Questions, answered.
Everything people ask about Drill Sergeant. Something missing? Email info@drillsergeantapp.com.
The basics
What is Drill Sergeant?
Drill Sergeant is a discipline app with a drill sergeant in it. Captain Jack blocks the apps that eat your day, like Instagram and TikTok, until you earn them back with push-ups or real work. He also turns your goals into daily objectives, and everything you do earns stars and rank against your friends.
Who is Captain Jack?
Captain Jack is the drill sergeant character in the app. He speaks, counts your push-ups out loud, sets your daily objectives from your goals and reviews your work reports. The objectives and reviews are written by AI, and every AI-written text has a Flag button.
Is Drill Sergeant on iPhone?
Drill Sergeant is on Android now and launching on the App Store. On iPhone, app blocking uses Apple's Screen Time and arrives in an update shortly after launch.
Do I need an account?
No. You can start without one. Signing in adds your squad, the weekly board and an evening email with your day and tomorrow's objectives.
Blocking and unlocking
Which apps can Drill Sergeant block?
On Android: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Threads, plus Instagram Lite and TikTok Lite. On iPhone you pick any app from Apple's Screen Time list.
How do I unlock a blocked app?
When you open a blocked app, Captain Jack gives you three choices: do 10 push-ups for 10 minutes, report the work you have done (10 minutes for every hour, up to 60 minutes a day), or close the app and get back to work. When the time is up, the app locks again.
Do I have to do push-ups?
No. Push-ups are never the only way through. You can always report real work instead, or simply get back to work.
Can I cheat the work report?
You can try. Reports are capped at 60 minutes of scrolling a day, big claims are always checked and smaller ones sometimes, and Captain Jack asks for push-ups as proof. Cheating only cheats yourself.
How do I turn app blocking off?
Any time. On Android, switch Drill Sergeant off in your phone's Accessibility settings. On iPhone, turn it off in Settings, Screen Time.
Price
How much does Drill Sergeant cost?
It is free to download. Drill Sergeant Pro starts with a 7-day free trial and then costs $6.99 a month in the US, with local prices in other countries.
How do I cancel?
Android: in the Google Play Store under Payments & subscriptions, Subscriptions. iPhone: in Settings, Apple Account, Subscriptions, at least 24 hours before it renews. You keep access until the end of the period you paid for.
Privacy
Does the camera record me?
No. Push-ups are counted on your phone, frame by frame, and nothing is recorded, saved or uploaded.
Can Drill Sergeant see what I do in other apps?
No. On Android it only notices which app you open, so Captain Jack can step in front of it; it never reads what is on your screen, and nothing about your app use leaves your phone. On iPhone, Apple's Screen Time doesn't even tell us which apps you chose.
Want the longer version? Read how push-up app blockers work or all guides.