The focus timer
that actually blocks
the apps.

Why we built it

Forest and Bear Focus shame you when you fail — a wilting tree, a guilt notification. They don't actually stop you scrolling. Refrain uses Apple's ScreenTime API so that when a session is running, the distracting apps disappear from your home screen until the timer ends.

Plus we ask the question Pomodoro apps forget: what are you actually working on? Refrain captures a one-line intent before the timer starts, then logs how it went. No streaks. No shame. Just an honest journal of your focused hours.

What's inside

• Intent journal — one line, before the timer starts. "Draft chapter 3", "study calculus", "review the deck". Refrain records it and pairs it with how the session went.
• Real app blocking — via Apple's ScreenTime / FamilyControls. Distracting apps are hidden for the length of the session, not just discouraged.
• Rescued hours — a single calm number that grows as you complete sessions. Time you set aside and actually kept.
• Productivity rating — 1 to 5 stars at the end of each session. No streaks, no leaderboards.
• Weekly reports — Sunday-night roll-up of your rescued hours, top intents, and rating trend.
• Custom durations — 5 minutes to 4 hours. Match the work, not the framework.

What's not inside

• No third-party trackers. No analytics SDKs. No crash SDKs.
• No ads. No referral schemes. No virtual-tree gimmicks.
• No accounts. No sign-in walls. No newsletter prompts.
• No subscription. One payment. Lifetime updates.

Pricing

Refrain is free for the basic timer, one block rule, and one hour per day of focus. A single $9.99 one-time payment unlocks unlimited daily focus, unlimited block rules, the intent journal, weekly reports, full history, and custom durations. That's it.