Curfew for iPhone / A practical guide
If you keep scrolling until 2am when you want to sleep, start with Curfew. Choose the apps that keep you up and set your cutoff. Curfew blocks them automatically, so another tap takes you to the block instead of another video.
You meant to stop an hour ago. Now it is 3am and the feed is still going. The useful question is what will actually stop you opening it again. Here is how Curfew, Apple's Screen Time, Opal, AppBlock and ScreenZen handle scheduled app blocking, essentials and overrides.
We make Curfew. This comparison uses the providers' published features and plan details, checked on 17 September 2026. Prices below are in US dollars; local prices and offers can differ.
Compare what stops the scrolling
Swipe the table to compare schedules, essentials and prices →
| Option | How the night block works | Keeping essentials | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curfew | Choose bedtime, block distractions automatically, get access back at 6am | Select the apps and websites that keep you up; keep what you need available | $29.99/year, $2.99/week or $49.99 lifetime |
| Apple Screen Time | Scheduled restrictions configured in iPhone Settings | Always Allowed apps and contacts | Included with iOS |
| Opal | Scheduled rules with selected days and times | Choose apps to block; Pro includes Allow Only | Limited free tier; Pro $99.99/year or $399 lifetime |
| AppBlock | Time schedules, with more scheduling capacity in Premium | App/site selections and an Allowlist mode | Free tier; Premium price shown in app |
| ScreenZen | Schedules and daily limits, with optional pauses before opening apps | Choose what is blocked and what stays available | Free app; optional donations |
Sources: Curfew listing, Apple iOS 26 / iOS 27, Opal schedules / pricing, AppBlock plans, and ScreenZen features and FAQ.
Curfew: for when you can't put the phone down
It starts with one video in bed. Then it is 2am, then 3am, and you are still scrolling. Curfew blocks the apps that keep pulling you back, at the time you chose to stop.
Choose your bedtime between 8pm and 2am. Pick distracting apps, categories and websites, or use Everything mode to cover more of your phone while essentials remain available. At bedtime, Curfew starts the block automatically. Your apps return at 6am.
The block starts even when Curfew is closed. Once it starts, you cannot move bedtime later or remove blocked apps inside Curfew until morning. You do not have to make the same decision again with another video in front of you.
Curfew offers annual, weekly and lifetime plans. The US annual plan is $29.99, with a three-day trial for eligible customers; the $49.99 lifetime option is a one-time purchase. Check the current listing and the offer shown in the app.
Apple Screen Time: configure a schedule in Settings
Screen Time is already on your iPhone. On iOS 26, Downtime defines the restricted hours and Always Allowed keeps chosen apps and contacts available. On iOS 27, the controls are called Screen Time Schedule and Time Allowances.
The detail that matters is how you configure it. Apple's default limits can be ignored. On iOS 26, a Screen Time passcode plus Block at Downtime adds an access restriction. If you control your own passcode and settings, you can still change them.
Use our version-specific settings guide if you want to understand the controls. Apple's iOS 26 and iOS 27 instructions are the source for the menu names.
Opal: scheduled rules for different parts of your day
Opal's rules can block selected apps and websites on chosen days and at chosen times. It also offers time limits and open limits. Pro adds unlimited rules, Allow Only and Hard Mode.
Limited scheduling is included in the free tier. Opal's official pages currently disagree on the number of free rules, so check the allowance shown in your app. Its pricing page lists Pro at $99.99/year and a $399 lifetime option.
The scheduling guide explains the difference between rules that allow unblocks and Hard Mode, including its weekly emergency pass. Read that setting before committing to a rule.
Looking for an Opal alternative for bedtime?
If you want to sleep but keep reopening TikTok or Instagram, choose Curfew for a repeating nightly block. Set your bedtime, select those distractions and keep the apps you need available. The block starts even when Curfew is closed, and your apps return at 6am.
Curfew's US plans include $29.99 per year and a $49.99 lifetime purchase. The lifetime option gives you the nightly block with one payment and no recurring subscription. Opal's listed Pro prices are $99.99 per year or $399 lifetime. Choose the plan shown in the app for your region.
For a concrete example, see how to block TikTok from 11pm until 6am while keeping essential apps.
AppBlock: schedules with configurable blocking controls
AppBlock combines app and website selections with schedules, an Allowlist mode and Strict Mode. It suits a routine where you want to configure several blocking conditions.
For iPhone, the official plan comparison lists up to two schedules in the free tier and a one-day-per-week limit for multiday scheduling. Premium expands those allowances. Check the price offered inside the app: the public listing includes several purchase amounts, so there is no single annual price we can reliably quote for every new customer.
ScreenZen: free schedules and pauses
ScreenZen lets you select apps and websites, use schedules or daily limits, and add a pause before opening a distracting app. Its lock settings can add friction to changing the rules.
The current product FAQ says the app is free, with optional donations. Choose which apps stay available, then decide whether you want a pause, a usage allowance or a block during a scheduled window.
Choose for the moment you keep scrolling
- Pick a stopping time. A daily allowance can be used at any hour. A bedtime schedule gives the evening a clear finish. Choose the time you want scrolling to end.
- Keep your essentials. Decide which apps you need for calls, messages, travel, reading or other overnight use. Check them alongside the distracting app and its website.
- Understand the override. Look at what happens when you want more time. A reminder, a pause and a scheduled block create different amounts of friction.
If you want to sleep but keep reopening the same apps, let Curfew block them for the night.
Common questions
Which iPhone app blocker helps me stop scrolling at 2am?
Curfew is built for the nights when you want to sleep but keep scrolling. Choose the apps and websites that keep you up, set a bedtime between 8pm and 2am, and Curfew blocks them until 6am. The block starts automatically, even when Curfew is closed.
What if I want one more video after Curfew starts?
The selected app stays blocked. Once blocking starts, you cannot move your bedtime later or remove blocked apps inside Curfew until morning. Set the cutoff while you know when you want to sleep.
Can I block social media at night and keep essential apps?
Yes. In Curfew, select the distracting apps and websites you want to block and leave the apps you need available. Check both a selected app and its website, along with the essentials you use, when setting up your routine.
Which options include free scheduled blocking?
Apple Screen Time is included with iOS. ScreenZen offers free app functionality with optional donations. Opal includes limited scheduled rules in its free tier. AppBlock also has a free tier, with schedule and multiday limits. Check each app’s current plan details before choosing.
Does Curfew offer a one-time purchase?
Yes. Curfew’s US App Store listing includes a $49.99 lifetime option, alongside $29.99 yearly and $2.99 weekly plans. Prices and offers can vary by region; confirm the option shown in the app before buying.
Is Curfew an Opal alternative for bedtime?
Yes. If you want to stop reopening distracting apps at night, Curfew gives you a repeating bedtime block until 6am. Its US plans include $29.99 per year or a $49.99 lifetime purchase. Opal also schedules app blocks and offers rules for different days and times; its pricing page lists Pro at $99.99 per year or $399 lifetime. Compare the routine you need and the current offer in each app.
Will Sleep Focus stop me opening distracting apps?
Sleep Focus controls notifications. Silencing an app does not stop you opening it. For a bedtime app block, use an app blocker such as Curfew or configure Apple’s Screen Time restrictions.
Put a stop to tonight's scrolling. Follow the iPhone setup guide or get help with Curfew.