you understand your habits FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE: • Choose different delay types for different apps • Adjust difficulty levels (curtain duration, rotation count) • Configure only the apps YOU struggle with • Your rules, your pace WORKS SEAMLESSLY: Not Now integrates with iOS Shortcuts—one quick setup and it works automatically. Every time you try to open a configured app, your chosen delay appears. No subscription required for core features. PRIVACY FIRST: Everything happens on your device. We don't collect your usage data, track which apps you open, or sell your information. Your journey to mindful phone usage is completely private. WHO IS THIS FOR: • You've tried app blockers but always disabled them • You want to reduce social media without going cold turkey • You catch yourself opening apps without meaning to • You're ready to change your relationship with your phone NOT NOW vs OTHER APPS: Unlike traditional screen time apps that block or limit, Not Now works with your psychology. We don't create a forbidden fruit situation. We make impulsive scrolling slightly less appealing, so your brain naturally loses interest in constant checking. DIGITAL WELLBEING WITHOUT THE GUILT: This isn't about shaming yourself for phone usage. It's about creating awareness. Sometimes you'll complete the delay and open the app anyway—that's fine! The goal is intentionality, not perfection. GET STARTED IN 60 SECONDS: 1. Download Not Now 2. Set up the one-time Shortcuts automation 3. Done. Your new mindful phone experience begins. Take back control—not through restriction, but through awareness. Download Not Now and turn your biggest distraction into your best decision. --- Privacy Policy: https://getnotnow.com/privacy Terms (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ No phone icons created by nangicon - Flaticon

About

Intervals

Features
Read full description

Create custom, minimalist interval timers for any purpose: Whether you're timing workouts, meditation sessions, cooking, study blocks, or routines. **Build Interval Timer Programs** Create flexible programs with multiple blocks, each with its own name, duration, and color. Arrange them in any order, set repeat counts, and start your session with a single tap. **Simple & Minimalist** A clean, focused interface shows you exactly what you need: a large countdown, the current block, and simple controls without distractions. **Works in the Background** Start your timer and put your phone aside. You'll hear a sound and feel a vibration when blocks change — even with the screen off. **Features** • Create unlimited custom timer programs • Add multiple blocks with custom names, durations, and colors • Set repeat counts for individual blocks or entire programs • Choose from multiple transition sounds • Haptic feedback for block transitions • Keep screen awake during sessions • Export and import your programs • Works offline — no account required **Private by Design** No accounts. No ads. No tracking. All your data stays on your device.

Screenshots

Not Now4 screens
Intervals4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Intervals at 3 against Not Now's 1. Intervals also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Not Now sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Intervals sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Not Now versus Intervals: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNot NowIntervals
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.213.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDANIEL ANGIELCZYKSIMON RAYMOND SCHOEN

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Not Now

Subscriptions3
  • Not Now Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
  • Not Now Yearly Subscription Promo$9.991 Year
  • Not Now Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
1 purchases

Intervals

One-time1
  • Intervals Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Not Now free?
Not Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Intervals free?
Intervals is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Not Now or Intervals have ads?
Neither Not Now nor Intervals shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Not Now or Intervals?
Not Now ships an update every 2 weeks, and Intervals every 2 weeks. Most recently, Not Now was updated on October 18, 2026 and Intervals on October 7, 2026.

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