AppPause vs HoldOn

AppPause helps parents create calmer, healthier device routines with fast app blocking, daily limits, and focused schedules for family devices. Whether it’s homework time, dinner, bedtime, or a break from games and social apps, AppPause gives you reliable tools to step in quickly and stay consistent without constant back-and-forth. KEY FEATURES Instant App Blocking Block distracting apps in a tap when you need immediate attention or a smoother transition. PlayTime and FocusTime Modes Choose a more flexible session or a stricter locked mode depending on the moment and the routine. Daily Limits and Recurring Schedules Set app limits and create repeating routines for study time, evenings, and wind-down hours. Pause Now Start an immediate pause using your current app selection and keep it active until you’re ready to resume. Parent PIN Protection Protect settings and rule changes with a parent PIN. Privacy-First Design AppPause is built around app access control and healthy device routines, with a strong focus on privacy and dependable on-device behavior. Designed for parents who want simple controls, reliable blocking, and a calmer way to manage everyday device use. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Stop before you regret it. HoldOn helps you break autopilot scrolling and open the apps you choose with intention — not impulse. Built on Apple’s Screen Time framework, HoldOn adds a calm pause between you and the apps that steal your time, so you can decide on purpose instead of reacting on reflex. THE MOMENT YOU KNOW You unlock your phone for one quick thing. Minutes later you’re deep in a feed or a loop you never meant to start. The apps you use most are built to pull you back in. Willpower alone rarely wins that fight. What helps is friction at the right moment: a breath, a question, a single beat before the habit runs. That’s what HoldOn is for. HOW HOLD ON WORKS 1. Create a block — Choose apps you want to slow down: social, video, games, messaging, or anything you open on autopilot. 2. Set a schedule — Every day, weekdays, weekends, custom days, or overnight windows that match your life. 3. Pick a pause challenge — When you open a blocked app, HoldOn shows a short step first. Finish it, then the app opens for a few minutes. Walk away anytime. 4. Choose with intention — Nothing is permanently locked. HoldOn adds a mindful pause, not punishment. PAUSE CHALLENGES 15+ challenges across different styles: • Timed resets — A calm countdown before you continue • Breathing — Box breathing and guided patterns • Reflect — Prompts, future-self checks, reflection roulette • Focus — Quick math, type an intention, name an alternative • Commit — Hold, tap, or slide to confirm you mean it Pick one per block or set a default. Preview how a challenge feels before you need it. BUILT ON APPLE SCREEN TIME HoldOn uses Apple’s official Family Controls APIs — the same privacy-respecting layer Apple provides for digital wellbeing. No VPN tricks. No overlay hacks. Grant Screen Time access once. Pick apps through Apple’s secure picker. HoldOn receives opaque tokens, not readable app names. Your choices stay private by design. PRIVACY YOU CAN VERIFY • No account or sign-in required • No backend server — blocks, schedules, and pause history stay on your device • No ads or third-party analytics SDKs • Apple hides which apps you select — HoldOn never reads app names • Reset blocks or delete all data anytime from Settings HoldOn is for people who want control without surveillance. FLEXIBLE BLOCKS • Multiple blocks for work, evenings, or weekends • Enable or disable without deleting • 5, 10, or 15 minute unlock after a completed pause • Optional block start/end notifications • Home dashboard shows what’s active and what’s next INSIGHTS WITHOUT SHAME See intentional pauses completed this week and apps you’re slowing down — honest numbers without guilt streaks or shame mechanics. CALM BY DESIGN Dark, minimal interface built for focus. No clutter. No noise. No engagement bait. HoldOn should feel like a quiet hand on your shoulder — not another app shouting for your attention. WHO IT’S FOR • Anyone tired of doom scrolling or “just five more minutes” • Students and professionals protecting focus • People rebuilding a healthier phone relationship without deleting every app • Anyone who tried harsh blockers that felt punitive or easy to bypass GET STARTED Allow Screen Time access → create a block → pick apps and a schedule → choose your challenge. Next time you open a blocked app on autopilot, you’ll get a pause — and a real choice. IMPORTANT HoldOn is a digital wellbeing tool, not medical advice, therapy, or treatment. If you are in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately. Download HoldOn. Create your first block. Stop before you regret it.