The best screen time apps for iPhone in 2026

Screen time apps all promise the same thing: less time lost to your phone. They get there in very different ways. Some lock apps, some slow you down, and one needs a small object on your shelf.

A screen time app is an app that limits, blocks or adds friction to the apps you choose. The best one is the one that fits the moment you actually slip, whether that is your desk at 3pm or your bed at midnight.

How we compared these screen time apps

Every detail about another company's app comes from its own website or App Store listing, checked September 2026. Prices are in US dollars as published and may differ in your country. Where a price was not clearly published, we say so rather than guess.

We looked at four things: how each app stops you, which devices it runs on, what it costs, and who it genuinely suits. No app here is best at everything.

Screen time apps compared at a glance

1. Apple Screen Time: the free starting point

Screen Time is already on your iPhone. In the iOS 27 user guide, Apple says you can see how long you spend in apps and websites, and sync your settings across iPhone, iPad and Mac signed in to the same Apple Account.¹

You set Schedules for when apps are available and Time Allowances for how long you can use categories like Social Media or Games. You can also choose apps and contacts that are always allowed.²

On iOS 26, these were called Downtime and App Limits. Apple's guide for that version says limits can be ignored once reached by default, unless you set a Screen Time passcode and turn on Block at Downtime.³ Our guide to using Downtime on iPhone walks through the setup.

Genuine strengths: no cost, no extra app, and settings that follow you across your Apple devices.

2. Opal: a screen time blocker built for focus

Opal's App Store listing describes app limits that block apps once you hit them, blocks at set times of day, and a Deep Focus level you can't cancel or bypass. It also has focus reports, leaderboards and breaks where you write an intention first.⁴

The listing says Opal uses Apple's Screen Time API and that personal browsing data never leaves your device. It requires iOS 18.0 or later and carries an App Store Editors' Choice badge.⁴

Opal's pricing page lists a free plan on iOS, Android and Mac with one rule. Opal Pro adds unlimited rules, Hard Mode and Allow Only for $99.99 a year, $19.99 a month, or $399 as a one time lifetime payment.⁵

Genuine strengths: a free plan, a lifetime option, and one tool across phone and computer. See our SETL vs Opal comparison for a side by side view.

3. one sec: a screen timer blocker that makes you pause

one sec takes a different approach. Its App Store listing says it delays access to distracting apps instead of blocking them completely, using a deep breath animation when you open them.⁶

If you get stuck scrolling, a feature called Re-Intervention can kick you out after a set time. Using one sec with one app is free; more apps need one sec pro. The listing covers iPhone, iPad and Mac.⁶ Its platforms page adds Android and a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge.⁷

Genuine strengths: a gentle method that doesn't feel like punishment, and wide device support.

4. ScreenZen: a free app limit app

ScreenZen's website calls it a donation supported screen time app that blocks distracting apps and websites. It says ScreenZen is completely free and lists iOS, macOS, Windows and Android.⁸

Its App Store listing describes a wait before opening apps that can grow each time, daily app goals with optional blocking, strict blocks by time range or number of opens, locks on its own settings, and streaks. The in app purchases listed are optional tips.⁹

Genuine strengths: no subscription and a deep set of controls.

5. Brick: a physical screen time restrictor

Brick is a physical device that works with an app. You choose apps to block, then tap your phone against the Brick to start a session. Its site lists the device at $59.00.¹⁰

Brick's FAQ says ending a block needs a rescan of the device, and a Strict Mode aims to stop you deleting the app or changing settings. It offers five Emergency Unbricks if you lose the device, and works with iPhones on iOS 17.0 or later and Android 12.0 or later.¹¹

Genuine strengths: real physical distance between you and your apps.

6. Sunbreak: bedtime blocking with a friend in the loop

Sunbreak's website calls it an iPhone app blocker built for sleep. Apps lock at bedtime and unlock at sunrise where you live. If you break bedtime, your accountability partners get an email, and a Phone Down Mode sounds an alarm if you pick up your phone. The site says it is iOS only for now.¹²

The App Store lists it as free with in app purchases, for iPhone and iPad on iOS 17.0 or later.¹³ We could not find a clearly published plan price.

Genuine strengths: a clear bedtime focus and social accountability few other apps offer.

Which screen time app is right for you?

• You want free and simple: start with Apple Screen Time, or try ScreenZen.
• You need your laptop covered too: look at Opal, one sec or ScreenZen.
• You want a nudge, not a wall: one sec or ScreenZen.
• You want something you can hold: Brick.
• Your nights are the problem: Sunbreak or SETL. Our guide to the best app blocker for sleep goes deeper.

Where SETL fits

SETL is the screen time blocker to pick first if bedtime is where your time goes: set your bedtime once and your chosen apps are blocked every night, with SETL Plans for nights off. SETL Sessions cover daytime focus, and opening early needs a deliberate press and hold. It is iPhone only, built on Apple's Screen Time framework, and priced at $39.99 a year at launch, with up to 7 nights free. SETL is on a waitlist now, and if you need Android, Mac or a free plan, another app above will suit you better.