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The rise of digital detox apps
Digital detox apps are gaining popularity as they help users reduce screen time, fight digital addiction and improve mental well-being.
A digital detox is when a person refrains from using devices and platforms such as mobile phones, computers and social media. The goal is to reduce screen time, improve well-being, and reconnect with the physical world away from technology.
Though difficult to pinpoint when the term was first used, it gained traction in the early 2010s due to technological advancements such as the rise in smartphone use, 4G networks, IoT devices and social media. According to Statista, in 2010, there were fewer than 1 billion social media users, but as of February 2025, this number had increased to 5.24 billion. In general, the 2010s saw a considerable growth in smartphone ownership, with 20.2% of the population owning a smartphone in 2010, rising to 72.2% in 2020.
This growth has continued to affect how technology is used today, with social media offering new avenues of work for those in influencer and social media marketing. What used to be a platform for people to connect with their family and friends is now widely populated with marketing campaigns. Where mobile phones were once primarily used to communicate with loved ones, they have now increasingly become a part of the way people work, with 64% of working adults reporting that they use their personal smartphones for work-related purposes, according to Statista.
This data demonstrates a shift in how we use technology in our daily lives and how this technology can affect work-life balance, ultimately contributing to burnout. With the average American spending 6 hours and 45 minutes daily on their screens, there is a clear need for digital wellness and detox, leading to the rise of digital detox applications.
What are the benefits of a digital detox?
A digital detox offers several benefits for mental and emotional well-being by providing a break from constant streams of curated content, news cycles, and the need to be 'always on.' These benefits include:
- Better relationship with social media. Social media can be an excellent tool for connecting with those closest to us, but when used too often and without regulation, it can negatively affect mental health. According to research by the National Library of Medicine, social media is connected to multiple mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression and stress. By consciously reducing time spent on social media, users are more likely to experience the benefits of the platforms.
- Improved focus and productivity. Distracting notifications and the constant urge to check phones and refresh can cut productivity significantly. A study in the Journal of Behavioural Addictions revealed that participants who took breaks from tasks to go on their mobile phones took 19% longer to complete tasks and solved 22% fewer problems than those in the study group who took breaks away from their devices.
- Increased sleep quality. Much research has been conducted to determine that phone use can negatively affect sleep quality. Research from tertiary care hospitals in India showed that blue light emitted from screens interferes with producing hormones needed for good sleep. Equally, the mental stimulation caused by spending time on the internet or on social media may make it difficult to switch off.
- Reduced stress and anxiety. Taking a break from screens and the constant overload of information and notifications helps to reconnect to the real world and reduce mental exhaustion from continuous exposure to the internet and social media.
How do digital detox apps work?
Reducing screen time may seem simple, but it can be hard to achieve when so much of our lives revolve around the devices we use. Digital detox apps help detect where we spend too much time on screens, set achievable goals and boundaries, and help create more mindful relationships with technology.
Key features of digital detox apps include the following:
- Blocking specific apps or websites. Digital detox apps can be personalized so users can target and block specific applications and websites they know they spend too much time on. This is especially useful if a user is working to a deadline or trying to limit distractions through work or school hours, as the apps block other apps or websites for specific periods.
- Setting limits and monitoring progress. Digital detox apps enable users to set boundaries for specific apps that may be problematic for them. Again, this enables a certain degree of personalization to help set specific goals relevant to the individual. Once these limits have been set, some apps will send daily or weekly reports to show you how much time you have saved by adhering to these screen time limits.
- The Pomodoro Technique. Many apps use the Pomodoro Technique as a key time management method. The technique promotes regular breaks after specific lengths of focus time.
- Tracking screen time. By identifying how much time we spend on our devices, digital detox apps can help boost awareness of where, what time of day and how often we spend too much time looking at screens. Presenting users with this data can help with goal setting.
Top 5 digital detox apps in the App Store
These apps have been identified through a thorough internet search and selected based on popularity in rank.
1. Flipd
Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free, with premium features at an additional cost.
Key features include the following:
- Progress reports/summaries to inform and motivate.
- Locks phone for a set period.
- Specific apps or the entire phone can be locked.
- Timer feature to promote focus periods.
2. Forest
Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free version for Android users with additional costs for a "Pro" plan. There is no free version for iOS users.
Key features include the following:
- Sync with friends to grow a virtual forest together.
- Incentives to stay off devices with growing trees and expanding forest features.
- Option to plant real trees through in-app purchases.
- Promotes the Pomodoro Technique.
3. Moment
Platform: Android, iOS (some key features have been removed from Android devices as of this writing).
Cost: Free, with premium features at an additional cost through in-app purchases.
Key features include the following:
- Community features to interact and set challenges.
- Daily screen time limits.
- Screen time tracking.
- The 'phone boot camp' course to help rethink smartphone use.
4. Offscreen
Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free, with premium features at an additional cost.
Key features include the following:
- Screen time tracking.
- Set time for being 'off' to encourage time away from the device.
- Receive an overview of screen time activities, including pickups and average usage, while walking and stationary.
- Syncs with health data.
5. Opal
Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free, with premium features at an additional cost.
Key features include the following:
- Daily reports help users track progress.
- Focus sessions to disconnect from your device for a set time.
- Screen time tracking and analytics to give a clear overview of phone usage.
- Users can set daily app time limits to help achieve screen time goals.
Rosa Heaton is a content manager for the Learning Content group at Informa TechTarget.
