ScrollGate vs Focus Guard

Finally a Screen-Blocking App That Actually Works ScrollGate is the only screen-blocking app that doesn’t lie to you. Other blockers let you override your limits with a single tap. ScrollGate doesn’t. If you want access to a blocked app, you must watch an ad first. That friction is enough to stop most impulse scrolling. And when it isn’t, at least you’re choosing it intentionally. Does this sound familiar? You open your Screen Time and see 8, 9, 10 hours a day. You scroll for an hour, sometimes two, and afterward you can’t remember a single post you just saw. It feels like time just… disappears. It’s not your fault Social media apps aren’t neutral tools. They’re engineered to remove friction and bypass conscious thought. Companies spend millions hiring top researchers to design: - Endless feeds with no stopping points - Gamified rewards and variable dopamine hits - Interfaces optimized to keep you scrolling, not thinking That’s not a fair fight for your brain. So if you feel “addicted,” it’s not a lack of discipline. It’s not your fault. It’s a system doing exactly what it was designed to do. But you can counteract it Distraction thrives on zero friction. ScrollGate adds just enough friction to make you think. When you try to open a blocked app, ScrollToll forces you to watch an ad first. That pause breaks the automatic behavior — and most of the time, that’s enough to make you stop. If you’re sick of wasting time scrolling… If you’ve tried blockers that are easy to ignore If “Remind Me in 15 Minutes” always turns into an hour ScrollGate is for you.

FocusGuard helps you take back your time from the apps that pull at you. One tap blocks distracting apps for as long as you decide. Set repeating schedules so social media is locked during work and study. Hand the device to a child and Kid Zone makes only the apps you've allowed accessible — everything else is off-limits until you unlock it. Built on Apple's Family Controls, FocusGuard uses the same shielding technology Screen Time uses. There is no proxy, no VPN, and your app data stays on your device. WHAT'S INSIDE • Guard — pin specific apps to be permanently shielded. Tap to add, swipe to manage. • Schedules — block apps during a recurring time window (work hours, study, sleep). Pre-built presets for Work, Study, Sleep, and Morning Routine. Customise the days and time exactly. • Time Limits — set daily, weekly, or monthly caps for a group of apps. • Deep Focus — instant block-everything-distracting session with a live timer. Pause, resume, or end early. Pick the session length (15/25/45/60 minutes or custom). Real-time progress on the home screen. • Kid Zone — hand the device to a kid and only the apps you've chosen will open. Everything else is sealed behind your PIN. Web domains are also locked so Safari isn't a backdoor. • Strict Mode — a 5-second cooldown before any protection can be turned off, removed, or ended. Just enough friction to break the impulse loop without locking you out of legitimate edits. • PIN lock — protect Settings and Kid Zone exit with a 4-digit PIN. Changing or removing the PIN requires re-entering the current one. • Light & dark themes that follow your system, plus an explicit toggle. • Universal — designed for iPhone and iPad in both portrait and landscape. PRIVACY FIRST • No accounts. No sign-in. • No analytics, no crash reporting, no third-party SDKs. • Your blocked-apps list never leaves your device. Apple's Family Controls hides app bundle identifiers from third-party apps; we don't try to extract them and we don't transmit them anywhere. • In-app purchases are validated directly by Apple — no proxy server. REQUIREMENTS • iOS 16 or later for full shielding (Family Controls / Screen Time API). PREMIUM (FOCUSGUARD FULL ACCESS) A small one-time or subscription unlock removes the free-tier app limit and supports continued development. Available as Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. You can manage your subscription in your Apple ID settings. Privacy policy: https://minbudget.net/focusguard/privacy.html Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/