Digital Wellbeing Alternatives: Stronger App Blockers for Android (2026)
By Fred Smith, maker of Drill Sergeant / Updated / 7 min read
Closest replacement: StayFree (better stats, limits and schedules; free, no ads). Gentler: ScreenZen or one sec. Stricter: AppBlock, Regain or Lock Me Out, which can stop you changing your limits. Makes you earn your apps back: Drill Sergeant. Or keep Digital Wellbeing and turn on its App limits PIN, so a limit can't be deleted in two taps.
Digital Wellbeing is Google's screen time tool, built into most Android phones. It shows how much you use each app, sets daily app timers, pauses distracting apps in Focus mode and fades the screen to grey at bedtime[1]. It's free and already there. It's also easy to get around, which is why so many people look for something stronger. We make Drill Sergeant, one of the alternatives below.
What Digital Wellbeing does, and where it falls short
- App timers: when the time runs out the app closes and its icon dims until midnight. To get back in, you just delete the timer[2].
- Focus mode: pauses the apps you pick, on a schedule if you like. Take a break unpauses them whenever you want[2].
- Bedtime mode: grayscale and Do Not Disturb on a schedule[2].
- Whole apps only: it can't block just Reels or Shorts and leave the rest of Instagram or YouTube.
The pattern: everything works until the moment you want it not to, and then it's two taps away.
First, try making it harder to skip
Before you install anything, give your app timers a PIN:
Turn on PIN for app time limits and create a 4-digit PIN[2]. Now deleting a timer needs the code. Give the code to someone else if you really mean it. If you still find your way around it, it's time for an app.
The alternatives
| App | Installs | Rating | Free version | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StayFree[3] | 10M+ | 4.5 (281K) | Yes, no ads | Deeper stats, limits and schedules, also on computers |
| ScreenZen[4] | 1M+ | 4.8 (35.4K) | Yes, supported by tips | A pause before apps and short allowed bursts |
| one sec[10] | 1M+ | 4.8 (46.4K) | For one app | A breathing pause; removes only Reels or Shorts |
| AppBlock[5] | 10M+ | 4.7 (249K) | Yes, with Premium upgrades | Strict Mode; schedules by time, place or Wi-Fi |
| Regain[6] | 5M+ | 4.5 (222K) | Yes, core app free[7] | Limits you can't edit until they end; study timer |
| Stay Focused[8] | 5M+ | 4.4 (174K) | Yes, with ads | Strict Mode, location blocking, Reels and Shorts blockers |
| Lock Me Out[9] | 1M+ | 4.4 (11K) | Yes, with limits | Password-protected settings and uninstall |
| Drill Sergeant[11] | New | New | See Google Play | Earn apps back with push-ups or real work; daily objectives |
| Digital Wellbeing[1] | 10B+ | 3.6 (1.5M) | Free | The baseline: timers, Focus mode, Bedtime mode |
Installs and ratings are from each Google Play listing on 1 November 2026.
Which one should you pick?
- You want Digital Wellbeing, but better: StayFree. Same idea, better stats, no ads[3].
- You keep tapping Take a break: AppBlock with Strict Mode, Regain or Lock Me Out. See is there an app blocker you can't turn off?
- Hard limits make you rebel: ScreenZen or one sec. A pause before the app opens is the approach with the best evidence: in a six-week study, one sec cut app opens by 57%[12].
- You only lose time to Reels or Shorts: one sec, Regain or Stay Focused. See block Instagram Reels.
- You want a reason to put the phone down: Drill Sergeant. Ten push-ups, counted by your camera, buy ten minutes, or you report a piece of real work. Captain Jack turns your goals into daily objectives[11].
Turn on the PIN today. If you still get around it, install a blocker you can't.
On a Samsung?
Samsung has its own Digital Wellbeing, with app timers and a screen time goal, and moved its focus options into Modes and Routines[13]. Samsung is also quick to put background apps to sleep, which can switch a blocker off without telling you. The fix is in the best app blockers for Samsung.
How we compared them
We read Google's own help page for what Digital Wellbeing does, and each app's Google Play listing on 1 November 2026 for installs, rating and features. We didn't rank by affiliate deals; there aren't any. Want the full field? See the best app blockers for Android, or the free app blockers.
Questions people ask
Is Digital Wellbeing enough to stop phone addiction?
For gentle limits, it can be. Its app timers and Focus mode work, but you can delete a timer or tap Take a break in seconds. If you keep doing that, add an App limits PIN, or use a stricter blocker such as AppBlock, Regain or Lock Me Out.
Can I put a password on Digital Wellbeing?
Yes, a PIN for app timers. Go to Settings, Digital Wellbeing, App limits, App limits PIN and turn on PIN for app time limits. Give the PIN to someone else if you really want it to hold.
What is the best free alternative to Digital Wellbeing?
StayFree: free, no ads, better usage stats, plus limits and schedules. ScreenZen is the best free option if you want a pause before apps rather than a hard limit.
Can Digital Wellbeing block only Reels or YouTube Shorts?
No, its timers and Focus mode work on whole apps. To block only Reels or Shorts and keep the rest of the app, use one sec, Regain or Stay Focused.
Does Samsung have Digital Wellbeing?
Yes, Samsung has its own version under Settings, Digital Wellbeing, with app timers and a screen time goal, and its focus options moved to Modes and Routines.
What happens when a Digital Wellbeing app timer runs out?
The app closes and its icon dims until midnight, when timers reset. To use it again sooner you have to delete the timer.
Sources
- Digital Wellbeing, Google Play listing (checked 1 November 2026).
- Google. Manage how you spend time on your Android phone with Digital Wellbeing.
- StayFree - Screen Time, Google Play listing (checked 1 November 2026).
- ScreenZen・Screen Time Control, Google Play listing (checked 1 November 2026).
- AppBlock - Block Apps & Sites, Google Play listing (checked 1 November 2026).
- Regain: Study Timer for Focus, Google Play listing (checked 1 November 2026).
- Regain. "Is Regain free?", regainapp.ai.
- Stay Focused: Site/App Blocker, Google Play listing (checked 1 November 2026).
- Lock Me Out - App/Site Blocker, Google Play listing (checked 1 November 2026).
- one sec | app blocker, focus, Google Play listing (checked 1 November 2026).
- Drill Sergeant: App Blocker, Google Play listing.
- Grüning, D. J., Riedel, F., & Lorenz-Spreen, P. (2023). Directing smartphone use through the self-nudge app one sec. PNAS, 120(8).
- Samsung. Use Digital Wellbeing features on your Galaxy phone or tablet.