I got tired of screentime apps, so I built a better one (and it's free)

Summary

The creator introduces Habits First, a screen-time app he built after finding conventional blockers ineffective. He says it reduced his screen time by 99%, helped him read several books a week, and made it easier to keep up with workouts. These are his personal results, not an independent review.

The app’s central idea is to earn access to distracting apps by completing habits. For example, the creator set it up so that 30 minutes of reading or audiobook listening unlocked five minutes of social media. He argues that this reward-based approach can make useful activities more motivating than simply imposing daily limits or scheduled blocks. It can also support goals such as studying, Anki practice, step counts, or workouts.

Product features and design

• Quick setup: The creator aims to make the app usable without an account, trial, or lengthy onboarding. It requests the permissions needed for blocking and integrations, then lets users create a lock.
• Simple interface: Three main pages cover app blocks, screen-time statistics, and settings.
• No subscriptions: The creator says the app will remain free, with potential support from his YouTube channel if it becomes popular.
• Options to make restrictions harder to bypass: Users can prevent changes to restrictions, block app deletion, or have a friend set a Screen Time passcode.
• Integrations: Apple Health can track steps and workouts, allowing app access to depend on activity. Location rules can control blocking in particular places, and a “Beacons” feature uses a Bluetooth device to apply rules in specific rooms.

The creator’s broader argument is that willpower alone is often a poor defense against highly engaging apps. He believes screen-time tools work better when they encourage positive behaviors rather than merely restricting use.

Sponsor segment: Granola

The video also includes a sponsor feature for Granola, described as an AI meeting-notes app. It detects meetings across computer applications, then produces a transcript and summary. Users can take their own notes without adding a meeting bot. The creator says Granola can sync notes to Obsidian and that its basic plan is free.

Development context

The creator says an earlier app project did not find product-market fit but taught him lessons about building products. This time, he plans to release early, gather feedback, and refine Habits First based on users’ needs.

Reviews, guides, or tutorials

No formal review, step-by-step tutorial, or comparison is provided. The video includes a walkthrough of the app’s setup, interface, blocking protections, and integrations.

Main speaker/source: Reysu, the app’s creator and video host. Other source mentioned: Granola, featured as the video sponsor.