Curbox

Curbox is an app and website blocker for Android that puts a deliberate pause between you and the apps eating your time. It doesn't just lock you out. It gives you a moment to decide whether you actually want to keep scrolling, then makes it as easy or as hard as you choose to continue.

The core idea is friction. When you hit a limit, Curbox shows a pause screen instead of letting you fall straight back in. What happens next is up to you.

Unlock options include:

• Full block with no way to continue
• Timed wait before access is granted, with optional adaptive delays
• Effort challenges like scanning a QR code or barcode, tapping an NFC tag, solving math, typing a sentence exactly, or writing your intention out loud
• Personal messages that surface the reason you set the block in the first place

Beyond basic blocking, Curbox handles some genuinely specific problems. You can block Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts without losing access to the rest of those apps. You can run focus sessions to pause distractions while you work, study, or exercise. You can also make your phone less tempting by turning apps grayscale, quieting notifications, or hiding UI elements you don't want to see.

Usage tracking is built in. You can see how long you spend in each app, how many short videos you've watched, and how your attention span holds up during a scroll session. It's a lighter take on what tools like ActivityWatch or RescueTime offer, focused specifically on distraction patterns.

Unlike Opal or Freedom, Curbox is free with no ads, no subscription, and no account required for core features. Your blocking rules and history stay on your device by default. Optional sync is available with end-to-end encryption if you want your setup to carry across devices.

Available on Android via F-Droid or the official GitHub release page.