Beyond simple app timers.
Curbox targets the specific triggers that lead to mindless scrolling, not just the clock.
Granular blocking
Block at whatever level you need: a whole app, a single feature inside it, or one URL path. The point is precision; keep what you use, cut what hijacks you.
- Block any app or website
- Block the parts that hook you, like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts
- Block sections of an app's UI, e.g. hide the entire YouTube home feed while still allowing search
- Block specific URL paths only, e.g. block
m.youtube.com/shorts/*but allowm.youtube.com - Auto-redirect to a different site when you open a blocked one
Smart rules & schedules
Decide when a block applies instead of blocking everything, always. Rules can follow your usage, the time of day, or a set routine.
- Usage limits: block an app once you cross a threshold (e.g. block WhatsApp after 1 hour)
- Time windows: allow an app only inside set hours (e.g. WhatsApp from 7am to 9pm)
- Schedule Do Not Disturb to turn on automatically
- Cap how many unlocks you're allowed within a given window of hours
Unlock mechanisms
When you try to open something out of its schedule, you choose the friction in advance. From a gentle pause to a hard wall, each option makes the impulsive tap a deliberate one.
- Complete blockade: no access at all
- Fixed cooldown: a preset pause (say 5 minutes) before each unlock
- Dynamic time: pick the duration yourself, every time you unlock
- QR / barcode unlock: register codes from everyday product boxes (books, packaging), scatter them around your home, and physically walk to one to unlock
- Type-to-unlock: type out a sentence to proceed, e.g. “I am giving up on my goals to use this app right now”
Focus mode
Need to get real work done? Pause your distractions on demand and see how your focused time adds up.
- Temporarily pause apps and websites to focus on the task at hand
- Focus statistics that track your sessions over time
Insights & live awareness
You can't curb what you can't see. Curbox surfaces your habits, both in summary and in the moment you're scrolling.
- App usage insights
- Website usage insights
- A live count of how much short-form content you've scrolled, shown as you scroll
- A live timer on the app itself, showing how long it's been since you opened it
Nudges & extras
Smaller touches that quietly tilt your habits in the right direction.
- Per-app grayscale: drain the colour from Instagram while leaving the camera in full colour
- Home screen widgets for quick glances and controls
Get started
Read the documentation to set up your first block, or learn more about why Curbox exists.