Instead - Things To Do
Beat the urge to scroll
Only for iPhone
Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPhone. Not verified for macOS.
iPhone
Instead is a menu of things you'd rather do than scroll.
You never decide to lose an hour to your phone — it just happens. Instead fixes the
moment right before that. When the urge to scroll hits, it hands you one small,
real-life thing to do instead, sized to the time and energy you actually have.
Think of it like a restaurant menu for your free minutes:
• Starters (1–5 min) — easy wins: step outside, splash cold water, three slow breaths
• Mains (10–30 min) — the good stuff: a real walk, ten pages of a book, make the call
• Desserts — quick joy, not junk: one loud song, pet an animal, watch the sky
Instead requires a paid subscription to unlock its content. New users get a 3-day free trial, after which the subscription auto-renews unless cancelled.
WHY IT WORKS
When the urge to scroll hits, you don't make good decisions. So you decide now,
while you're calm. You build your own menu in about two minutes, and Instead serves
it back to you exactly when you need it — no willpower required.
HOW IT WORKS
• Tell Instead your mood and how much time you have - it filters the menu to what
fits this exact moment
• Tap "Surprise me" and let it choose for you
• Finish it, build a streak, and watch your screen-free habit grow
• Add, edit, and personalize your own activities anytime
• See your weekly stats and history
INSTEAD IS FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO
• Cut your screen time and stop doomscrolling
• Break a phone or social-media habit - without an app blocker nagging you
• Try a gentler digital detox or dopamine detox
• Be more present, mindful, and intentional with your downtime
• Find quick things to do instead of reaching for your phone
Instead isn't another screen-time blocker or app limit that just tells you "no." It
gives you a better "yes" - a personal, curated list of analog, offline, real-life
things that leave you feeling better than a feed ever could.
Instead offers an auto-renewable subscription: monthly and yearly
Includes a 3-day free trial for new subscribers.
Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription auto-renews unless cancelled before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple account settings.
Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Updated app onboarding and bug fixes
The developer, Sarthak Jain, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Contact Info
- Identifiers
- Usage Data
- Diagnostics
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Sarthak Jain
- Size
- 67.9 MB
- Category
- Lifestyle
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 16.4 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 16.4 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- In-App Purchases
Yes
- Instead Premium Yearly $39.99
- Instead Premium Monthly $6.99
- Copyright
- © 2026 Sarthak Jain