Serein vs BreathGate

Serein locks the apps that pull you away, for as long as you decide. Calm and quiet, with no guilt trips. Tell Serein why you're here. If you're studying, you get Study mode, built around focus sessions. If you want to scroll less, sleep better or get work done, you get Control mode, built around rules that run on their own. You can switch any time. STUDY MODE • Focus sessions and Pomodoro rounds, with your distracting apps locked until you're done. • Scenes and sounds to study to: lo-fi, piano, rain, café, waves and more. • Exam countdown: pick your exam and see the days left on Home and in a widget. Sit full mock tests with everything locked. (In the US and India: SAT, ACT, AP, PSAT 10, JEE Main, NEET UG, CBSE boards and CUET UG.) • Study with friends: a weekly leaderboard, and study rooms where you focus together. Get a notification when a friend starts one. • A streak, milestones and a weekly report. CONTROL MODE • Schedules: lock apps at set times, like bedtime or work hours. They run even when Serein is closed. • Time limits: a daily budget for a group of apps. • Open limits: a few opens a day, then they're locked until tomorrow. • Wind down: one tap sets up a calmer evening, a strict bedtime and an optional calm morning. ONE BREATH BEFORE YOU UNLOCK When you really need an app, Serein asks for one slow breath first, then what it's for. Only that app unlocks, for the minutes you choose, and it locks again on its own. A Live Activity shows the time left. AS STRICT AS YOU LIKE • Flexible: unlock any time, after a breath. • Firm: two unlocks a day. • Strict: no unlocks, no ending early, and apps can't be deleted while it runs. • Rainy day: one hour with everything unlocked, once a week. Your streak stays safe. SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING A daily focus score, a timeline of your day, how your sessions felt and why you reached for your phone. Widgets, Siri, Control Centre and Focus filters keep Serein one tap away. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Serein never learns which apps you lock. Apple's Screen Time keeps your choices on your phone. You only need an account to study with friends. SUBSCRIPTION Serein is a monthly or yearly subscription. The yearly plan starts with a free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. It renews automatically unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://getserein.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://getserein.app/privacy

BreathGate is a calm pause before you open distracting apps — a soft breath between impulse and scroll. BreathGate Premium is a paid subscription. All features described below require a BreathGate Premium subscription (weekly or annual) or the one-time Premium Lifetime purchase. A free trial is available for eligible new subscribers. Not a hard app blocker. Not a multi-minute meditation session. Just enough friction to notice why you reached for your phone. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose the apps that pull you in (Instagram, TikTok, news — your list). 2. When you open one, BreathGate meets you with a quiet breath or cool-down. 3. Optionally tag your intent: Boredom, FOMO, Work, or Habit. 4. Open the app — or walk away. Both choices are yours. Both are logged. KEY FEATURES (included with BreathGate Premium — purchase required) • Soft pause before scrolling — a breath gate, not a lock • Intent chips in one tap (no journaling required) • Walk-away vs open logging so success feels clear • Weekly impulse report with your top triggers • Cool-down option if breath is not your style • Private by default — on-device, no account required • Calm UI: short sentences, no shame, no leaderboards WHY BREATHGATE Most screen time apps either hard-block your day or pile on streaks and scores. BreathGate does one job well: give you a moment to decide. Tagging Boredom, FOMO, Work, or Habit turns each impulse into insight. Your weekly impulse report shows pauses, walk-aways, and which triggers show up most — so you learn patterns, not punishments. PERFECT FOR • Anyone who opens social media on autopilot • People who want digital wellbeing without a digital prison • Users who tried hard blockers and felt trapped • Anyone who wants mindful phone habits with less guilt WHAT BREATHGATE IS NOT • Not a parental-control suite • Not medical treatment for addiction • Not a hard all-day app lock with no way through • Not a long guided meditation app PRIVACY Your pauses, intents, and impulse report stay on your device. No account required to start. You stay in control of Screen Time permissions. Start with a few apps. Take one breath. See how often you walk away. Download BreathGate — a breath between impulse and scroll. SUBSCRIPTION BreathGate requires a paid subscription to use. BreathGate Premium is offered as a weekly or annual auto-renewing subscription, or as a one-time Premium Lifetime purchase. Eligible new subscribers can start with a free trial; after the trial the subscription renews automatically at the listed price unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Prices are shown in the app before you buy. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions are billed and managed by Apple. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions on your device. Terms of Use (EULA): https://breathgate.avunia.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://breathgate.avunia.com/privacy