Do the thing, then scroll. Habits First is the most effective way to reduce your screen time - distracting apps stay blocked until your habits are done for the day.
No accounts required and no subscriptions, forever. Willpower shouldn’t cost a monthly fee.
HABITS SUPPORTED
- Walk 10,000 steps, or any number you like
- Work out 45 minutes - integrates with Apple Watch, WHOOP, Garmin, Oura, or any tracker
- Meditate 10 minutes, from Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, or any meditation app
- Use an app you pick: read or use Duolingo for 20 minutes
- Built in Pomodoro timer or manual habit check off
- Review your Anki flashcards (Habits Pro)
- Listen or read books on Audiobookshelf (Habits Pro)
- Finish a game on Chess.com (Habits Pro)
- Apple Shortcuts automations (Habits Pro)
- More coming
A block can ask for one habit, all of them, or any two of three.
HOW IT WORKS
Habits are automatically tracked via integrations such as with Apple Health. Apps you select are blocked until you finish your habits. When you're done, open the app to
activate your unlock.
WHY IT WORKS
The idea is based off the Premack Principle - things you do often can help reinforce things that you do rarely. By habit stacking a difficult habit before an app you often use,
you also hijack the addictive nature of distracting apps and turn that motivation towards your daily habits.
WHEN IT APPLIES
All day until your habits are done, on a schedule, only in certain places, or near a device you pick. Habits First helps you wake up into a calm phone screen, only unlocked
after you finish your most important habits of the day.
PRICING
This app will never have a subscription fee. The core app is free forever: Apple Health goals, app timers, schedules, places, commitment locks, widgets, and as many blocks
as you like. One small one-time purchase adds the extra integrations. More will be added in the future (feel free to request them
SYNCING
You can make an account if you would like to sync your habits and blocks across devices. This is not required.
Created by @reysu on YouTube
I've tried a lot of apps for limiting my screen time but most of them are structured on either what times I can block apps, or what amount of time I can go on those apps. These are really useful but this app works so well as an addition to them. In my case, I've set it up so that for every 15 minutes of language learning practice that I do, I get a reward of 15 minutes on Instagram. My favorite aspect is that now, after a recent update, my 15 minutes of Insta can now be measured in total usage instead of as a single block of time. Before, I only had the option to use up that 15 minutes in one go before the app was blocked again, which made me feel pressure to stay on my phone for the whole 15 minute or else sacrifice the reward I had just earned. Now if I get interrupted or just want to go do something else after checking a couple of messages on Insta, I can do so knowing that I can pick it back up again later for another 10 or so minutes if I want to.
Amazing app made by an amazing Youtuber
Saeboki
Saw this app from Reysu, someone who I have loved watching since his first channel, and I have to say that this is a game changing app. His thoughts and principles have always been something I agreed with and seeing those implemented in the best screen-time app I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot) was amazing. All in all, it is an essential app to try if you’re trying to implement habits well. The only possible improvement (and this is frankly nitpicky) would be for apps that are blocked and only accessible after using an app for X number of minutes to be only be blocked in a specific timeframe so that I could use it whenever during the day but at night, when I can actually do the habit, it would then lock it until I used my reading app. Also, potentially making it so the bluetooth devices zone could block the apps and only be unblocked when out of their range, instead of vice versa like how it is currently. Great work though!!
This let me take back my life
PaxtonPB
I’m truly thankful to the creator of this app. I went from occasional double digits of screen time to consistently 4 or less hours. I’ve tried so many things like even deleting my social media but it also makes me itching for more and often I need it to stay connected (yes I’m addicted im aware which is why this app is so helpful). Not only is it super customizable but it also gives you access to much without even having to pay like SO MANY of the screen time apps. This app has a paid option that gives you some cool features but aren’t necessary to helping get your life back (I never spend money on apps but I’m genuinely considering it to support the developer). I have more motivation now to do things outside of scrolling on my phone and it has genuinely brought me great joy. I hope your pillow is cold on both sides every night you sleep. Thank you so much.
Good app but need some updates
soctain
I’ve been following Reysu for some time now on YT and once he dropped this app I knew it was gonna be good and the idea really resonated with me. My biggest problems with the app is that you need to pay for custom shortcuts but it wasn’t explained that I needed to create an Apple shortcut for habits first to recognize that I completed the task to unlock social media time for example. Is there any easy way for habits first to recognize that you completed that task other than you going into Apple shortcuts and selecting the automation which triggers that you completed that task and unlocked social media time for example? I believe that custom shortcuts should have been made available in the free version but I purchased Pro version to unlock this. Also, the screen insights they are only for the phone right? I tried contacting you via email on YT and io to no response. I just wish there was an easier way maybe for the app to recognize that you completed a task other than going into Apple shortcuts and clicking
Developer Response
In the next version you will be able to manually track habits or even track time spent doing real life tasks. I'm working as fast as I can and testing everything, it should be out shortly!
Bug fixes and improvements
Version 2.5
The developer, Eric Su, 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 Linked to You
The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
Health & Fitness
Location
Contact Info
User Content
Identifiers
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
Usage Data
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Eric Su
Size
20.2 MB
Category
Productivity
Compatibility
Requires iOS 18.0 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 18.0 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 18.0 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 15.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
Apple Vision Requires visionOS 2.0 or later.
Location
This app may use your location even when it isn’t open, which can decrease device battery life.
