The ScreenZen Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ScreenZen in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
ScreenZen
The Insider’s Guide
Free app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from ScreenZen’s own pages.
Made by ScreenZen LLC · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02Insider tipsWhat most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
- 03What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 04What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 05Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from ScreenZen’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ScreenZen’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.6
GPA, above 65 of the 65 other focus apps we grade
ScreenZen is a free screen time app that slows down or blocks distracting apps and websites. It can make you wait before an app opens, cut sessions short, enforce daily limits and schedules, and lock its own settings so the limits are hard to undo. It has no subscription and is funded by donations; the company also sells an optional companion device called halo.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about ScreenZen, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It also does daily limits, schedules and strict blocks, free with no subscription and paid for by donations.
- 1
Best for a free pause before distracting apps open
ScreenZen makes you wait before a distracting app opens, and the wait can grow each time you go back.
- 2
It is free
ScreenZen has no paid plan at all. The app is free with no subscription. ScreenZen describes itself as donation-supported, and the in-app purchases are optional tips.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.
- 4
Delay before an app opens
A wait is added before a distracting app opens, and it can lengthen with each open. A message of your choice, such as a question to yourself, is shown meanwhile.
- 5
Interrupted sessions
Apps can be opened for short periods only, so each session ends with a prompt to decide whether to keep going.
- 6
Limits and strict blocks
Set a daily goal per app and optionally block it at the limit. Strict blocks can apply to time ranges, after a number of opens or after a set screen time.
- 7
A 3.6 GPA, above 65 of 65
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
ScreenZen is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
ScreenZen at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- ScreenZen LLC
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 3.6 GPA, excellent
- Store rating
- 4.9 on the App Store, 50,990 ratings
The report card
Best for a free pause before distracting apps open
ScreenZen makes you wait before a distracting app opens, and the wait can grow each time you go back. It also does daily limits, schedules and strict blocks, free with no subscription and paid for by donations. There's no web or Linux version, website blocking on Android needs the Accessibility permission, and the $49 halo gadget ships to the US only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It costs nothing, against $2.99 to $8.33 a month across the rest of this category. No subscription, no paid tier, and the in-app purchases are optional tips of $5 to $40. The only thing sold is halo, a $49 gadget you don't need. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete app is free: delays, limits, strict blocks, schedules and lock mode. Nothing is held back for paying users, because there aren't any. |
| Features | B | A wait before an app opens that grows each time you go back, sessions cut short, daily limits, strict blocks by time range, opens or screen time, schedules by day and hour, and a lock mode that the site says can stop you uninstalling it. The blocking job, covered. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.9 from about 51,000 App Store ratings. Choose the apps, set a delay, and it shows a message of your choosing while you wait. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows, so phone and computer both. No web version, no integrations or API, and the Windows build is a direct download from the site. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who ScreenZen is for
- Fits if you want a screen time blocker without another subscription
- Works for people who'd rather slow social apps down than delete them
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you'd rather not grant the Accessibility permission on Android, which website blocking relies on
- Skip it if you're outside the US and want halo, since it ships to the US only
- Skip it if you work on Linux or in a browser, as the apps are for phones, Mac and Windows only
- Watch out: halo costs $49 and needs iOS 16.4 or Android 12.0 or later
- Watch out: the Windows version is a direct download from the site, and no integrations are listed
Good to know
Good for
- People who want a screen time blocker without paying a subscription
- Adding a pause before social apps instead of removing them
- Keeping phones out of use in the bedroom with the optional halo device
Worth knowing
- The app is funded by donations; its in-app purchases are optional tips, listed from $5 to $40 on the US App Store.
- The halo companion device costs $49, ships to the US only and works with iOS 16.4 or later and Android 12.0 or later.
- The Windows version is a direct download from ScreenZen's site, while the Mac version shares the App Store listing with the iPhone and iPad app.
- On Android, website blocking relies on the Accessibility permission.
Part 02 · Tips
Insider tips
What most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
6
Things most people miss, each from its own help pages
The things about ScreenZen that are easy to miss until they cost you: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches at renewal or when you leave. Each one is from ScreenZen’s own pages, linked beside it.
Read on Oct 17, 2026. Read from ScreenZen's own site (home, halo, HSA/FSA and account deletion pages) and its US App Store listing on 17 October 2026. Not tried out: these tips are what its own pages say.
- 1
Easy to miss
Minimal mode keeps social apps but drops Reels, Shorts and endless feeds
Version 4.0's notes on the App Store add a Minimal mode for social apps, without Reels, Shorts or endless feeds. Worth a look if you can't block Instagram or YouTube outright, because you need them for messages or the odd video, and it's the scrolling that gets you.
apps.apple.com - 2
Setting
Let a friend hold the key to your settings
The same 4.0 update adds a way to lock your settings with an accountability partner, so loosening your limits involves someone else. If you know you'll switch the rules off at 11pm, that's harder to talk yourself out of than a passcode you set yourself.
apps.apple.com - 3
Pay less
One halo covers the whole household
ScreenZen's halo page says one device pairs with unlimited phones and tablets in range, so a partner or roommates can share it. Want bedroom and desk covered? Two halos are $88.20 rather than $98. It ships free, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, US only.
screenzen.co - 4
Pay less
You may be able to buy halo with HSA or FSA money
ScreenZen works with Truemed, so pick "Truemed - Pay with HSA/FSA" at checkout and take a short health survey. If a clinician says you qualify, you pay with pretax money, which ScreenZen puts at up to 30% saved depending on your tax rate. Not seeing it? Leave the Shop Pay pop-up.
screenzen.co - 5
Privacy
The app needs no account; only halo does
The halo page says the core ScreenZen app doesn't require an account. You only make one to manage a halo and add other people to it. So if you skip the gadget, there's nothing to sign up for and no email address to hand over.
screenzen.co - 6
Leaving
Made an account for halo? Delete it in the app; backups clear in 90 days
Open the app's settings and tap Delete Account. ScreenZen's page says your profile and preferences go straight away, some data can be kept for 30 days for legal or fraud reasons, and copies in backups are gone within 90 days. It can't be undone.
screenzen.co
Part 03 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
ScreenZen is free to use.
The complete app is free: delays, limits, strict blocks, schedules and lock mode.
ScreenZen
$0
The complete app: delays, limits, strict blocks, schedules and lock mode. Optional tips of $5 to $40 are listed on the US App Store.
The free plan
The app is free with no subscription. ScreenZen describes itself as donation-supported, and the in-app purchases are optional tips.
Read from screenzen.co on Oct 5, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Kind Tip”, against $5.00 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 299.00 | $4.76 | about the same |
| Canada | $7.00 | $4.92 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺249,99 | $5.08 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 499 | $5.16 | about the same |
| Brazil | R$ 29,90 | $5.97 | 19% more |
| South Africa | R99.99 | $6.05 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £5.00 | $6.61 | 32% more |
| Germany | 6,00 € | $6.72 | 34% more |
Part 04 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Free app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: site & app blocker, time tracking.
iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows, so phone and computer both.
- Delay before an app opens
- A wait is added before a distracting app opens, and it can lengthen with each open. A message of your choice, such as a question to yourself, is shown meanwhile.
- Interrupted sessions
- Apps can be opened for short periods only, so each session ends with a prompt to decide whether to keep going.
- Limits and strict blocks
- Set a daily goal per app and optionally block it at the limit. Strict blocks can apply to time ranges, after a number of opens or after a set screen time.
- Schedules by day and time
- Settings can differ by day of the week and time of day for each app, for example stricter rules during work hours or at bedtime.
- Lock mode
- Settings can be locked so they cannot be changed on impulse, and the site says lock mode can prevent uninstalling the app.
- halo companion device
- An optional Bluetooth device, sold separately, that blocks chosen apps while the phone is inside its radius of up to 50 ft, such as a bedroom.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Who makes ScreenZen
ScreenZen is made by ScreenZen LLC. The app has no subscription and is paid for by voluntary donations from its users; the company also sells halo, a $49 device that blocks chosen apps while the phone is near it.
- Team
- A fractional team using hourly or project-based consultants, according to its hiring form2351511qz0g.typeform.com
- Hiring
- No openings are listed; a general hiring form takes interest in design, product management, marketing, development, and assistant, QA or support work2351511qz0g.typeform.com
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 05 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
65/65
Other focus apps it is graded above
ScreenZen's GPA of 3.6 is higher than 65 of the 65 other focus apps we grade.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 53 of 65) and worst on platforms and integrations (B, above 39).
ScreenZen has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. ScreenZen’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 40 of 65
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 65
- BFeaturesAbove 48 of 65
- AEase of useAbove 45 of 65
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 39 of 65
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 56 focus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. ScreenZen is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
ScreenZen is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.6 is higher than 65 of the 65 other focus apps we grade.
What you could make
- Time tracking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Blocking that reaches every browser and app and is hard to switch off.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. ScreenZen’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
one sec, Opal, Clearspace, Jomo and Freedom
The 5 tools ScreenZen is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
one sec
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
Screen time app that adds a pause before distracting apps open.
- Only ScreenZen lists a Windows app.
- Only one sec lists a browser extension.
- one sec can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Opal
Free plan · from $8.29/mo
Screen time app that blocks distracting apps on phone and Mac.
- Only ScreenZen lists a Windows app.
- Opal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- ScreenZen also covers time tracking.
- 2.6GPA
Clearspace
Free plan · from $6.99/mo
Screen time app that adds a pause and a time limit to distracting apps.
- Only ScreenZen lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Clearspace lists a browser extension.
- 2.8GPA
Jomo
Free plan · from $2.49/mo
Screen time blocker for iPhone, iPad and Mac with flexible rules.
- Only ScreenZen lists Android and Windows apps.
- Jomo can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
Freedom
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Website and app blocker that runs across computers and phones.
- Only Freedom lists a browser extension.
- Freedom can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- ScreenZen also covers time tracking.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is ScreenZen free?
Yes. ScreenZen is free to use.
How much does ScreenZen cost?
ScreenZen lists one plan. ScreenZen: $0.
What platforms does ScreenZen work on?
ScreenZen is available on iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.
How is ScreenZen rated?
ScreenZen's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 50,990 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does ScreenZen have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. ScreenZen is listed for iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.
Is ScreenZen open source?
ScreenZen is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Who makes ScreenZen?
ScreenZen is made by ScreenZen LLC.
What are the alternatives to ScreenZen?
The closest alternatives to ScreenZen in our directory are one sec, Opal, Clearspace, Jomo and Freedom.
How does ScreenZen compare with other focus apps?
ScreenZen's GPA of 3.6 is higher than 65 of the 65 other focus apps we grade.
Is ScreenZen good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ScreenZen A for value for money. ScreenZen has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of ScreenZen?
ScreenZen is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ScreenZen’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ScreenZen's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-12.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ScreenZen LLC. Prices change, so check screenzen.co before you buy.
Part 08 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ScreenZen, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/screenzen
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "ScreenZen: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/screenzen
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/screenzen/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after ScreenZen, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Focus Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 66 focus apps we grade, compared
- Flora Insider's GuideFree focus timer that grows trees, alone or with friends3.2 GPA
- Flow Insider's GuideMinimal Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch3.2 GPA
- Foqos Insider's GuideFree open-source iPhone app blocker using NFC tags or QR codes3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ScreenZen’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. ScreenZen is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ScreenZen LLC. Prices and plans change: check screenzen.co before you buy.