Dev tools · alternatives · 2026
24 alternatives to I made a app that uses NFC as a physical switch to block distractions
Hi HN! Super proud to showcase Foqos! I wanted to create a way to physically block apps on my phone, always had a bunch of NFC tags, combined the 2 together over the holiday break and Foqos was born. You can create profiles, write them to NFC tags and track your weekly focus. Its completely open source and will always be free! There is an affiliate link in the app for nfc tags and donations are completely optional Link here: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/foqos/id6736793117
Foqos is an open-source iOS app that uses NFC tags as physical switches to block distracting apps on smartphones. Users create focus profiles and write them to NFC tags, then tap a tag to activate app restrictions. The… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes.
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Chunk▲282Hi HN Dudley here, tech lead on Chunk. Chunk is a macOS menu bar app for time-blocking. It opens with Cmd + / and slides down over whatever you're doing - including fullscreen apps. There's also a live countdown in the tray for the current block. Click-and-drag to create blocks, day/week views, Google/Outlook/Apple Calendar sync, Apple Reminders integration, and a Todo mode where tasks can be dragged onto the timeline. Templates and Routines let you build an ideal day once and auto-apply it on chosen weekdays. There's a local MCP server, so you can ask Claude Desktop to…
2025 · chunkapp.net · its alternatives →
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Session▲252Pomodoro timer w/ distraction blocking, journal & analytics
2020 · stayinsession.com · its alternatives →
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Tomosu▲83Lock your apps by default to improve your digital wellbeing
Mar 2026 · tomosu.app · its alternatives →
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FocusMode▲67I’m the solo developer of Focusmo, a macOS focus app. I just shipped v7.12, which adds a local MCP server for Claude. The goal is simple: instead of generic productivity advice, Claude can connect to real focus data and help with weekly reviews, planning, and pattern spotting. Right now Claude can access: - today’s stats - weekly trends - task list - app usage with an hourly heatmap - personal records - live session state It can also create tasks and mark tasks complete. Everything runs locally on Mac through MCP, so the data stays on-device. I wrote more about it here:…
2025 · focusmo.app · its alternatives →
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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 →
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Hey HN, I'm a solo developer from Nigeria. I built Quran Unlock - an app that blocks distracting apps (TikTok, Instagram, etc.) until you complete your daily Quran reading. The idea came from my own struggle with phone addiction. I wanted to read Quran daily but kept getting distracted. So I built this for myself, then shared it. Some stats after 2 months: - 123K+ users - 64.9% returning user rate - 31M events tracked Tech stack: - React Native - Firebase (Auth, Firestore, Analytics, Cloud Messaging) - RevenueCat for subscriptions - iOS Screen Time API + Android UsageStats App Store:…
Jan 2026 · quranunlock.app · its alternatives →
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CogniFocus▲19Focus Timer & App Blocker With A Goblin That Fights Back
Jun 2026 · cognifocus.app · its alternatives →
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I've been building Focu, a mindful productivity app for macOS, these past months. As someone diagnosed with ADHD and depression, it's been super helpful to journal daily and use an AI to reflect and get feedback. It's not a replacement for therapy, but it sure has been complementary. The app uses Ollama to provide the user with a locally running AI, the downside is that it does require a powerful device, but I've had super good results with Llama3.2:3b which is not too heavy to run at all. I'm using Dexie.js to store the data in IndexedDB although I'm considering moving to "file over app".…
2025 · github.com · its alternatives →
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FocusDot▲5A minimal macOS focus app that helps you stay productive.
Nov 2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →
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EvoCat▲17I’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…
2025 · evocat.app · its alternatives →
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TimeSnap▲8Hey HN I just launched TimeSnap, a lightweight desktop app built for deep work and distraction control. What it does: Tracks your focus sessions Lets you whitelist apps (everything else is considered a distraction) Shows you exactly when and where you lost focus Optional glowing screen border for visual feedback Clean UI with session history, achievements & recap No bloat. No complicated setups. Just a fast way to get into flow and stay there. Check it out https://usefsgh.gumroad.com/l/uxhixl($39.99) I'd love your feedback on the concept, design, or anything you'd…
2025 · usefsgh.gumroad.com · its alternatives →
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Zone▲13Block apps, track Screen time. No account needed
Jan 2026 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →
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Download Tomato One - Free Focus Timer by Median Tech, s.r.o. on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Tomato One -…
2014 · itunes.apple.com · its alternatives →
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CirqTap▲1Tap a tag to block the apps that steal your focus
Jul 2026 · cirqtap.com · its alternatives →
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Turn your phone into a study and work companion.
2025 · focusminny.app · its alternatives →
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BLOCC▲2BLOCC: focus more, distract less, change the world.
Feb 2026 · getblocc.com · its alternatives →
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Fokus▲1Plan five tasks, then focus in a quiet Mac capsule
May 2026 · ifokus.netlify.app · its alternatives →
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Block distracting apps when it is time to focus
Jul 2026 · play.google.com · its alternatives →
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Always-on-top minimalist Pomodoro timer for deep work.
Mar 2026 · onetask-sigma.vercel.app · its alternatives →
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Break Social Media Addiction with NFC-Powered Blocking
2025 · abhijeets-code.itch.io · 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 →