A ScreenZen alternative, from someone who thinks ScreenZen is great
Hey y'all. If you're happy with ScreenZen, honestly, keep using it. It's free, it's full of features, and it's run on donations instead of a paywall, which I really respect. I make HonorFit, so I'm biased, but I'd feel weird pretending ScreenZen isn't good.
This page is for people who've used it for a while and want something different: specifically, a blocker where the way back in is a few pushups instead of a wait.
What ScreenZen does well
- A pause before the app opens. You wait a bit before choosing whether to open a distracting app, and the wait can get longer each time you open it.
- Prompts. It asks things like whether this is important, which is a surprisingly good question at 11pm.
- Limits and rules. Per-app limits, a cap on how many times you open an app, and settings by day and time of day.
- Earning your opens. You can earn opens by breathing, journaling or learning something.
- Streaks to keep you going.
It's on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android. The App Store listing describes it as free with optional tips, and its website says it's donation-supported.
Where HonorFit is different
ScreenZen's main tool is time: a pause, a limit, a schedule. HonorFit's main tool is effort. Your blocked apps stay locked until you log some reps, and each rep adds time to one balance. By default, one pushup is a minute, a pull-up is a minute and a half, and a situp or squat is 30 seconds. The balance only counts down while a blocked app is on screen, so you're never racing a clock while your phone sits in your pocket.
- The price is physical. A wait is easy to sit through while staring at the screen. Getting on the floor is a real decision.
- Simpler. HonorFit has way fewer settings than ScreenZen. Pick apps, do reps, spend minutes. That's kinda the point, but if you love fine-tuning, ScreenZen gives you more knobs.
- Honor system. No camera, no AI checking your reps, no account and no analytics.
- Pricing. Free, with banked time capped at 20 minutes. Pro is $3.00 a month or $19.99 once and adds custom exercises, timed workouts, pause mode, a daily baseline and more.
Side by side
| ScreenZen | HonorFit | |
|---|---|---|
| When you open a blocked app | A pause that can get longer each time, then you choose | It's locked until you've earned time with reps |
| Limits | Per-app limits, number of opens, time-of-day rules | One earned balance across all blocked apps |
| Ways to earn | Breathing, journaling, learning | Pushups, situps, squats, pull-ups (custom in Pro) |
| Settings | Lots | A few |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android | iPhone, Android |
| Pricing model | Free, optional tips | Free; Pro monthly or one-time |
Who should pick which
Stick with ScreenZen if the pause works for you, you like detailed rules, or you want something completely free with no cap.
Try HonorFit if you've gotten good at waiting out the pause, and you'd like opening Instagram to cost ten pushups instead. If you know you'd lie about your reps, though, a camera-based app like Pushscroll is a better fit. I wrote about that trade-off in the Pushscroll comparison.
FAQ
Is ScreenZen free?
Yes. Its App Store listing describes it as free with optional tips, and its website says it's donation-supported.
What is a good alternative to ScreenZen?
one sec works on a similar pause idea. Opal adds focus sessions, schedules and a paid can't-cancel mode. Brick is a physical device you tap to block apps. HonorFit and Pushscroll make you exercise to unlock.
Why would I pay for HonorFit when ScreenZen is free?
You might not need to. HonorFit's free version does the main thing: lock apps until you earn time with reps. It just caps banked time at 20 minutes. Pro ($3.00 a month or $19.99 once) adds custom exercises, timed workouts, pause mode, a daily baseline and more.
Can I use ScreenZen and HonorFit together on iPhone?
Probably not at the same time. Both use Apple's Screen Time, and iOS currently only lets one app hold Screen Time access at a time. To switch, turn the other app off in Settings › Screen Time › Apps with Screen Time Access. HonorFit walks you through it if it hits that error.
Does HonorFit check that I really did the reps?
No. It runs on the honor system: no camera, no motion tracking, no AI. If you cheat, the only person you're fooling is you.
HonorFit Blocker locks the apps you choose until you earn time back with pushups, situps, squats or pull-ups. Free on iPhone and Android. Honor system: no camera, no AI, and nothing leaves your phone.