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Work · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to EvoCat

I’ve always struggled with mindless scrolling, even when I had important work to do. Timers and app blockers never stuck — they felt boring and were easy to bypass. I built EvoCat as a small side project to solve my own problem. It’s a simple iOS app that blocks distracting apps and websites, but adds a fun layer of gamification: • You earn XP for staying focused • You evolve a digital cat as your self-control grows • Each evolution makes the blocking stronger (harder to quit sessions) It’s still in early beta, but this approach has helped me stay more mindful with my phone use. Would love…

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes.

  1. 1
    Barrier▲373

    Stop doomscrolling by blocking your addictive apps!

    2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  2. 2

    I wanted to find a way to use Instagram without ending up scrolling for two hours every time I open the app to see a friend's story. Most screen time apps I found focus on blocking the app itself instead of the addictive feed, so I created this app to allow me to keep using the "healthy" and "social" features and block the infinite scrolling (Reels) After implementing the block on Instagram Reels, I got addicted to YouTube Shorts and Reddit feed. So, I extended the app to cover these as well. To avoid replacing the scrolling for regular feeds, I also added a feature that shows a pop-up when…

    2025 · scrollguard.app · its alternatives →

  3. 3

    Hi HN, I built ScreenBreak after realizing that most app blockers failed in practice. “Hard blocks” were too rigid — I either locked myself out entirely or tapped Ignore Limit and kept scrolling. There was no useful middle state. In reality, people still need to open apps like TikTok or Instagram for specific tasks: looking something up, replying to someone, checking updates, etc. The problem isn’t intentional use; it’s the unplanned, unconscious scrolling that follows. I wanted a system that interrupts the impulse without fully preventing access. ScreenBreak uses soft blocking plus…

    Dec 2025 · screenbreak.app · its alternatives →

  4. 4
    Bloxie▲183

    Regain control over your life

    2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  5. 5

    Block distractions to eliminate wasteful browsing habits

    2017 · selfcontrol.apki.io · its alternatives →

  6. 6

    Hello. I was looking for a simple and clean habit tracker. I went through a few apps but felt they were missing something. I also had some time on my hands, so decided to make my own and share it in case anyone else likes it. Some of the supported features: Streaks based, track and beat your longest streaks Fully useable offline Freezes (similar to Duolingo's streak freezes) Visual map for tracking consistency Pause the app when you need a break or will be away For anyone curious about the tech stack: - React for frontend - Dexie cloud for storage and syncing - Vercel for hosting Link:…

    2024 · rdht.vercel.app · its alternatives →

  7. 7

    my phone secretly robbed all my dreams and i didn’t even knew it got so bad. when i saw my screen time being about 11hrs with ~95 phone pickups per day, i realized how bad it got. my problem is that i could not avoid social media entirely as i post actively because i’m involved in marketing and branding. I tried the usual, app blockers & time limits, but i always find myself hitting “one more minute” like a junkie. i’m not looking for a complete social media absence or deleting everything as these radical solutions don’t fit my lifestyle and needs and i tend to come back needing even more.…

    2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  8. 8

    Mindful screen time for macOS without blocking apps

    Mar 2026 · lucidbit.app · its alternatives →

  9. 9

    Unhook from Endless Scrolling

    Feb 2026 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  10. 10

    Set time or locations to block distractions from apps.

    2018 · play.google.com · its alternatives →

  11. 11

    I built Recode because I realized I was spending 8-10 hours a day on my phone pretty consistently. I tried other screen time apps but I found them too easy to bypass and end my blocks whenever I wanted to use an app. My solution was to build an app blocker app that makes users have to scan a physical QR/barcode to take a break from their app blocks. This helped me be able to get my screen time down to just a few hours everyday since I didn't want to physically get up and go across the house to get my barcode. Anyways, since it worked for me I felt like sharing it. App store link:…

    2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  12. 12

    Block distracting apps. Focus on your tasks. Built for ADHD

    Feb 2026 · helpfulphone.app · its alternatives →

  13. 13

    I'm a solo dev. A few years ago, I got addicted to Reddit. Spent months in that loop. Being a programmer, I thought I'd be clever. Redirected Reddit's domain to nowhere in my DNS file. Worked great until I'd just... open the file and undo it 20 minutes later. So I made it irreversible. Locked the DNS file so it can't be edited unless I boot my Mac in safe mode. And if I do that, there's a script that instantly locks it again. Haven't used Reddit since last year. Problem solved, right? Wrong. I just replaced Reddit with Twitch and YouTube. Started keeping streams running in the background…

    Nov 2025 · chromewebstore.google.com · its alternatives →

  14. 14

    Habit Doom helps you stop doomscrolling by turning screen time into a reward for real habits. Choose the apps that waste your time, set daily habits like exercise or reading, and earn minutes by checking them off. The app auto-locks selected apps at midnight and unlocks them with

    Apr 2026 · habitdoom.com · its alternatives →

  15. 15

    Android app blocker for unbreakable focus sessions

    Jan 2026 · play.google.com · its alternatives →

  16. 16

    Focus Timer & App Blocker With A Goblin That Fights Back

    Jun 2026 · cognifocus.app · its alternatives →

  17. 17

    The app blocker that makes quitting harder than focusing

    Sep 2026 · holdit.life · its alternatives →

  18. 18
    NeBoo▲12

    Hi HN, I built neboo because I realized that my willpower wasn't enough to fight the "infinite scroll" of modern social apps. I’d pick up my phone for a second and lose thirty minutes to a dopamine loop. Most blockers felt too aggressive or easy to bypass. I wanted a "manual override"—something to wake me up in the moment I’m stuck. How it works: ) You hit a button, and it forces a 3-second breathing delay. This tiny friction is often enough to break the impulsive reflex. ) Instead of just stopping, it suggests a randomized 30-second micro-habit (stretching, hydrating, looking out a window)…

    2025 · neboo.me · its alternatives →

  19. 19

    Think before you scroll

    Jan 2026 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  20. 20

    Hey! I always tried to overcome dopamine to improve productivity in my life, but I always failed. That's how I started this page. 1.Block sites that trigger your urges (Pxxx, ex profiles, etc.) 2.A popup interrupts and helps you regain control in seconds! If you're interested, please take a look at!

    2025 · crushsuddenurges.vercel.app · its alternatives →

  21. 21

    Reclaim Your Focus. Reclaim Your Life.

    Jan 2026 · play.google.com · its alternatives →

  22. 22

    Hey HN, A few months ago I noticed I was spending way too much time on YouTube + Reddit (like 4–5 hours per day). I tried a bunch of blockers, but most of them just hard-block everything… and when I actually need a YT for debugging, I end up disabling the blocker and never turning it back on. So I built ZenBlock to solve my problem: it blocks distracting sites, but when you try to open one, it shows a short breathing exercise, After that you can choose to get temporary access (5–30 min). The goal is to make you aware of distraction. this is more inclined towards Tech-wise: it’s built using…

    Feb 2026 · zenblock.app · its alternatives →

  23. 23

    Park your distractions and reclaim your focus.

    Feb 2026 · remindfocus.com · its alternatives →

  24. 24

    Distraction ends here. No way back in. Your desktop, locked.

    Aug 2026 · coregent.app · its alternatives →

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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →