OffScreen: Screen Time Control

Pros: user interface is great. Prompts are encouraging and not too overbearing. Overall, a very good app. Cons: Apps like these really need a way to distinguish between different uses of screen time. For instance, a two hour phone call is counted as two hours of screen time. Language learning apps, emails etc. Are all counted as screen time. There needs to be a way to omit certain useful apps so you can see how much of your phone time is actually useless scrolling. Or select the apps you want to cut down usage of so that these apps can be monitored for usage time.

It would be helpful if OffScreen has the ability to not count navigation in my car and listening to audiobooks as “screen time”. At the moment I’m not paying attention to my numbers because I listen to audiobooks while working so now it looks like I’m spending 11 hours a day on my phone which is only technically correct.

Why does this app needs location tracking?

In general, the app is helpful. One thing that REALLY annoys me though is that I can’t exclude apps from the calculations and the notifications. For example, Waze is something I use about 1-2 hours per day and I can exclude it. So while I’m driving, I keep getting notifications that I’ve been on my cell for too long… and it calculates this as screen time. I would love to be able to apply exclusions to some apps.

Dear Developer, I hope you’re doing well. I would like to kindly request the addition of a weekly goal feature for tags in the app. While the daily goal feature is useful, having a weekly goal option would provide users with more flexibility and the ability to set broader targets, making the app even more powerful and effective for long-term progress tracking. Thank you for considering this request. I’m confident that this feature would greatly enhance the user experience. Best regards,

The blocking app function worked for a while until I found out that actually I can still browse website, because the app is using black list to block apps and websites instead of using whitelist to allow apps or websites. So, for example, even though I have blocked Reddit app, I can still visit Reddit’s mobile website with Safari because it’s not in the app list. It would be much better to use a white list to allow which apps that I can open.

I’m going through something and my anxiety is at a higher level so I’ve been more addicted to my phone and wasting time. I’m using the free version and this app is helping me be reminded not to use certain apps during certain times. When I go to try the app doesn’t open, a positive quote shows up instead and then I put my phone down.

Wish you could use it without location services.

I rate this app 5 starts bc it is very useful for someone who was addicted to their phone it has helped me become non addicted, great work on this app hope to see more ppl love it

Overall this is a great app, but I don’t understand why it neeeeds to know my exact location 24/7. I understand the “walking and using your phone” feature might need it (although there are likely other ways of going about this, such as accessing iPhone’s built in pedometer). But if I don’t want to use that feature why in the world does it need my location to track my screen time? At this point I only use the app for the app blocking feature which is a significantly better deal than opal (and the only reason I’m willing to give 3 stars).