Brainrot: Screen Time Control

Smolworks Inc

ProductivityFree·App Store →

4.5

12K ratings

77% negative

opportunities

Productivity

Free

App Description

Reclaim your day with Brainrot, a playful screen time control, app blocker, and focus coach. Pick the apps and sites to block, set schedules, and watch your cute brain avatar decay as you doom scroll. The visual nudge helps you put the phone down. Save about 2 hours per day, feel less distracted, sleep better, and get more done. What you get: - Instant blocking for apps and websites - Focus timer for deep work and Pomodoro - Smart schedules for bedtime, mornings, and meetings - Mindful breaks so you reset without the guilt - Clear insights to spot Brainrot apps fast ### PRIVATE & SECURE Brainrot uses Apple’s Screen Time API; all monitoring and blocking run *entirely* on your device. Your browsing data never leaves your phone. *All features described above require a subscription.* Terms of Service: https://thebrainrotapp.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://thebrainrotapp.com/privacy

4.5

★★★★★

12K

AI Review Summary

Brainrot receives mixed reviews, with users praising its ability to effectively reduce screen time but overwhelmingly criticizing the mandatory subscription paywall and technical glitches. Many feel misled by its "free" marketing, as core features are inaccessible without payment, leading to frustration and quick deletions. While some report major habit improvements, reliability issues and aggressive monetization dominate complaints.

User Sentiment

What users love

Effectively curbs scrolling habits and reduces daily screen time (e.g., 8h to 3h)

Engaging mechanics like the brain health bar make tracking motivating

Focus timer and app blocking work well for dedicated users when functioning

Worth the cost for those who stick with the subscription

Where it falls short

No functional free version—all features locked behind required subscription

Frequent glitches with auto-blocking, focus timers, and purchase recognition

Misleading App Store description claiming it's free to download and use

Aggressive in-app promotions and personal data questions during setup

Doesn't auto-start reliably without manually opening the app daily

Build Instead

3 ideas from 30 complaints

Brainrot Lite

Mandatory paywall with no usable free tier

Offer a limited free tier with basic blocking for 1-2 apps and daily stats, gating advanced features behind optional premium

Target → Budget-conscious users and those testing screen time tools before committing

Brainrot AutoGuard

Unreliable auto-blocking and focus timer failures

Build a background service with system-level permissions that enforces schedules without requiring the app to stay open

Target → Power users tired of manual intervention and glitchy timers

Transparent Time

Misleading free claims and aggressive upsells

Clear upfront pricing model with a one-time purchase option and no popups after subscription

Target → Users seeking honest alternatives to Apple's built-in Screen Time

What People Say

Praise

★★★★★

OMG THIS APP HELPED ME

don’t fall for it, it’s just a pay wall.

— Star Wars Fan104

★★★★★

Yes.!

It is great!!

— Milosssss66

★★★★★

Good

Helps a lot

— Fahjshsss

★★★★★

Pay to use

You have to pay a membership to use and if you dont you cant use the app

— Malachi_yaps

Complaints

★☆☆☆☆

App requires pay to do anything

Don't waste your time on this app unless you have cash to spend. All it makes you do is take a survey about your online habits and then it tells you statistics about your screen tjme. It is impossible to do anything else without paying.

— 6287282828

★★☆☆☆

Not ready for the big time

This app is good when it works! However the focus timer function fails regularly, leaving that 10 minute break you asked for into potentially unlimited screen time \n\nIt’s not worth paying money for until that is fixed

— BarelySatisfied

★☆☆☆☆

money hungry app creators

just wasted my time filling out all of this stuff about my personal habits just for it to not let me do anything without paying after this

— weekend face

★☆☆☆☆

Money

Got to the end of the intro and nothing but incessant tricks to get you to pay for premium. Deleted before I even tried the app. Integrity / design compromised

— Leshagge