Alternatives

Semo is an iPhone app that blocks distracting apps by asking an AI question that quotes your own reason back to you. These notes are about five other tools people ask about. They are not a ranking. Each states only what a dated source says.

Which of these apps is an alternative?

It depends on what you want at the door: a pause, a schedule, a device, or a question in your own words. These five notes are not a ranking and each states only what a dated source says. Semo asks an AI question that quotes your own reason. It is not on the App Store yet. Price shown in the app.

Last checked 31 October 2026 against Apple's Screen Time guides and the public descriptions named on the page. We review these notes at least every 90 days.

Published 19 October 2026. Updated 31 October 2026. We review facts on this page at least every 90 days (next review due by 29 January 2027).

ScreenZen as an alternative. ScreenZen is a separate screen-time app. We could not re-read this developer's page on 31 October 2026, so this note states no feature, price or platform for it.
Jomo as an alternative. Jomo is a screen-time app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Per its site on 31 October 2026, it blocks apps on a schedule, after a usage limit, or until you take a set action.
Freedom as an alternative. Freedom is an app and website blocker that, per its site on 31 October 2026, syncs sessions across devices and lets you schedule them.
Clearspace as an alternative. Clearspace describes itself, on its site on 31 October 2026, as a way to manage digital habits through screen-time controls and mindful moments.
Brick as an alternative. Brick is a physical device and app. We could not re-read this developer's page on 31 October 2026, so this note states no feature, price or platform for it.

Also on this site

Comparisons with Opal, one sec, Apple Screen Time and LOCKR.
Semo and Opal
Semo and one sec
Semo and Apple Screen Time
Semo and LOCKR
How to block a specific app
Guides

Questions

Why are these not on the comparison page with Opal?

Opal, one sec, Apple Screen Time and LOCKR already have dated comparison pages. ScreenZen, Jomo, Freedom, Clearspace and Brick are here so those pages stay as they are. Each note says what we did not re-test.

Which one should I pick?

Read the page. We do not rank them. If you want a question that quotes your own reason, that is Semo, and it is not on the App Store yet. Price shown in the app.