Keywords
Block the search, not just the app
Choose words that start a spiral. Appcognito checks the screen on-device and blocks the moment they appear, in any browser or app.
Private by design · Android
The app blocker
The app blocker
made for complete privacy
No account, no ads, nothing tracked. Appcognito blocks what steals your focus, all on your phone, and still does more than blockers that cost four times as much.
- 100%On your device
- 0Trackers or ads
- 4Ways to block
- ¼The price of others
- Private by design
- Affordable for life
- Guilt-free, never preachy
- A community behind you
Why it matters
The time is yours. Your phone just keeps borrowing it.
You are not weak and you are not alone. Feeds are built by teams of engineers to keep you scrolling, and the minutes add up faster than anyone would guess.
9 in 10 of us reach for our phone within 30 minutes of waking
5 hours the average person spends on their phone, every single day
76 days of your year, gone to the screen, before you notice
Win back 76 days a year. Picture what you could do with it.
- read 30+ books a year
- learn a new language
- get genuinely fit
- start that side project
Appcognito helps you win it back, with firm, friendly friction and zero surveillance.
Figures from Deloitte and DataReportal, recent global surveys.
Four ways to block
One app, four ways to win back your focus
Every person and every moment is different. Tap to block right now, lock into deep work, automate it away, or bundle distractions into a profile. Use one, or all four.
Mode 01 · Quick Block
Block anything in a single tap
The fastest way to slam the door on a distraction. Tap an app or site to block it, tap again to let it back in. No menus, no setup, instant relief.
- Tap to block apps and entire websites on the spot
- Cut the internet for any single app, not your whole phone
- Resume the moment you genuinely need it back
Mode 02 · Focus Mode
Drop into deep work and lock the door
Start a timer and Appcognito seals off the apps, sites and keywords that pull you away, until the session ends. Lock it so the first urge to quit cannot win.
- Set a duration and block distractions until time is up
- Lock a session so you cannot bail early
- Hand the key to a parent or partner for real accountability
Mode 03 · Automation
Set it once, let your phone hold the line
Blocking on autopilot. Create rules that trigger by schedule, app usage, charging, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or place, so the right apps switch off without you lifting a finger.
- Trigger by time, app usage, screen time, charging, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or place
- Take a break after too long on an app or too much screen time
- Keeps working when Appcognito is closed, even after a restart
- Time
- App usage
- Screen time
- Charging
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- Place
Mode 04 · Profiles
Bundle your distractions, flip them off together
Group apps, sites and keywords into a profile like Doomscrolling, Gaming or Sleep, then switch the whole set on in one tap. Ready-made presets get you blocking in seconds.
- Presets for social, short-form video, gaming, shopping and more
- A built-in, locked Adult Content profile out of the box
- Build unlimited custom profiles with Pro
The Kit
Ready-made profiles, blocking in seconds
No blank page. The Kit comes loaded with profiles for the habits people fight most. Tap one and the right apps, sites and keywords switch off together.
Social MediaStop the endless feed
Short-Form VideoStep off the swipe treadmill
News & DoomscrollingQuiet the anxiety scroll
GamingPut the games down
Streaming & TVClose the binge tab
ShoppingCurb impulse buying
DatingTake a clear-headed break
Gambling & BettingWalk away from the bet
Built-in & locked
The Adult Content profile, ready out of the box
A specially-built profile that blocks adult sites, apps and explicit keywords from the very first launch, no list to assemble. To protect your privacy its contents stay hidden, and you can lock it behind a parental code so it can never be quietly switched off.
- Adult websites
- Adult apps
- Explicit keywords
- Incognito and other browsers
Perfect for a personal commitment, or for keeping a child's phone clean.
Read more about adult blocking How it helps Less willpower.
Less willpower.
More autopilot.
You should not have to win a fight with your phone every hour. Appcognito moves the effort from your willpower to your settings, so the right thing happens on its own.
- 01
See the truth, gently
Appcognito shows where your hours really go, with zero judgement. Awareness is where every calmer day begins.
- 02
Put up the right walls
Pick a mode and block what hijacks you, by tap, timer, rule or profile. The friction lands exactly where you need it.
- 03
Feel the streak grow
Every focused day lights up your Aurith streak. Small wins compound into a habit you are proud of.
The power layer
Serious tools the others charge a fortune for
On top of the four modes, you get accountability locks, a real firewall and private insights, the kind of toolkit rivals split across pricey tiers. All of it on-device.
Accountability
A partner holds the key
Lock a block behind someone you trust, so a weak moment cannot undo your week.
Security
App lock with biometrics
Guard Appcognito behind a PIN and fingerprint, so blocks cannot be quietly switched off.
Aurith
Streaks that motivate
Every focused day lights up. Encouragement from your ghost companion, never shame.
Protection
Uninstall protection
Stops the late-night impulse to delete the app and binge. Reboot-proof, and only you can lift it.
Yours
Export and import your setup
Carry your profiles, rules and keywords to a new phone in seconds. Your configuration belongs to you, never a cloud account.
Block
On-device firewall
Blocks apps and sites locally, even when the app is closed.
Limits
App usage limits
Time-limit a distracting app, then an enforced break.
Breaks
Screen-time breaks
Step away from everything but the apps you allow.
Focus
Stay on topic (AI)
Nudges you when you drift off your study topic. Your own key.
Safety
Adult & gambling blocklists
Locked lists block 300k+ adult and gambling sites.
Private
Private insights
See where your time goes. Numbers never leave your phone.
Discipline
Strict mode
No gate, no pause, no quiet override. Once armed, a block runs its full course.
Stakes
Challenges
Commit to a real streak with real stakes. Break it and the run resets, so quitting quietly isn't an option.
Block screen
A reminder when it matters
Your own words are waiting on the block screen the moment you tap a blocked app, right when the pull is strongest.
Parent code
Block locked Can't be removed 428913
Refreshes in 30s · changes every time
Parental controls
Accountability with codes that keep changing
Willpower fades at 1am. So hand the keys to someone you trust. Appcognito locks a block behind a dynamic code, a fresh six digits every 30 seconds, held by a parent or partner. To unlock, you have to actually ask them. No back doors, no saved password to find.
- Lock a blockPut a dynamic-code lock on any quick block, focus session or schedule you want to protect.
- A trusted person holds the codeA parent or partner sets up the rotating code on their own device. You never see it.
- The code keeps changingA fresh code is generated every 30 seconds, so it can't be guessed, screenshotted or reused later.
Codes are generated on-device with a shared secret. Nothing is sent to a server.
How we compare
More than the big names, for a quarter of the price
Most blockers route your data through the cloud and charge a premium for less. Appcognito does more, entirely on your device.
| Feature | Best value Appcognito | Freedom | AppBlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99/mo, $14/yr or $39 lifetime₹99/mo, ₹699/yr or ₹2,499 lifetime | Several times more | Costs more |
| No account or sign-up | – | ||
| On-device firewall, traffic never routed to a server | – | Limited | |
| Blocks apps and websites together | Limited | ||
| Automation by time, app usage, Wi-Fi, charging and place | Limited | Limited | |
| Parental and accountability locks | Limited | Limited | |
| On-screen keyword blocking | – | – | |
| No ads, no tracking, nothing sold | Limited |
Comparison based on publicly available information; competitor features and prices change over time. Appcognito: $1.99 a month, $14 a year, or $39 once for life₹99 a month, ₹699 a year, or ₹2,499 for life.
Rated on Google Play
Quiet app, loud results
Real reviews from the Google Play Store, the people living with Appcognito every day.
My biggest problem with other blockers was that I could always disable them whenever I felt tempted. AppCognito fixes that with its parental lock and automation features. Once everything is set up, it just works in the background. I upgraded to Pro because those features have made a real difference in my daily routine.
It is, without a doubt, one of the best focus apps you can find on an Android device. The dark mode of the application looks beautiful, it takes only a few seconds to set up your work and sleep schedule, and the preset profiles work perfectly. Another advantage is that the app ensures complete privacy, since you do not need an account to use it. Awesome job done by the developer!
The best app blocker I've used, with an incredible level of customization for schedules, focus modes, app rules, and automation. The Pro version is absolutely worth it if you're serious about staying productive and distraction-free.
Great app blocker with excellent parental controls and an AI Off Topic feature that helps me stay focused. It's easy to set up, works reliably, and doesn't slow down my phone. No ads or account required, making it one of the best productivity apps I've used.
El nivel de selección y profundidad de bloqueo es muy bueno. Posee tanto para links como palabras claves, permitiendo actuar de manera precisa y directa. La posibilidad de que alguien controle tus bloqueos es una excelente función que posee, permitiéndote externalizar el proceso con ayuda de un amigo o familiar. La app es totalmente recomendada y su Dev es muy receptivo con los feedbacks.
app blocker works properly for me. i use social media profile in one tap and focus mode timer for study hours. insta and youtube stay blocked till session ends. much better than apps i deleted in two days
You are not doing this alone
A whole community in your corner
Breaking a habit is easier with people who get it. Join our Discord community and supportive circles to swap wins, ask for a nudge on a hard night, and cheer others on. No shame, no lectures, just real people building calmer lives together.
Join the Discord
Daily check-ins, honest stories and tips, plus smaller circles for the exact habit you want to beat.
Open communityFind us on Product Hunt
We just launched. An upvote or a quick review helps more people discover a calmer, more private phone.
Open Product Hunt Doomscroll detoxBetter sleepDeep workQuitting adult contentScreen-time resetsGentle accountability
Questions, answered
Frequently asked
Does Appcognito send my data anywhere?
Almost never. The data that reveals your habits, your block lists, activity, browsing and usage, stays on your device, and there is no account. The only things that ever reach us are ones you opt into (an email if you enter the giveaway or subscribe) and a one-way hashed device check that stops the free trial and free Challenges being farmed by reinstalling. See our Privacy Policy for details.
What are the four modes?
Quick Block for instant one-tap blocking, Focus for locked deep-work sessions, Automation for hands-free rules by time, app usage, screen time, Wi-Fi, charging, Bluetooth or place, and Profiles to bundle apps, sites and keywords you can flip on together.
What are Challenges in Appcognito?
A committed run at quitting something specific, not just a passive block. Start a Challenge, hold the streak, and a slip resets the run instead of quietly forgiving it, so you notice a break the moment it happens. Three are free on every device for life, and Pro unlocks the rest.
What is Strict mode?
Blocking with no back door. Turn it on and a block runs its full course: no pause, no snooze, no quietly toggling it off mid-session. The only way out is leaving Strict mode itself. Quick blocks and your parental or partner lock still work normally underneath it.
What permissions does it need, and why?
Only what each feature needs. A local VPN powers the on-device firewall, usage access lets you set limits, and accessibility is used for the optional screen-reading features (keyword blocking and the Off-topic study feature, which can also read text inside images on-screen). Sensitive permissions like device admin and location stay off until you enable a feature that uses them, and the Off-topic feature only ever sends anything if you turn on its Strict mode.
How is it different from other app blockers?
Most blockers are simple timers or route your data through the cloud. Appcognito blocks on-device with a real firewall, automates by Wi-Fi, charging and place, adds accountability locks, and never tracks you. It is also about a quarter of the price of Freedom or AppBlock.
How do I block porn on my phone?
Appcognito has a built-in Adult Content profile that blocks adult sites, apps and explicit keywords on your device. Turn it on in one tap and the on-device firewall, plus real-time keyword blocking, stop explicit pages from loading in any browser. You can lock it behind a parental or partner code so it cannot be quietly switched off. Appcognito is built for Android, with an iPhone version on the roadmap.
How do I block apps on my phone?
Choose the apps you want gone and Appcognito blocks them with an on-device firewall, even while you are using other apps. Use Quick Block for an instant one-tap block, Focus for a timed locked session, or save a Profile to flip a whole set of apps on together. It works on Android, and an iPhone version is on the roadmap.
How do I block a website or webpage on Android?
Add any site, domain or whole category to your block list and Appcognito's firewall stops it loading across every browser and app, not just one. You can also block by keyword, so pages about a topic are blocked even on sites you did not list. It blocks internet sites on Android on-device, with no account and nothing leaving your phone.
How do I avoid distractions and stay focused while studying?
Start a Focus session to lock yourself out of distracting apps and sites for a set time, with an optional code so you cannot end it early. Block social media and games in one tap with Quick Block, or use Automation to switch blocking on by time or place, so it begins automatically when your study hours start or you reach your desk.
Is there a timer lock for apps?
Yes. Appcognito can block an app automatically once you have used it for a set number of minutes, so a quick check does not turn into an hour. Focus mode also runs a locked countdown that blocks your chosen apps until it ends, and an optional PIN or fingerprint app lock adds another layer.
Is the free plan actually useful?
Yes. All four modes work on the free plan with no time limit. Pro removes limits and adds the accountability and power features for $1.99 a month, $14 a year, or $39 once for life.
Is there a community I can lean on?
Yes. Appcognito has its own Discord community and supportive circles for beating specific habits, so you are never doing it alone. It is encouragement, accountability and shared wins, with no judgement.
Is Appcognito available now, and is there an iPhone version?
Yes. Appcognito is live on Google Play and you can download it for Android today. An iPhone version is on the roadmap.
Your calmer days
start today
Private, affordable and genuinely on your side. Download Appcognito free on Google Play, and unlock Pro from $1.99₹99 a month, or save 40% on the year.
No account. No ads. No tracking. Free to start, Android first.