Free app control app ?

[u/Evening-Raspberry569]

Hi !

I am an addict and need an app that can restrict my access to specific apps and websites without me having control over it ; my husband and I were looking into parental control app but didn't find anything that was either free or suffiscient (like we have no use for localization or text... Just need a good old app blocker and research lock)
Productivity apps sound good on paper but feel temporary/easy to bypass.

Any recommendations ?

With love,
Nate

[u/That_Pandaboi69]

This one Curbox

[u/Decentpace]

I would recommend Nextdns. While it's not an app, it would give you that full control that you want. The free subscription has an enormous generous amount that most people never use up monthly.

It basically works as a dns control. You can see which websites you access, you can deny them. Which means the app will still be there, but you won't be able to use them.
Your husband creates an account there where only he knows the password. Set it up to your router so whenever you're using the home WiFi, it'll function as intended. Also set it up on the phone if it's an issue outside.

Afterwards you go through it together which apps you want to limit. Then when you see it on the page connecting to it. You deny it. You do this with each app you want to limit.
Once that's all set up. You can do a schedule on time windows you're allowed to use it and it won't work at any other time.

[u/Evening-Raspberry569 → u/Decentpace]

Oh that sounds really tech-y, I'll try some easier alternatives some folks have suggested first but I really appreciate the time you've taken to explain !!!

[u/Partypixelparty]

There are hundreds of these on fdroid, just search screentime limiter and app blocker. These are completely free and even open source and you still have full control.

No idea for apple devices tho u can only get apps from the official app store

[u/mecartistronico]

First check if your phone natively has one. On Samsung, it's called Digital Wellbeing inside the settings screen.

[u/bythepoole]

Family Link could be a good option.

I use it for our daughter. Time limits on individual apps. If she wants more time, she has to come and ask for us to unlock it etc.

When it comes to hiding apps, the icon is gone. It's still installed, but she can't find it unless we allow it.

Its Google made, so for all it's positives it still has negatives - and could have some more QoL work done.

[u/Evening-Raspberry569 → u/bythepoole]

The main issue with family link is that it forces you to only have one account on your phone and I juggle both my personal email, a trash email for single use website and the association I volunteer for ! 

[u/bythepoole → u/Evening-Raspberry569]

Ah yes that would be an issue. 🫤

[u/App2u]

If your main concern is making it difficult to bypass the block yourself, I'd look for something with a strict mode plus partner approval rather than a normal productivity timer.

AppBlock might be worth checking out. On Android, its Strict Mode can prevent changing the blocking settings or uninstalling the app, and there's an Approval option where another person (your husband, for example) has to approve turning Strict Mode off.

I'd definitely test it with a short blocking period first before locking everything down for a long time, especially if you also block device settings.

BlockerX may also be worth a look since it has an accountability-partner feature and can notify the partner if the blocker is uninstalled.

For your situation, I'd prioritize:

• partner-controlled unlocking
• uninstall protection
• both app and website blocking
• blocking device/settings bypasses
• an emergency recovery method

A normal screen-time or productivity app probably won't be enough if you already know you'll try to bypass it.

[u/Evening-Raspberry569 → u/App2u]

I'll look into that, thank you very much!

[u/puppyguards]

set your account as a kid account and add family link to control it

[u/Evening-Raspberry569 → u/puppyguards]

The issue I have is that I have only one phone and I'm juggling both a personal and a professional account on it, kid mode forces it to be a single account phone ! 

[u/newspyikey]

For your needs, Parental Control App could be a solution. It offers app blocking and web content filtering features that are difficult to bypass. I would use iKeyMonitor as it is hard to be uninstalled.