Comparison

PhoneLess vs Write First

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

Head to head
About

PhoneLess

This app helps you and your friends reduce screen time by blocking distracting apps and setting group challenges. It fosters accountability through shared goals and a supportive community, making digital detox more effective.

Highlights
  • Group screen time tracking
  • App blocking with friend control
  • Leaderboards for progress
  • Accountability challenges
  • Doom app tracking
  • Daily screen time targets
  • Group chat for support
Features
Read full description

PhoneLess helps you reduce screen time, break the pull of distracting apps, and build a healthier relationship with your phone. It gives you different ways to change your habits, helps you understand what works for you, and connects you with people trying to do the same. Your phone isn't the enemy. But sometimes a quick check turns into 30 minutes of scrolling, an app gets downloaded again, or a screen-time limit gets dismissed without thinking. Instead of expecting one solution to work for everyone, PhoneLess gives you different ways to take back control — from app blocking and physical barriers to challenges, accountability and tools to understand your habits. BLOCK DISTRACTING APPS Choose the apps and websites that take more of your time than you'd like and block them using Apple Screen Time permissions. Create focused periods for work, study, sleep or simply being away from your phone. Block or limit: • Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X and Snapchat • YouTube, Netflix and entertainment apps • Reddit and other scrolling-heavy apps • Games, dating and shopping apps • News and distracting websites • Adult content and pornography • Or any other apps you choose MAKE IT HARDER TO GIVE IN PhoneLess lets you create stronger commitments around the apps you want to use less. And when you want a physical barrier, there's Poff. GO PHYSICAL WITH POFF Poff is an optional NFC blocker that takes app blocking outside your phone. Choose your apps, tap your iPhone to Poff, and they stay blocked until you physically return and tap Poff again. Unlocking becomes a conscious decision instead of another button you tap without thinking. DON'T DO IT ALONE Changing your relationship with your phone doesn't have to be a solo thing. Create groups with friends, see each other's progress, take on challenges together and add accountability when willpower isn't enough. Connect with a community of people trying to reclaim their time, share progress and learn from people working toward the same thing. LEARN WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR YOU PhoneLess isn't just about making your Screen Time number go down. We want you to understand your relationship with your phone. Explore different approaches to digital wellbeing, learn about the thinking and research behind them, try them yourself, and see what helps you change. PhoneLess helps you discover what works for you and build habits that last beyond the app. MAKE CHANGE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO KEEP DOING Reducing screen time doesn't have to feel like punishment. Take on challenges based on your screen-time progress, build streaks, complete quests, earn rewards and customize Doomi as you improve. Track your screen time, Doom apps and focus habits so you can actually see your progress. USE PHONELESS FOR THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER • Reduce social media and doomscrolling • Focus while working or studying • Protect your sleep from late-night scrolling • Be more present with friends and family • Create healthier digital boundaries • Take a digital detox without relying only on willpower • Spend more time on the things you care about MORE THAN AN APP BLOCKER PhoneLess isn't about getting rid of your phone. Phones are incredibly useful. It's about making sure you're the one deciding how you spend your time. Block when you need a barrier. Get accountability when you need support. Try challenges when you need motivation. Learn what works for you. Use Poff when you want the decision to become physical. Some features require iOS Screen Time permissions. PhoneLess Pro unlocks additional features including advanced history, customization, challenge modes and group upgrades. Poff is an optional physical product sold separately where available. Less life in here. More life out there. Terms of Use: https://phoneless.app/terms Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://phoneless.app/privacy

About

Write First

Features
Read full description

Write First is a self-directed app blocker. Pick the apps that pull you in, and they stay paused until you write one honest sentence — then they unlock for a set time and re-lock on their own. When you reach for a blocked app, a calm pause screen stops you before the scroll begins. To get in, you write a single line. That one small step turns an autopilot tap into an actual decision. WHY ONE SENTENCE WORKS Most blockers make you wait, breathe, or tap "confirm." After a day or two, your thumb does all of it without you noticing. Writing one real sentence is the one kind of friction you can't do on autopilot — so the speed bump actually works. It takes about ten seconds, with a prompt already written for you. HOW IT WORKS - Pick your own apps to pause — social, news, games, whatever pulls you in. - Reach for a blocked app and a calm pause screen appears instead. - Pick a mood, get a matched prompt, write one honest line. - Your apps unlock for a set window, then re-lock automatically. - Reach for them again and the pause is right back there, at the real moment of temptation. YOU STAY IN CONTROL This is a speed bump, not a trap. You choose the apps. You choose the windows. And three emergency unlocks a day — five minutes each — open your apps right away when you genuinely need them, with no writing step. You never get locked out of your own phone. You point Write First at your own apps, on your own terms. It never monitors, supervises, or reports on anyone else. There are no dashboards anyone else sees. BUILT THE RIGHT WAY Write First runs on Apple's Screen Time framework, so blocking is system-level and reliable — no VPN trick, no background profile quietly draining your battery. SEE YOUR MOMENTUM A streak counter, check-in history, and simple stats show how often you chose to pause instead of scroll. No nagging, no guilt, no leaderboards. FEATURES - Self-directed blocking of the apps you choose - A one-sentence write step to unlock, with matched prompts - Timed unlock windows that re-lock on their own - Three 5-minute emergency unlocks a day - Streak and momentum tracking - Check-in history and simple stats - Built on Apple Screen Time — no VPN, no background network FREE TO START The free version is genuinely usable: block the apps you choose and use three emergency unlocks a day, no time limit. Write First Pro adds more — custom unlock durations, custom writing length, schedules, more prompt styles, unlimited history, full stats, export, and Face ID lock. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your journal entries, moods, and stats stay on your iPhone — no account, no analytics, no ads, no tracking. The only thing that leaves your device is your subscription, which Apple handles to manage your Pro access. Privacy Policy: https://promptflowbusiness.com/write-first/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PhoneLess4 screens
Write First4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Write First at every 2 days against PhoneLess's every 10 days. PhoneLess's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, 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. PhoneLess sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per 7 days and Write First sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PhoneLess ships an update every 10 days, Write First every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PhoneLess versus Write First: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhoneLessWrite First
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB16 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperDaniel Martinez Suriolchad vasquez

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PhoneLess

Subscriptions3
  • PhoneLess Pro Weekly7 Days trial$3.497 Days
  • PhoneLess Pro Yearly (Limited-Time)7 Days trial$53.991 Year
  • PhoneLess Pro Yearly7 Days trial$76.991 Year
2 purchases

Write First

Subscriptions2
  • Write First Pro$4.991 Month
  • Write First Pro7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is PhoneLess free?
PhoneLess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Write First free?
Write First is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PhoneLess or Write First have ads?
Neither PhoneLess nor Write First shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PhoneLess or Write First?
PhoneLess ships an update every 10 days, and Write First every 2 days. Most recently, PhoneLess was updated on September 20, 2026 and Write First on September 29, 2026.

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