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    Quick Info

    Best For

    People trying to cut mindless scrolling

    Key Features

    Puzzle-to-unlock barrier
    Per-app selection
    Screen-time reduction

    Community Rating

    Pause logo

    Pause

    free • Free
    Updated Sep 2026

    Pause is a free screen-time app built around one simple idea: put a small, deliberate barrier between you and the apps that eat your day. Instead of hard-blocking social media or games, it asks you to solve a quick puzzle before the app opens, which gives you a few seconds to decide whether you actually want to be there. That friction interrupts the automatic reach-for-the-phone habit without the all-or-nothing frustration of strict blockers, so people tend to keep it switched on. You choose which apps get the barrier. It is free, so the main trade-off is that a determined user can still solve the puzzle and carry on — it nudges rather than enforces. For anyone trying to cut mindless scrolling and refocus, it is a gentle, low-effort place to start.

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    Pros

    • Free to use
    • Gentle friction instead of hard blocks
    • You pick which apps

    Cons

    • Puzzle can still be solved to carry on
    • Nudges rather than enforces
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    All Features

    Puzzle-to-unlock barrier
    Per-app selection
    Screen-time reduction

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