ScreenZen

ScreenZen is a distraction-blocking app for people who want limits on selected apps and websites across mobile and desktop. It is a strong fit for anyone who wants scheduled rules without an account for the core app; Halo is a separate choice for people who want blocking tied to a physical boundary.

Overview

ScreenZen combines daily limits, scheduled focus blocks, mindful-use controls and progress tracking. That range makes it suitable for building repeatable habits, not just switching access off entirely. Lock mode can protect against common workarounds and prevent uninstalling, a meaningful safeguard for users who find it easy to abandon their own rules. It is less compelling if the goal is simply to observe usage rather than actively restrict it.

The core app does not require an account. Its maker says core settings and blocking data stay on the device, and that the app collects no personally identifiable information. Optional social-accountability and Halo features may store account details and selected usage or Halo data in Google Firebase and cloud storage. ScreenZen says it may use self-hosted OpenPanel analytics and does not collect per-app activity from apps users have not selected to block.

Key features

Rules for apps and websites

Users choose what to block and apply daily limits or recurring schedules. This is a practical fit for people whose distractions follow predictable routines, while mindful-use features and progress tracking offer a way to make restrictions less all-or-nothing. The controls cover websites as well as apps, and lock mode helps keep a chosen session in force.

Halo boundary blocking

Halo uses Bluetooth to block selected apps and websites when a device enters a chosen physical boundary. Its radius is adjustable up to 50 ft, it supports custom schedules, and it works with unlimited iOS 16.4+ or Android 12.0+ phones and tablets. That makes it useful for household or place-based boundaries; the trade-off is that it is a separate hardware purchase and requires an account to manage the device and add users.

Pricing

The ScreenZen app costs nothing, with optional donations supporting the project. There is no free trial because the core app is free. It is the natural starting point for anyone who wants the app’s blocking controls without an upfront cost.

Halo costs $49, paid once: pay once, use it forever. The purchase is for 1 halo, includes free shipping, is limited to US shipping, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Choose it only if physical-boundary blocking justifies buying the device; otherwise the free app covers the core app-and-website blocking use case.

Platforms

ScreenZen is available on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. Halo compatibility is narrower: iOS 16.4+ and Android 12.0+ phones and tablets.

Who it's for

ScreenZen suits people who want to curb chosen distractions with scheduled blocks, daily caps and a safeguard against easy rule-breaking. Its account-free core and on-device storage are also a good match for people who prefer not to create an account for basic use. Halo is aimed at users who want those restrictions to activate around a physical boundary. ScreenZen is not medical or mental-health advice, and its terms require users to be at least 13.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The core app is free and account-free, so users can set up blocking without a subscription or sign-in.
• Pro: Daily limits, recurring schedules, mindful-use controls and lock mode support several ways to make restrictions stick.
• Pro: The app spans Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, while Halo can work with unlimited compatible phones and tablets.
• Con: Halo is a separate $49 as a one-time purchase, and shipping is US only.
• Con: Halo and optional social-accountability features can involve account details and cloud storage, unlike the account-free core app.

Alternatives

Freedom is worth considering if you want multi-device sync and custom blocklists, or need Linux and web support; its free plan is limited and a free trial is available.

StayFree is a free option to consider if cross-device screen-time tracking and usage control matter more than ScreenZen’s scheduled blocking emphasis.

Opal may suit someone who wants blocking with basic timers and soundscapes on iOS, Android or Mac; its free plan is limited to one rule, with a free trial also available.

YourHour is another Android and iOS option, with a free download that contains ads and in-app purchases.

AppBlock is an alternative for users comparing freemium app-blocking options on Android, iOS or through an extension.

Apple Screen Time is a free built-in choice for Apple devices, particularly for managing a child’s controls across a family group with Family Sharing and individual Apple Accounts.

Focusly is a free, offline, no-account option for macOS, Windows and extension users who want all features under an MIT license.

Jomo is an iOS and macOS alternative with a free plan capped at one session, one action or limit, and one screen-time budget.

For more options, browse Screen Time Management Apps or Distraction Blocking Software.

Verdict

ScreenZen is a sound pick for people who want free, account-free blocking across mobile and desktop, with schedules, daily limits and lock mode to reinforce their intentions. Halo is a distinctive add-on for physical-boundary routines, but its price, US-only shipping and account requirement make it less suitable for anyone who only needs software-based limits.