Screen Time alternative

SlowDwn vs Screen Time

Screen Time is free — and “Ignore Limit” is a one-tap joke for most of us. SlowDwn assumes you already tried the native wall and want something that weans the habit instead of shaming you after you break it.

Do app blockers work?

Side by side

Screen Time vs SlowDwn

Same job — less doomscroll — different psychology.

Limit UX

Screen Time: Daily caps with one-tap “Ignore Limit”

SlowDwn: Golden window then calm friction — harder to dismiss on autopilot

Tomorrow reset

Screen Time: Wall resets every day — no gradual fade

SlowDwn: Four-phase program over ~90 days; miss a day and the clock holds

Emotion

Screen Time: “You’ve exceeded your limit” guilt after you already knew

SlowDwn: Your why echoed calmly — accountability to past you, not a lecture

Cross-site depth

Screen Time: Per-app Screen Time; weak on always-open laptop browsers

SlowDwn: Browser-first graduated friction; phone beta with the same program spirit

Cost

Screen Time: Free (built into Apple)

SlowDwn: Free to try (1 · 3); Pro $9/mo or $99/yr for sync + depth

Keep Screen Time too

Many people keep light Screen Time on the phone and use SlowDwn where the real leak is — the always-open laptop browser. They are not mutually exclusive.

No commitment

Ready for a calmer feed—on browser and phone?

Try the free Chrome extension with no commitment. Sign up for 3 services, then add mobile beta when invited. Pro is $9/mo or $99/yr.